KATHMANDU, Aug 3:
Assuring Nepal that India did not want to interfere in its internal affairs, Narendra Modi, the first Indian Premier to visit the Himalayan nation in 17 years, today stressed that their border should be a “bridge” and not a barrier, as he announced a USD 1 billion Line Of Credit to this country.
As India makes efforts to deepen its diplomatic and economic engagement with its neighbours, Modi said it would like to see the rise of Nepal as a developed nation and proposed a “HIT” formula–Highways, I-Ways and Transways for its development.
Seeking to allay fears here of Indian interference in Nepal’s affairs, the Prime Minister said India has no intent to “dictate” anything to Nepal which should choose its own course in its endeavour to build a stable and prosperous democratic republic.
“Nepal is a truly sovereign nation. We have always believed that it is not our job to interfere in what you do but to support you in the path you decide to take,” he said.
Modi, who arrived here on a two-day visit to Nepal to a rousing reception, was addressing the Nepalese Constituent Assembly. It is only the second time that a foreign leader was addressing the Parliament with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl being the first to have the honour in 1990.
Deviating from protocol, Modi’s counterpart Sushil Koirala received him at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Modi was given a thunderous applause as he began his 45-minute speech telecast live nationally with few sentences in Nepali language just hours after his talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala during which the two sides signed three agreements.
“I have come here with the goodwill and love from one and a quarter billion people of India,” Modi said in Nepali, which prompted members to thump their desks.
Stating that India’s relations with Nepal is as old as the Himalayas and the Ganga, Modi said, “border should be a bridge not a barrier between the two neighbours.”
“India has decided to provide Nepal with NRs 10,000 crore (USD 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,” Modi said.
Earlier, India had provided USD 250 million Line Of Credit to Nepal through the Exim Bank of India.
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”.
After their talks at Singha Durbar Secretariat, Modi and Koirala witnessed the signing of three agreements including one regarding the amendment of Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project on the Mahakali river.
The Prime Minister referred to the immense potential Nepal has in terms of hydro power, tourism and herbal medicare and said India would be keen on partnering with it in exploiting these for mutual benefit.
Hailing the end to Maoism in Nepal and its effort to write a new Constitution, Modi said this endeavour should succeed so that it becomes an example across the world that violence does not serve any purpose and debate is the only way to resolve issues.
In this context, he gave the slogan of ‘shastra se shaastra’ (from weapon to Constitution) and ‘yudh se budh’ (from war to Buddha).
Asserting that Nepal is top priority in his foreign policy, Modi in his address to Nepal’s Constituent said, “If you cannot sleep peacefully, how can we?”
Amid repeated thumping of desks and cheers, Modi said, “you are my own people, not separate. So we are committed to help you meet all your expectations and aspirations.”
In this regard, he referred to flood threat caused by forming of an artificial dam on Kosi river yesterday and said this is as much of a concern to him as it is to Nepal.
Talking about India’s eagerness to cooperate with Nepal, he said this country has rich resource of water which can “end darkness” in India through power generation.
“We don’t want it free. We want to buy power. We don’t even want to take your water…India wants to walk shoulder to shoulder with you. You take the decisions. By just selling power, you can become a developed nation,” Modi said.
He said, “You have such immense power, such big opportunity. You come forward on development path and Constitution-making, we are committed to fulfill our ‘padosi dharam’ (neighbour’s duty).”
While announcing the Line of Credit for Nepal’s various development projects, Modi said the tasks should be identified by Nepal itself.
Talking about his proposed SAARC satellite initiative which he has said can be a “gift” from India to its neighbours, Modi said “SAARC countries should work together against poverty and together they will succeed.”
“It is not a favour. It is our duty to help our younger brothers of SAARC,” he said of the initiative.
Apart from the agreement regarding the amendment of Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project on the Mahakali river, the two countries also signed MoU in the health sector for Goitre Control Programme and one on cooperation between Doordarshan and Nepal TV.
The two Prime Ministers released a commemorative postage stamp to mark Modi’s visit.
Modi announced that he is keen to double power supply to Nepal. The Prime Minister said pipelines would be built to help transport oil to Nepal. He said scholarships to students from Nepal would be increased.
India would help Nepal emerge as a major exporter of herbal medicines and would also help develop the tourism potential of Nepal, both as a spiritual, and adventure tourism destination, the Prime Minister said.
Modi’s address was interspersed with some humorous observations like “agar Nepal ki hawa thodi si idhar udhar ho jaye, toh humko bharat mein thand lagti hai. Aur agar garam ho jaye, toh humko garmi lagti hai (if there is some change in weather in Nepal, it affects India).” He said so to underscore the closeness of historical ties.
While talking about the potential for cooperation in power sector, Modi said, “We can remove your darkness today, in the next decade Nepal will end India’s darkness.” In this context, the Prime Minister said he wants to double the transmission lines between the two countries.
Modi said exploitation of hydropower potential of Nepal will help it enhance its electricity generation by five times to 5600 MWs and help it become a developed nation.
He said India, as a good neighbor, will feel proud if Nepal grows like the Himalayas.
Modi also talked about the potental of cooperation in agriculture sector, saying Nepal could benefit from India’s experiment of Health Card which relates to testing of soil health etc
“For us borders can’t be barriers. They should be barrier-free,” he said, while suggesting border commerce.
Modi also said call rates should come down and talked about the SAARC satellite whose data could be used by all the member countries.
Noting that he was the first Indian Prime Minister visiting Nepal on a bilateral trip in 17 years, Modi took a jibe, saying “we are so close but it took 17 years to reach…But I promise it will not be the same. I will come again for SAARC Summit and when I come here the next time I will visit the land of Raja Janak and Buddha.” (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel