Article by Hiral Vilas
Today morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, performed special prayer in very famous Pashupatinath temple. Narendra Modi was on two days official visit to Nepal. Subsequently, Modi will meet president of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav. Prime Minister is likely to meet former Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda later in the day. During Modi’s official visit to Nepal three agreements included one on the 5,600 MW Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project will make headway which was stalled.
Prime Minister Modi announced $1 billion as concessional line of credit to Nepal and proposed a “HIT” formula for the development of the land-locked country endowed with rich hydropower potential. Issues including Nepal’s peace process and constitution-drafting process as well as economic issues were among top on agenda of bilateral talks. They also discussed various facets of mutual relations and issues of common interest. Modi addressed Constituent Assembly in Kathmandu during which he sought to touch an emotional chord with the people of Nepal. Modi admired sacrifices of Nepalese during war front. For India, Nepalese nationals have not shied away from shedding blood, he said. Amid thumping of desks and applause all round, Mr Modi went on to quote Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to buttress his point. “If a soldier says he is not afraid of death, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha,” Mr Modi said quoting Mr Manekshaw. Modi’s visit to Nepal is the first bilateral trip by an Indian prime minister to the Himalayan nation in past 17 years.
