We respect Nepal's sovereignty: Modi
5 Aug 2014 5:18 AM IST
On his part, the prime minister while announcing a flurry of financial aids also chose the occasion to assuage any feeling that India wished to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Himalayan nation.
Addressing the members of the constituent assembly, Modi said, ‘Not only people of Nepal but also those who believe in the power of democracy are looking at Nepal and this Assembly.’ He started his address in Nepali before moving onto Hindi.
Addressing the members of the constituent assembly, Modi said, ‘Not only people of Nepal but also those who believe in the power of democracy are looking at Nepal and this Assembly.’ He started his address in Nepali before moving onto Hindi.
With a mind to put the interests of the people of Nepal and role of the assembly on a high pedestal, prime minister went onto say, ‘The world will get a way towards peace from this land, your Constitution will pave way for that… . It is not our job to interfere in your internal affairs but to assist you in the path you have chosen.’
Recalling the centuries old-bonding between the two neighbours, Modi chose to invoke words of Field Marshal Sam ‘Bahadur’ Maneckshaw, probably the most adored Indian across the border.
Recalling the centuries old-bonding between the two neighbours, Modi chose to invoke words of Field Marshal Sam ‘Bahadur’ Maneckshaw, probably the most adored Indian across the border.
‘Maneckshaw said that any soldier who said he was not afraid of death was either lying or he was a Gorkha,’ said prime minister claiming that India won no war without the sacrifices by Gorkha soldiers coming from Nepal. Insisting on the need for better relations between the two nations, Modi said borders between the two nations should not be a barrier, but act as bridges so that both can develop.
Referring to the financial aid which India would provide to its Himalayan neighbour, Modi said ‘for now we will remove darkness here and a decade later Nepal will come to our help. This is our bonding.’
Referring to the financial aid which India would provide to its Himalayan neighbour, Modi said ‘for now we will remove darkness here and a decade later Nepal will come to our help. This is our bonding.’
Modi announced $1 billion (Nepalese rupees 10,000 crore) as concessional line of credit to Nepal and proposed a ‘HIT’ formula for the development of the land-locked country endowed with rich hydro-power potential. He said, ‘India has decided to provide Nepal with Nepalese rupees 10,000 crore ($1 billion) as concessional line of credit for various development purposes. This amount is separate from the previous assistance that India has already provided to Nepal,’ said Modi.
The new grant will be utilised for infrastructure development and energy projects as per Nepal’s priority, according to Nepalese foreign ministry. Proposing a model development formula for Nepal, Modi said, ‘I want to HIT Nepal,’ drawing wide applause from the lawmakers. Elaborating his strategy, Modi said HIT in his lexicon implies - H: Highways, I: I-ways and T: Transways. He said these three combined together would pave the way for rapid development of the country and India wants to ‘give this gift at the earliest’.
Modi was received by Nepal prime minister Sushil Koirala at Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu, where he was given the guard of honour.
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala during which the two sides inked three agreements, including one on the 5,600 MW Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project that will pave the way to start the stalled project.
Modi, who arrived here this morning on his maiden official visit to Nepal, met Koirala at Singha Durbar Secretariat. The two leaders discussed various issues including Nepal’s peace process and constitution-drafting process as well as economic issues.
They also discussed various facets of mutual relations and issues of common interest.
Nepal and India has also signed three separate memorandum of understandings during the bilateral talks held between the delegations led Modi and Koirala.
Under the first pact, India would provide Rs 65 million to procure and distribute iodised salt in the rural areas of Nepal. This would be the extension of the ongoing goiter control project being implemented under India’s grant.
The two governments also signed MOU regarding the amendment of Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project on the Mahakali river.
Under the agreement, the two countries have agreed to move forward works relating to Pancheshwar Development Authority by declaring Pancheshwar authority regulation.
The project falls under the integrated treaty on Mahakali River, bordering both Nepal and India, which was signed in 1996. It could not be developed earlier as the two countries could not decide on the terms of reference.
‘It was decided long ago. The cost has gone up by a huge margin over the years but now both the countries have established respective authorities,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he addressed the Constituent Assembly. He expressed hope that work will start within a year on the 5,600 MW project.
‘The project would add five times more electricity than Nepal produces today. Not a small achievement. It will take development to newer heights,’ he said.
The third agreement paves the way for cooperation between two national broadcasting television channels — Nepal Television and Doordarshan.
At the conclusion of the bilateral talks, both prime ministers singed the commemorative cover to be published by the Nepal Philatelic Bureau to mark the historic high-profile Indian visit to Nepal.
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