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In a telephone conversation to congratulate Deuba, Indian Prime Minister Modi assures vaccine supply

Nepal is yet to receive 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine that Nepal paid the manufacturer Serum Institute of India in February. In a telephone conversation to congratulate Deuba, Indian Prime Minister Modi assures vaccine supply

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Published at : July 19, 2021

Updated at : July 19, 2021 16:43

Kathmandu

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to supply Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal.

During a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday afternoon, Modi congratulated Deuba on his appointment as prime minister and assured vaccine supply, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“In a cordial telephone conversation today, Prime Minister of India @narendramodi congratulated Prime Minister @DeubaSherbdr. The two PMs discussed further strengthening of bilateral relations. PM India assured early supply of COVID Vaccines to Nepal,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted after the phone call.

Nepal began its vaccination campaign in January with 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine India gave in a grant. In February the government signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India to buy 2 million doses of the vaccine marketed under the brand name Covishield.

The company supplied 1 million doses but stopped shipment of additional doses as the Indian government restricted export of vaccines as the second wave hit India in March and April.

Those above the age of 65 have been waiting for their second doses of the vaccine after they were administered the first dose in March. The government is now planning to give them the second dose with the 1.6 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine that Japan last week announced that it would donate to Nepal through the COVAX facility.

Modi’s conversation with Deuba comes a day after the latter won the vote of confidence in Parliament on Sunday evening.

“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on the phone today with Sher Bahadur Deuba, to convey congratulations and best wishes for his appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal and for winning the confidence vote in Parliament,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Deuba was appointed Prime Minister on July 13 after the Supreme Court ordered his appointment as per Article 76 (5) of the constitution and won the vote of confidence with 165 members of the House of Representatives voting for him on Sunday.

Minutes after Deuba won the vote of confidence, Modi on Sunday evening extended congratulations through a tweet.

On Monday, after speaking with Deuba, Modi said in a tweet that both the countries would work together to further enhance the cooperation between the two countries.

“Spoke with Prime Minister @DeubaSherbdr to convey my congratulations and best wishes. We will work together to further enhance the wide-ranging cooperation between India and Nepal, including in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Modi wrote on Twitter on Monday.