Modi wraps up visit
KATHMANDU, AUG 05 -
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day Nepal visit on a high note, urging the Nepali political leadership to work together for timely constitution. His visit stressed larger economic cooperation in a spirit of partnership between the two neighbours.
“The visit focused on four Cs,” said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman for the India Ministry of External Affairs, at a news conference on Monday evening organised an hour before Modi’s departure for New Delhi. The four Cs stand for cooperation, connectivity, culture and constitution.
On (economic) cooperation, said Akbaruddin, the Indian announcement of a soft credit line of $ 1 billion for major infrastructure projects identified by Nepal and agreement to expedite the finalisation of two pacts on energy cooperation—power trade agreement (PTA) and project development agreement (PDA) within 45 days—and finalising the DPR of the Pancheswar Development Authority within a year were prominent.
Construction of a multilane motorable bridge over the Mahakali at Mahendranagar, which will allow traffic along the East West Highway to cross over the river and establish a vital trade and transit linkage of the far western region of Nepal with Indian cities of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand were listed on the connectivity sector.
The Indian side also responded positively to complete the eastern sector of Mid Hill Highway (475 km). Several other agendas like rail connectivity and providing three more air entry points to Nepal were discussed.
On the cultural front, the Indian side has offered assistance in the conservation and restoration of old monuments in the Pashupatinath temple area with an assistance of Rs 250 million and offered help for the development of Janakpur, Barahachhetra and Lumbini, including the linking of Lumbini with the Buddhist Circuit of India.
“The PM has felt that every issue can be discussed, any specific matter addressed if considered problematic while drafting the constitution,” he said.
In his meetings with President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Modi expressed his hope that Nepal gets its constitution soon.
“The people of Nepal and India have fought together for independence and security, and time has come to fight together for democracy and development. The world expects Nepal to succeed in its peace process and its transformation,” Modi told President Yadav.
Once Nepal gets its constitution, Modi noted, it will have higher level of confidence to move ahead on the path of economic development and prosperity.
The Indian PM returned home at 5.53pm on Monday along with his 75-member delegation.
Prime Sushil Koirala, Speaker Subas Nembang, Deputy Prime Ministers Bam Dev Gautam and Prakash Man Singh and Information Minister Minendra Rijal saw him off at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Modi invited his Nepali counterpart to visit the southern neighbour. He expressed his grief at the loss of lives and property in a massive landslide at Mankha VDC in Sindhupalchok district a day before he landed in Kathmandu .
Source: The Kathmandu Post
