Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that his government would fully support the priorities of the government of Nepal and expressed hope that the new dispensation in Kathmandu would be able to steer the country towards greater peace.

During a meeting in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi briefed Modi about developments in Nepal and handed over Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s “special message” that the new government in Nepal is willing to amend the constitution to address the demands raised by the Madhesi and Janajati groups.

Nidhi is in the Indian capital as a special envoy of PM Dahal.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi, Nidhi shared Dahal government’s plans with Modi that implementation of the constitution by accommodating the aspirations of all the people will be the top priority of the new government in Nepal. He also informed Modi about the talks the new government has initiated with the Madhesi and Janajati forces.

According to a member of the delegation, who was present during the meeting, Modi appreciated the initiatives taken by the new government in Nepal to address the demands of Madhes-based parties.

According to the embassy, the Indian prime minister assured that the government of India will fully support the priorities of the new government in Nepal and expressed hope that the new government will be able to steer the country towards greater peace and stability and institutionalisation of democracy.

Nidhi, who has been holding high level bilateral talks in the Indian capital, is also tasked with laying the groundwork for PM Dahal’s visit to the southern neighbour and high-level visits from the two neighbouring countries. Nidhi on Friday extended an invitation, on behalf of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to visit Nepal.

During Saturday’s meeting, Modi stated that he “is eager to welcome PM Dahal and looking forward to early realisation of the exchange of visits at the presidents’ level”.

“After the high-level visits, the relations between two countries will reach new heights,” a delegation member, who was present in the meeting, quoted Modi as saying.

On Nepal-India ties, according to India’s Press Information Bureau, Modi said: The relations between India and Nepal are not merely between the two governments, but between the people of both countries. India is committed to strengthening these traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal.”

Nidhi also briefed Modi about Dahal government’s focus on development projects and underscored the need of expediting implementation of the ongoing joint undertakings, particularly the Post Road, cross-border railway and Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Project as well as identifying new areas of cooperation, according to the embassy statement.

On Nepal’s special request for post-quake rebuilding, Modi said, “India is fully committed to supporting the government and the people of Nepal in the reconstruction efforts.”

After the delegation-level meeting, Nidhi held a one-on-one meeting with Modi for about 15 minutes.

Nidhi also invited Modi to tour Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath.

He met Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh on Friday.

Government of India hopes the new government in Nepal will be able to steer the country towards greater peace and stability

 

Appreciate the initiatives taken by the new government in Nepal to address the demands of Madhes-based parties

 

The relations between India and Nepal are not merely between the two governments, but between the people of both countries