Will not allow our land to be used against India: Nepalese PM to Modi

Nepal will not allow its territory to be used against India, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Saturday assured his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to the Himalayan nation.

While briefing reporters at the end of Prime Minister Modi’s visit, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that the visit was a “significant statement” from Prime Minister Oli and India was “satisfied” with discussions.

“Oli reiterated that Nepal would be sensitive to India’s interests and its territory would not be used against India,” Gokhale said.

The two leaders also discussed the implementation of various India assisted projects in Nepal and decided to bridge the implementation gap in some of the projects, the foreign secretary said.

“Two visits in two months of two state leaders sets our bilateral relationship on a very positive and forward-looking path,” Gokhale said.

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

During his two day visit, Modi visited three temples – Janki Temple, Muktinath Temple, and Pashupatinath Temple to strike the spiritual chord between India and Nepal.

Modi flagged off a bus service from Nepal’s Janakpur (the town where goddess Sita was born) to Ayodhya in India (Lord Rama’s birthplace). He announced a package of Rs 100 crore to develop Janakpur, the temple city of Nepal.

The prime minister also inaugurated a Rs 6,000-crore Arun III project which was expected to generate 900 MW of power.

(With inputs from agencies)