Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nepal for successfully holding the two phases of local level elections and hoped that the step would improve democracy and stability in Nepal.

Addressing a joint press meet after delegation-level talks between Nepal and India, as part of PM Deuba’s maiden state visit to India, in Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Thursday, Modi said that the security interests of Nepal and India are interlinked. He stressed on the need for further cooperation between defence and security agencies of Nepal and India

He noted that India wanted to see economic prosperity and development in Nepal and wished for successful implementation of the new constitution in the country.  

Modi said that a special discussion was held in a bid to advance the ageless relations between the two countries in a new way and added that India is always ready to support its old and close neighbour Nepal under any circumstances.

The Indian Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for inviting him to lay the foundation stone for Arun-III Hydropower project. He reiterated India’s commitment to extend all kinds of support to Nepal’s flood-affect region.

Likewise, Modi said that intensive efforts will be made in order to finalise the detailed project report (DPR) for the Pancheshwoar Multipurpose Project. PM Modi’s assurance regarding the project came a day after the talks between Nepal and India ended inconclusively dealing a fresh setback to the much-awaited mega project.

Addressing the press meeting after Modi, PM Deuba said that though he wanted to amend the constitution in order to make it acceptable to all sides, it couldn’t be amended due to lack of required majority in the parliament. He expressed his optimism that the constitution will be amended in the future so as to make it acceptable to everyone.

At the function, PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart Modi remotely launched the Katiya-Kushaha and Raxaul-Parwanipur cross-border transmission lines for supply of 50 MW each.