India’s interest in Nepal is peace, stability, prosperity: President Mukherjee

He was here on a day-long visit to India’s largest hydropower project in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh being run by public sector Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL).

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal waves before he leaves for New Delhi of India on Thursday, September 15, 2016. He appreciated his decision of selecting India for his first visit overseas as Prime Minister. It is in India’s strategic interest to help Nepal grow economically and honour its past commitments in infrastructure development in that country.

“Our friendship and fraternity stand on the solid foundation of the historical ties of shared culture and civilizational linkage and the time-honoured principles of Panchsheel and the UN Charter”.

However Nepali media say that Beijing has put off a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year due to lack of progress on Nepal’s part on the projects agreed to between the two countries.

It was chose to push for speedy and successful implementation of ongoing hydropower projects and develop and operationalise transmission lines.

He said, “I can not give you a time line yet, but it will be soon surely and after that, it will become a historical Constitution’ for Nepal”.

Minister of State for Power, Piyush Goyal said the Arun-III hydro-electric project was the beginning of a new chapter in India and Nepal relationship and that the work on this project would be expedited.

Both Basnet and Upadhyay agree that Nepal’s political instability – marked by frequent changes of government – has threatened to turn Nepal into a geopolitical theatre for the emerging Asian giants. “You are aware that my government has made serious efforts to bring everyone on board as we enter the phase of implementation of the Constitution”. India has nothing but goodwill for Nepal.

India is Nepal’s biggest trade partner and both the sides also made a decision to further expand trade and investment.

Dahal is on a four-day visit to India after his Unified Maoist Party came to power last month following the ouster of predecessor KP Sharma Oli. He is staying at the Rastrapati Bhavan as a state guest.

“The talks were held in an open and warm atmosphere”. This is a direct reference to the new constitution that was promulgated by the Constituent Assembly past year and led to the unrest in the Tarai and the five-month Indian blockade. More important in this context was his statement that Nepal is determined to “prevent misunderstandings with India that might harm our people”.

Nepal accused New Delhi of imposing the blockade by halting the passage of cargo trucks carrying essentials, including petroleum products and medicines.