Modi brings a fresh wind in Indo – Nepal relations

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Kathmandu, 7 Nov 2014: Thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, anti-India feelings in Nepal may now be a thing of the past. In fact, people in Nepal are now keenly waiting to listen to Modi’s speech in tghe SAARC summit which the Indian Prime Minister is going to address.

 “The anti-Indian feeling persisting among many Nepalese, thanks to the constant political interference and the big brotherly attitude over the years had long marred the relationship between Nepal and India,” bureaucrat and former industry secretary of Nepal government Krishna Gywali said.

But,  Modi’s visits to Nepal  are widely  being viewed as a huge success, helping to usher in a new beginning in the Nepal-India relationship.

Gyawali suggested it was high time Modi behaves the same way towards Pakistan and Bangladesh so that the entire SAARC family becomes his fan. He said, “Strike the iron when it is hot,” he said.

Nar Hari Acharya, eminent lawyer and president of Supreme Court Bar Association of Nepal said that Modi’s visit to have given a "new impetus, direction and dynamism" to the ties between Nepal and India and this time people here are eyeing on more about his declaration rather than what comes out after SAARC. Perhaps because of the importance the Indian PM did place on Nepal, his visit reflected the new approach India has towards Nepal.

Modi will be given a grand welcome at Janakpur airport by Nepal’s transportation minister Bimal Chandra Nidhi. It was earlier said that Modi will proceed to Kathmandu via road but the Nepal’s home ministry has ruled out any possibilities due to bad road and security reasons.