Kathmandu all set to welcome Modi
KATHMANDU , AUG 03 -
Nepal is all set to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Modi will arrive in a special flight that is scheduled to land at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:50 pm. He will be leading a jumbo delegation comprising of more than six dozen members, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior government officials.
All preparations related to the visit has been completed by the host country. Security agencies from both countries on Saturday conducted three-hour long security drill along the route that Modi’s motorcade will be traverse upon his arrival.
Flags of Nepal and India have been put up in major parts of the city and streets in Kathmandu to welcome Modi. Security has been beefed up throughout the capital city considering the high-level visit. A Home Ministry official said high-security vigilance will be maintained for two days.
Minister for Law and Justice Narahari Acharya said a Cabinet meeting on Saturday endorsed four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) that Nepal government will be sign with Indian Prime Minister Modi.
The two prime ministers will witness the signing ceremony of the MoUs after Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and his Indian counterpart Modi have held a meeting in Singhadurbar. After the meeting, the two sides will sit for a delegation-level talks followed by the signing ceremony.
The two governments will sign four MoUs on exchanging letter of exchange for setting up Pancheswor Development Authority ( PDA) in Nepali side in Mahendranagar, whose first chief executive officer would be from India. Agreements related to the extension of India- funded goitre control programme, bilateral tourism agreement, and cooperation agreement between the Nepal TV and Doordarshan, India, will also be signed.
The meeting between Koirala and Modi will be of high significance, said minister Acharya. He added that it can be hoped that meeting between the two PMs would give the political mileage to boost the bilateral relations. “PM Koirala is expected to propose for expanding and activating the dialogue between the two nations at highest political level to reduce the mistrust between Nepal and India,” Acharya said.
Besides holding delegation-level talks with his Nepali counterpart, Modi will also call on President Ram Baran Yadav and the top brass from major political parties. The Indian PM will also address the Legislature Parliament later in the day. On Monday, he will visit Pashupati Nath temple, where he will be performing a special ritual.
Three separate bullet proof vehicles have already landed in Kathmandu for Modi’s transportation. Over hundred Indian commandos and black cats will be mobilised for his security.
The core size of the Indian delegation is 27. With security personnel and media persons in tow, the team will have more than 70 members.
Prime Minister Koirala, several ministers, and Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae will welcome Modi at the Tribhuvan International Airport. After the official welcome ceremony, including the 19-gun salute, Modi will leave for Hotel Hyatt in Boudha, where Minister Mahendra Pandey will call on him to set the tone of the visit.
Modi will then meet PM Koirala, participate in the delegation-level meeting, and address the Parliament in the afternoon. He will then attend a reception hosted by the Indian Ambassador at Hyatt, followed by a banquet hosted by PM Koirala.
At 9:30 on Monday, Modi will attend special prayers at Pashupatinath Temple for 45 minutes. He will then leave for Rastrapati Bhawan to meet President Yadav. The meeting will be followed by a luncheon.
Back at Hyatt after the luncheon, top leaders of political parties will meet Modi. A group of Nepali business leaders will meet him shortly after. He will return to Delhi on Monday evening.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
