Modi wraps up Nepal visit, says India ready to be economic 'Sherpa'

Visiting Nepal for the first time since the 2015 border blockade blamed on India crippled Nepal's economy, Modi called himself a pilgrim; here are the key details of PM Modi's Nepal visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wrapped up his two-day visit to Nepal where he held extensive discussions with his Nepalese counterpart K P Sharma Oli to improve the bilateral ties and visited famed 20th century Janaki temple, Mukhtinath and Pashupatinath temples.

Visiting Nepal for the first time since the 2015 border blockade, blamed on India, crippled Nepal's economy -- as a "pilgrim" -- Modi said his government gave top priority to relations with Kathmandu under his Neighbourhood First Policy. On Friday, Modi had said all misunderstandings with Nepal were over and the bilateral ties were heading to a new high, with New Delhi announcing a Rs 1-billion aid to develop Janakpur city.

Stressing that the recent election and its outcome would be written in golden words in Nepal's history, the Indian Prime Minister said ties between India and Nepal were special and "I am visiting at a special time". He made the remarks after delegation-level talks with his Nepali counterpart K P Sharma Oli.

"India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Nepal. India-Nepal ties are above inter-governmental relations. It is more like a family," said Modi. "I, the Indian government and the Indian people heartily felicitate the Nepali people for the progress made under federal democratic setup."

Meeting Oli twice in less than two months, Modi assured him that all genuine and necessary grievances of Nepal would be addressed in a time-bound manner.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot accused Modi of "influencing the voters" in Karnataka as the PM chose to visit the famed temples in Nepal on Karnataka polling day.
 

Here are the top 10 developments around Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal

1. PM Modi wraps up two-day Nepal visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left for India after wrapping up his two-day visit to Nepal. He boarded a special aircraft at the Tribhuvan International Airport to return home. Nepal Foreign Minister Pradip Gyawali bid farewell to him at the airport. The prime minister also called on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun and discussed the issues of mutual interest.

Modi met Nepal's former prime ministers Prachanda and Sher Bahadur Deuba, and opposition leaders and held wide-ranging discussions on ways to strengthen bilateral ties. This was the third visit of Prime Minister Modi to Nepal and the first high-level visit from India since the formation of the new Government in Nepal this year.

2. India ready to be Sherpa to Nepal: Hailing the Himalayan nation's successful journey from bullets to ballots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is ready to be the 'Sherpa' to help Nepal scale the mountain of success.

"Nepal has covered a long journey from Yuddh to Buddh (War to Peace). You have left the bullet to opt the ballot way...But this not the destination. You have to go a long way," Modi told a gathering at a civic reception programme.

"You have reached the base camp of the Mt Everest and the main climb is yet to be done. And the way mountaineers are strongly helped by Sherpas to scale the summit, much the same way India is ready to work as the Sherpa for Nepal," he added.

3. RBI and Nepal Rashtra Bank in talks to resolve demonetisation issue: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Saturday said the central banks of India and Nepal are discussing the "technical issues" related to return of demontised Indian currency notes.

"Our Reserve Bank and their Nepal Rashtra Bank are having discussions on that. We must understand that it is a very complex issue and a lot of time has passed since demonetisation was announced in 2016 and it is 2018 now," Gokhale said.

Gokhale made the remark during a press meet, a day after Nepalese prime minister K P Sharma Oli urged his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to allow exchange of demonetised high-value Indian currency notes held by the country's banks and the general public at the earliest.

The land-locked country depends on India for trade and supplies. Indian currency is widely used in Nepal for day-to-day transactions, especially in the border areas.

4. Arun-III Hydroelectric Project in Kathmandu: The construction of 900mw Arun-III Hydroelectric Project in Kathmandu in Nepal would usher all-around development and help usher in prosperity, the Indian company executing the project said on Saturday.

The project activities would boost the development of new roads, bridges and other amenities like healthcare and education, Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Ltd Nand Lal Sharma said in a statement.

In addition to this, a total of 269 project-affected families will get 30 units each of electricity free of cost every month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli jointly laid the foundation stone of the project in Kathmandu on Friday.

5. Modi's temple run violates Karnataka poll code: Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his temple visits in Nepal, saying it was just to ‘influence the voters’ in Karnataka. “As there is model code of conduct in Karnataka, PM Modi planned to pray at temples in Nepal instead, just to influence voters. This is not a good trend for democracy. Why did he only choose today as the day?” Congress Ashok Gehlot was quoted as saying by ANI.

Calling it a bad trend for democracy, Gehlot said, “Modi planned to visit Nepal today because there is model code of conduct in Karnataka.”

In reply, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said Modi's visit to Nepal had been decided soon after K P Sharma Oli's election as prime minister

Responding to a question at a press meet, Gokhale said Prime Minister Modi had telephoned Prime Minister Oli, sworn to the post on February 15, to congratulate him, and the visits were discussed then. "When Prime Minister Modi had telephoned Prime Minister Oli upon his election as the prime minister of Nepal, they had discussed the visit then. Prime Minister Oli had then expressed his desire for an early visit by Prime Minister Modi. They had discussed the visits, and the Prime Minister (Modi) had said you (Oli) come first.

"So that's how the sequence has been, first Prime Minister Oli visited India and now Prime Minister (Modi) is in Nepal," Gokhale said.

6. Oli says Nepal would not allow its territory to be used against India: Nepal is sensitive to India's interests and would not allow its territory to be used against India, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli assured his Indian counterpart.

Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km in the east, south and west with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

There has been a long tradition of free movement of people across the borders, sharing family ties and culture. Travellers from both sides do not need passport, and there is a visa-on-arrival facility for those travelling by air.

7. Modi offers prayers at Muktinath temple: Modi today prayed at Nepal's iconic Muktinath temple that is regarded sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists, becoming the first world leader to offer prayers there.

Modi wore a Buddhist traditional red dress and carried out rituals both according to the Hindu and Buddhist tradition. After praying, he also greeted and interacted with people waiting at the temple premises. Modi is the first foreign guest to pay homage at the main sanctum of Muktinath temple. Muktinath Temple is regarded as sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists located in Muktinath Valley. The temple at an altitude of 3,710 metres at the foot of the Thorong La pass in mountainous Mustang district.

8. Nepal's Foreign Minister discussed trade deficit with Modi: Issues related to the trade deficit and low pace of the implementation of previous agreements were addressed during the delegation level talks held between them, Gyawali said.

He said countries like Nepal want to be linked with various means. Boosting connectivity, through waterways, railways or through information technology can prove to be vital for Nepal's development, the foreign minister of the landlocked nation said.

"It is our consistent policy that Nepal doesn't allow anyone to misuse its territory. We have reiterated that principle. We have to be careful while maintaining the open border, which is a symbol of cordial relationship between both the countries," he added.

9. Modi gives Rs 1 billion to develop Janakpur: On Friday, Modi announced a Rs 1 billion package to develop Janakpur, which has religious significance for being the capital of Janak's kingdom. Earlier in the day, Modi landed in Janakpur and along with Nepal PM K P Oli inaugurated a direct bus service between Janakpur and Ayodhya as part of a ‘Ramayan Circuit’ to promote religious tourism. Modi also visited the 20th century Janaki temple, dedicated to Sita, where he offered special prayers.

10. Netizens of Nepal slam Modi: Hashtags like #BlockadeWasCrimeMrModi and #ModiNotWelcomed-InNepal were trending as the Indian leader kicked off his two-day Nepal visit on Friday. Some users reminded Modi of the border blockade enforced by India when Nepal was still reeling from the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake. Others demanded that Modi apologize for the 135-day blockade from September 2015 to February 2016 that crippled Nepal's economy and led to tensions between the two countries.

"Sorry, Mr Modi we haven't forgotten blockade. We are not welcoming you but it doesn't mean that we are anti-Indian. We are with Indian people but we condemn the Indian government act of blockade in Nepal," wrote user Shailesh M. Pokharel on Twitter.

Another, Binod Khanal, posted: "Mr Modi Nepali politician will welcome you in Nepal but, Neplease people never!!"