PM Modi: India wants to see Nepal united, inclusive, stable

He underlined that India is committed to strengthening the traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal

Amid an unease in the bilateral relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made it clear to Nepal that India's only desire is to see the neighbouring country united, inclusive, stable and prosperous, as he met its Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa here.

Conveying his best wishes to the new government that took over in Kathmandu about a week back, Modi underlined that India is committed to strengthening the traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal.

Thapa, who holds the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, briefed Modi about developments in Nepal which has been witnessing a turmoil in southern parts inhabited by Indian-origin people ever since the country adopted a new Constitution nearly a month back.

"Prime Minister reiterated that India's only desire is to see a united, inclusive, stable and prosperous Nepal, and that India is committed to strengthening the traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal," a PMO statement said.

Modi congratulated Thapa on assuming charge as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal.

The relations between India and Nepal are uneasy since the agitation by Indian-origin people in southern parts of Nepal like Terai, which has hit supplies of essential commodities to that country from here.

During his meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here yesterday, Thapa had expressed concern over the obstruction in the supplies from the Indian side especially petroleum oil lubricants, to which Swaraj told him that the "reduced or closure was due to the obstructions on the Nepalese side by the disaffected section of the Nepalese population."

Swaraj told the visiting minister that India was looking forward to steps being taken by Nepalese government to "credibly" address the challenges faced by the country including in the Terai region at the earliest.