US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘very good friend’ and said US was working with India as the two countries battle the COVID-19 outbreak.

“So, India has been so great. Your Prime Minister has been a very good friend of mine. I just got back, a short while ago, from India recently. And we are working very much with India too,” the US President told reporters here. The US President made the remarks on being asked about his message to Indian-Americans.
Trump along with his family had visited India in February earlier this year.
“And we have a tremendous Indian population in the United States. And many of the people that you are talking about are working on the vaccine too. Great scientists and researchers. Yeah, we are working very closely also with India,” he said.

Asked if a US vaccine would be available to the rest of world at an affordable rate, the US President said: “The last thing anybody is looking for is profit, in terms of what we are doing. Every company, they want to get it out. We have had that — we have had a great experience on remdesivir. We have had a great experience on everything we have done.”
Earlier, the President announced in a tweet that US will donate ventilators to India.

“I am proud to announce that the United States will donate ventilators to our friends in India. We stand with India and Narendra Modi during this pandemic. We are also cooperating on vaccine development. Together we will beat the invisible enemy!” Trump said in a tweet.

Speaking to reporters at White House later, Trump reiterated US is sending ‘quite a few’ ventilators to India.
“We are sending quite a lot of ventilators to India. I spoke to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and we are sending quite a few ventilators to India. We have a tremendous supply of ventilators,” Trump said at the White House.

India had last month allowed the export of millions of hydroxychloroquine tablets to treat COVID-19 patients in America and Trump had lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “strong leadership” in helping “not just India, but humanity”. (ANI) ,RSS, FILE PHOTO

By Rishi Dhamala

By working with the government in our southern neighbor, the Oli government can bag in more investments for its development projects and help our economy

‘Aab ki baar tin soo paar!’ – This time beyond the three hundred mark. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his party workers while campaigning for the general elections earlier this year. The promise was delivered. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 303 seats out of 543 and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 353 seats in the 17the Lok Sabha elections, held in seven phases from 11 April to 19 May 2019. He is the first prime minister outside of the Indian National Congress to win two consecutive terms with full majority and the second prime minister to complete five years in office after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, another BJP leader.

Born to an ordinary family in Gujarat, Modi, during his early political career, made an impact as a future leader of the world’s seventh most populous democracy to the then BJP Chair Vajpayee. It is believed that Vajpayee himself asked Modi to become the chief minister of Gujarat. And it paid off. Modi made Gujarat a model state of the Republic of India—This was a major factor behind his sweeping victory in 2014 Indian General Elections. Under his leadership, BJP became the first single party to obtain a majority in the Indian lower house, Lok Sabha, since 1984.

Modi’s charisma denied the Indian National Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi and its allies, a dominant position in the opposition. The Indian National Congress won just 52 seats, and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance won 91. The landslide victory has pushed the opposition parties to less than 10 percent (55 seats) in the Lok Sabha, making the lower house without an official opposition party. Despite, strong campaigning and alliance against the BJP, the Modi magic prevailed.

PM Modi has established himself as a powerful leader, at least for the time being. Modi  is looking beyond his borders to extend India’s influence. Inviting BIMSTEC leaders to swearing-in ceremony was a nod to his leadership in South Asia and beyond. His victory has been swiftly welcomed by world leaders, including the United States President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others.

THE SPELL THAT WORKED
Besides his influential speeches and charismatic leadership, analysts have attributed the sweeping victory to some of the works during his first tenure as PM. One of the most crucial decisions that Modi took after assuming office in his first term was demonetizing 500 and 1000 rupees note. Aimed at removing black money from circulation, it handed a major blow to black money, counterfeit currency. But in doing so, he put his position on the line as it resulted in severe cash shortages and a sharp decline in Indian stock market and unemployment increased. But as the immediate impact faded, the move paid off with the number of income tax returns filed by individuals rising by 25 percent the next year. His first four years saw India’s GDP growth at an average rate of 7 percent higher than the previous governments. Modi’s vision and mission of transforming India worked. And the voters could see this tangible impact. Poverty reduction program, tax reforms initiative and economic liberalization gave him support from Indian’s almost all quarters.

NAMO 1.0 AND NEPAL INDIA RELATIONSHIP
Modi’s foreign policy has focused on the idea of ‘neighborhood first’ policy. His first official state visit after becoming PM the first time around was to Nepal in 2014. Since then, he has visited Nepal four times, taking the India-Nepal bilateral relationship to greater heights. After winning the elections for the second term, Modi has vowed to continue cooperation and assistance to Nepal government’s goal of development and prosperity.

Like in the previous term, Mod invited the leaders of BIMSTEC, including Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to his swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi. This is a clear message that India’s neighborhood first policy remains his top priority. Along with the neighbors, the swearing-in ceremony is being attended by the BIMSTEC heads, which denotes Modi’s ambition to increase India’s role and influence on the world stage.

Modi resolved and is trying to resolve various diplomatic issues between Nepal and India, including border disputes and distribution of resources.  His promises to back Nepal’s journey toward the path of development have been functional. Construction of long-stalled hydroelectricity projects have been expedited. Railway linkages across the borders have been expanded while work on building railway network linking Raxaul with Kathmandu is being done. Direct bus services between Kathmandu and New Delhi have further increased people-to-people relations. Both the countries have moved ahead toward building a relationship based on mutual growth and prosperity.

NAMO 2.0 IN RELATION TO NEPAL
A stable government at home and in the neighborhood is by far the best thing to happen for Nepal after many years. Given Modi’s willingness to move ahead toward mutual growth and prosperity, it is very crucial for us to expedite the implementation of long and short-term development projects. In his first tenure, the Modi government has worked extensively on bringing stalled projects into implementation. The Oli government should now further their implementation by working closely with the bureaucracy.

Indian investment is Nepal has increased. Nepal has secured investment for Arun III hydroelectric project and expects to attract further foreign direct investment (FDI) by offering attractive incentive packages in terms of corporate taxation, import duties, and export facilitation for foreigner investors and assuring an investment-friendly environment. By working with the government in our southern neighbor, the Oli government can bag in more investments for its development projects and help our economy.

Since coming to power, Modi has always stressed on the power connectivity and cooperation for achieving a prosperous neighborhood. And during his second term, which of course is starting off with even greater maturity in terms of policy and experience, Nepal government should work closely in realizing the goal of a prosperous and happy Nepal.

(This article was previously published in Republica)

KATHMANDU, May 24: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked political leaders of Nepal for congratulating him on his landslide election victory.

Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 seats out of 542 seats to register back-to-back majority in the lower house for a single party since 1984 in Indian General Elections history. In 2014 elections, Modi’s BJP became the first party in 30 years to win a single-party majority.

Indian National Party won 52 seats.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Main opposition party Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal Communist Party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Kamal Thapa had congratulated Modi for winning the Lok Sabha Elections.

In his reply, Modi has assured to work closely with Nepal and further strengthen the bilateral relations between Nepal and India.

In his reply to Prime Minister Oli, he tweeted, “Nepal and India have been close friends and neighbors since time immemorial, nurtured by our strong people-to-people bonds. I look forward to continue working with you to take India-Nepal relationship to ever greater heights.”

Thank you PM @kpsharmaoli for your warm wishes. Nepal and India have been close friends and neighbours since time immemorial, nurtured by our strong people-to-people bonds. I look forward to continue working with you to take India-Nepal relationship to ever greater heights. https://t.co/ySA7gtzVu2

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

To NCP Chair Dahal, Modi said India looks forward to continuing “our engagement at the highest political levels with Nepal.”

Thank you @cmprachanda. India deeply values its close relations with Nepal. We look forward to continuing our engagement at the highest political levels with Nepal. https://t.co/fyOQQfeWZK

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

Replying to NC President Deuba, he said India is committed to strengthening the traditionally close and friendly ties with Nepal.

Thank you @DeubaSherbdr for your good wishes. India and Nepal share special bonds of kinship. We remain committed to strengthening our traditionally close & friendly ties with Nepal. https://t.co/yVtG2Srfcq

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

Responding to Minister Gyawali’s congratulatory message, Modi expressed commitment to further strengthen partnership with Nepal.

Thank you @PradeepgyawaliK for your warm wishes and greetings.

We are deeply committed to further strengthening of our partnership with Nepal. https://t.co/ksW80ezWvL

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

Replying to NC leader Paudel, Modi said Nepal is committed with the Government of Nepal.

Thank you @NcPaudel for your kind wishes. India is committed to work with Government of Nepal for further strengthening our bilateral ties. https://t.co/bI4E7YFJBj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

Replying to RPP Chair Thapa, Modi said India deeply values the close historical ties and multi-faceted partnership with Nepal.

Thank you @KTnepal for your good wishes.

India deeply values its close historical ties and multi-faceted partnership with Nepal. https://t.co/m3BWdaPeEe

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed an “inclusive” future for all Indians on Thursday after a landslide election victory that crushed the Gandhi dynasty’s comeback hopes once again.

“Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!,” Modi tweeted as delirious supporters of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated nationwide.

“The faith placed in our alliance is humbling and gives us strength to work even harder to fulfil people’s aspirations,” he said before arriving at BJP headquarters flashing victory signs with both hands and being showered in petals.

Although final results were yet to be published, a rolling vote count by the election commission showed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) increased its majority with 302 out of 543 elected lower house seats.

The BJP’s main rivals Congress were on just 51 seats, with Rahul Gandhi — the great-grandson, grandson and son of three premiers — conceding defeat and congratulating Modi.

In an added personal humiliation Gandhi, 48, also admitted he had lost Amethi, a seat long held by his famous family, to a former television star running for the BJP.

The BJP’s headquarters in Delhi erupted in celebration with drummers, firecrackers, dancing and singing as hundreds of party faithful thronged the yard and nearby streets waiting for Modi.

“Modi will make India great again. Modi is the strongest prime minister India has ever had and will get. We need to support his policies to prosper,” said one supporter, Santosh Joshi.

At Congress headquarters, a handful of dejected supporters sat in groups under the shade of trees.

“We are sad but we will rise again. Modi won because of his lies and false promises. The country is in danger now,” Rajesh Tiwari, a Congress supporter, told AFP.

India’s main Sensex index breached the 40,000-point level for the first time as the count pointed to a Modi win, following strong gains since Monday.

FAKE NEWS

The vast size of India — stretching from the Himalayas to the tropics, taking in polluted megacities, deserts and jungles — made the world’s biggest election a marathon six-week endeavor.

The campaign, estimated to have cost more than $7 billion, was awash with insults — Modi was likened to Hitler and a “gutter insect” — as well as fake news in Facebook and WhatsApp’s biggest markets.

Gandhi tried several lines of attack against Modi, in particular over a French defense deal and high unemployment and saying Modi was dividing the officially secular country.

Lynchings of Muslims and low-caste Dalits for eating beef and slaughtering and trading in cattle have risen, with critics saying extremists have been emboldened by the BJP coming to power.

Several cities with names rooted in India’s Islamic Mughal past have been renamed, while some school textbooks have been changed to include references to Hindu right-wing ideology, culture and history.

THE WATCHMAN

But Modi, 68, managed to deftly turn the election into a referendum on his rule while depicting himself, often in the third person, as the only one able to defend India.

In this he was given a major boost when a suicide bombing, claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group, killed 40 Indian paratroopers in Indian-administered Kashmir on February 14.

Doubts abound about the efficacy of India’s subsequent air strikes on Pakistan, but the action enabled Modi to style himself the “chowkidar” (“watchman”).

“We have shown the world that India is a great country. We have shown Pakistan that they cannot mess with us,” said Vishal Sharma, a BJP supporter in Delhi.

“Congress sold the country for all these decades. Now is the time to rebuild the nation.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday congratulated Modi and said he looked forward to working for “peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia”.

His message came just hours after Pakistan’s military said it tested a surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads — a day after an Indian missile test.

But while Pakistanis consider Modi a hardliner, analysts say his victory could improve relations between the arch foes.

“The expectation in Pakistan is that there will be an incremental improvement in Pakistan-India relations as Modi’s attitude would be more relaxed,” retired Pakistani general Talat Masood told AFP. AFP

KATHMANDU, March 14: Senior leader of Bharitiya Janata Party, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, has said he is hopeful that both Nepal and Indian government will receive the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report after the General Elections.

The EPG, a joint mechanism consisting of experts and intellectuals from Nepal and India to study and report and the overall relations between the two neighbors including 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty, trade, environment, border and hydropower, came up with a single joint report during its ninth meeting on June 30. The term of EPG expired on July 4 last year.

The report is to be submitted to both prime ministers for consideration. Various media have reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not happy with some of the recommendations of the joint report and thus is reluctant to meet the EPG members.

Koshiyari, India coordinator of EPG, clarified that the Indian PM Modi will receive the report once the election is over.

“Indian government has ho dissatisfaction toward the EPG report,” he told Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala, who is in New Dehli.

“PM Modi has remained very busy these days for his election campaign. Therefore, he has not been able to meet the EPG members.  After the election is over, he will receive the report,” he added.

The Indian General Election, which will constitute 17th Lok Shaba, is scheduled to be held in in 7 phases from 11 April 2019 to 19 May 2019.

He also claimed that the report will address all the problems surfaced in India-Nepal relations.

“We did hard work to prepare this report. EPG report will be a milestone document. There is no doubt about it.”” he said.

He further said that the bilateral relation between Nepal and India is positive.

“India will always extend its support in the development and prosperity of Nepal,” he added.

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5th EPG meeting: 1950 treaty to get new dimensions

KATHMANDU, May 13: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing his two-day Nepal visit, said the talks with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli were “productive” and his trip has added new vigor to India-Nepal ties.

“My Nepal visit was historic. It gave me a great opportunity to connect with the wonderful people of Nepal,” Modi tweeted at the end of his third trip to Nepal since assuming office in 2014.

“Talks with Prime Minister Oli were productive”, Modi said adding, “This trip has added new vigor to India-Nepal relations….I reiterate India’s strong support to Nepal as it pursues its development agenda…,” Modi said.

According to a joint statement issued on Saturday, the two prime ministers agreed to maintain the momentum generated by the visit by taking effective measures for the implementation of all the agreements and understandings reached in the past.

They also agreed on effective implementation of the bilateral initiatives in agriculture, railway linkages and inland waterways development, as agreed upon by the two sides during the recent visit of Prime Minister Oli to India, would have a transformational impact in these areas, the statement said.

The two leaders reiterated their resolve to work together to take bilateral relations to newer heights by strengthening ongoing cooperation in diverse spheres as well as expanding partnership for socio-economic development on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual trust, respect and mutual benefit, it said.

They emphasized the need for a regular convening of bilateral mechanisms, including Nepal-India Joint Commission at foreign/external affairs ministers level, to review the overall state of bilateral relations, and for the expeditious implementation of the economic and development cooperation projects.

They welcomed the outcome of the recently held Inter-Governmental Committee meeting on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to control unauthorized trade to jointly initiate a comprehensive review of the bilateral Treaty of Trade, and to consider amendments to the Treaty of Transit and related agreements with a view to further facilitating Nepal’s access to the Indian market, enhancing overall bilateral trade, and facilitating Nepal’s transit trade, the statement said.

The two leaders agreed to take further steps to enhance the economic and physical connectivity by air, land, and water. They also directed their officials to expand cooperation in civil aviation sector, including early technical discussion on additional air entry routes to Nepal by respective technical teams.

They reiterated the importance of advancing cooperation in water resources for mutual benefit in areas such as river training works, inundation and flood management, irrigation, and to enhance pace of implementation of ongoing bilateral projects. They also expressed satisfaction over constitution of the joint team, which will visit areas affected by inundation and floods and consider appropriate measures for sustainable solution.

The two prime ministers also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in power sector in line with the bilateral Power Trade Agreement.

They also directed their officials to address outstanding matters by September 2018, with the objective of advancing cooperation in all areas.

The two leaders underscored the importance of regional and sub-regional cooperation under BIMSTEC, SAARC, and BBIN frameworks for forging meaningful cooperation in identified sectors.

KATHMANDU, May 1: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will directly land in Janakpur before coming to Kathmandu first, according to Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa.

Indian PM Modi, who is scheduled to visit Nepal on May 11, will board an Indian Air Force plane from Patna of India. Modi will be welcomed by a senior minister in Janakpur, according to PM’s press advisor Kundar Aryal.

After arriving at Janakpur, he will perform puja at Janaki Temple.

He will address a function in Barhabigha of Janakpur the same day before heading to the capital, according to Minister Thapa. Modi will also visit Muktinath temple later.

Meanwhile, Minister Thapa has already left for Janakpur to access the security situation.

Thapa said that Indian PM Modi’s security responsibility rested with the country and promised high security arrangement.

Thapa also made it clear that the Indian Prime Minister’s visit will be religious as no political agreements would be made during his visit.

WUHAN, Apr 29: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have decided to issue “strategic guidance” to their militaries to strengthen communications and to build trust and understanding, a top Indian diplomat said on Saturday, a move aimed at avoiding a Dokalam-like situation in the future.

Modi said his talks with President Xi focused on diverse areas of India-China cooperation. “We discussed ways to give impetus to our economic ties as well as people-to-people relations. Other areas we spoke about include agriculture, technology, energy and tourism,” he said.

Briefing reporters at the end of the two-day informal summit between the two leaders in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Saturday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said the two leaders underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in all areas of the India-China border region.

“To this end, they issued strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communication in order to build trust and mutual understanding and enhance predictability and effectiveness in the management of border affairs,” Gokhale said.

He said the two leaders further directed their militaries to earnestly implement various confidence building measures agreed upon between the two sides, including the principle of mutual and equal security, and strengthen existing institutional arrangements and information sharing mechanisms to prevent incidents in border regions.

They also endorsed the work of the special representatives to find a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement on the boundary issue.

The two countries have so far held 20 rounds of talks to resolve the boundary dispute and worked out different mechanisms to keep peace along the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control.

His remarks assumes significance as the ‘heart-to-heart’ summit between Modi and Xi is being seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff last year.

“The two leaders were of the view that the two countries have the maturity and wisdom to handle all our differences through peaceful discussions within the context of the overall relationships and bearing in mind, we would respect each other’s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations,” Gokhale said.

Modi and Xi underlined that as two major countries India and China have wider and overlapping regional and global interests. They agreed on the need to strengthen strategic communication through greater consultation on all matters of common interest. “They believe that such strategic communication will have a positive influence on enhancing mutual understanding and will contribute to regional and global stability,” Gokhale said.

The two leaders recognized the common threat posed by terrorism and committed to cooperate further on counter-terrorism, he said.

When asked whether the issue of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was raised, he said the two leaders “did not go into specifics”. China has repeatedly blocked India’s bid to designate Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN.

The two leaders agreed that India and China are major powers, with strategic and decisional autonomy and they will pursue peaceful, stable and balanced relations and such a relationship will be a positive factor for stability amidst the current global uncertainties, he said, amidst increasing protectionist moves by countries like the US.

“The developments were reviewed from the strategic and long-term perspective. They agreed to significantly enhance efforts to build on the convergences through the established mechanisms in order to create the broadest possible platform for the future relationship,” Gokhale said.

The two leaders underlined that trade should be balanced, it should be sustainable, and that the two sides should take advantage of the complementarities between the two economies.

Modi also mentioned the importance of balancing the trade, and the scope of the possibilities of agricultural exports and pharmaceutical exports to China.

The two sides also discussed climate change, sustainable development and food security.

Xi shared his experience in terms of the preservation of the Yangtze – China’s longest river – and Modi shared his own experience on the question of the cleaning of the Ganga – India’s longest river.

They also discussed how to promote sports between the two countries and how to strengthen tourism on the Buddhist circuit.

“They reiterated the importance of building an open, multi-polar, pluralist and participatory global economic order which will enable all countries to pursue their development and contribute to the elimination of poverty and inequality in all regions of the world. They spoke of their respective efforts to contribute to the regional and global economic development,” Gokhale said.

They also underscored the importance of reform of multilateral financial and political institutions to make them representative and responsive to the needs of developing countries.

The forward-looking dialogue helped them in forging a common understanding of the future direction of India-China relations built upon mutual respect for each other’s developmental aspirations and prudent management of differences with mutual sensitivity,” he added. AGENCIES

AMBASSADOR PURI, INDIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ CONGRATULATE OLI

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has congratulated and extended best wishes to the newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli.

Modi called PM Oli at around 10 pm on Thursday and extended best wishes for his successful tenure as prime minister, according to Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri. Modi, on the telephone conversation, pledged to provide all possible cooperation and support in Nepal’s development and prosperity.

Quoting Modi, Ambassador Puri told Reporters’ Club Nepal, “May Nepal achieve economic progress, development and prosperity in Oli’s tenure! India is willing to move ahead cooperating with Nepal and extend special support in development sectors.”

In exchange, Oli said that development and prosperity of Nepal was his prime agenda and added he was eager to further consolidate the positive bilateral ties between Nepal and India.

Oli told his counterpart Modi, “India has always assisted in Nepal’s economic development. I believe that more support will come from India in the days ahead.”

Both the prime ministers, during the telephone conversation, invited each other for a courtesy visit and accepted the request.

Modi, during the conversation, said that he was eager to welcome Oli in India. Oli also invited Modi to Nepal to visit Janakpur and Muktinath temple.

Ambassador Puri said to Rishi Dhamala that the telephone conversation between Oli and Modi was very positive. Puri had reached Oli’s residence at Balkot on Thursday evening to congratulate him and extend best wishes.

According to Puri, Indian EAM Swaraj also called Oli and congratulated him yesterday.

Quoting Swaraj, Puri said, “Nepal will gain economic prosperity in your (Oli’s) leadership. I want to assure you that India will extend every possible support to help Nepal progress and develop.”

On the occasion, Oli also lauded Ambassador Puri’s contribution in strengthening Indo-Nepal bilateral relation and hoped for positive role in the coming days, PM close sources said.

With KP Oli, a vocal critic of India against its meddling in Nepali politics, becoming Prime Minister again, how will Oli-Modi chemistry go?

RISHI DHAMALA, KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Successful completion of local, provincial and federal election- in Nepal have laid the strong foundation for the implementation of federalism in Nepal.

The left alliance, constituting CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), who dramatically forged electoral alliance on the eve election, swept the House of Representatives and Province Assembly elections. India, which has always  supported Nepal’s major political transformation of Nepal–extended support and assistance in the recent election and has welcomed the election outcome.

It is apparent that the road to federal democratic republic in Nepal started when CPN (Maoist) and seven political parties within the then parliament reached a 12-point Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2006, in which parties pledged to work towards democracy, peace, prosperity and social advancement after the end of  monarchy. Several talks between the Maoist leaders and seven-party alliance were held in an Indian government guesthouse in New Delhi, before they reached an agreement in November that year.

Undeniably, India had played a constructive role in achieving this success, which ultimately ended the 10-year long armed conflict and created a base for reestablishing democracy. India has also stepped up its support in political development that followed.

GOOD SIGNS

Despite some blips and hiccups in the Indo-Nepal bilateral relation, especially the anti-Indian sentiments which rose after the 2015 blockade, post-election political developments have signaled that India-Nepal relation is going toward positive direction.

India was dissatisfied with new constitution of Nepal, But it has welcomed the elections conducted under this constitution. This is a meaningful step. After the completion of election, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister and Nepal Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, UML Chair KP Oli and Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal to congratulate them on election success and even expressed his wish to extend support to Nepal’s economic development and prosperity.

Conversation between Modi and KP Oli is even more meaningful. Modi congratulated Oli on left alliance’s success and expressed hope that left victory would ensure political stability and economic development in Nepal. Modi also invited Oli to visit India after the formation of new government stating that he was eager to welcome Oli.

Modi was also the first Indian prime minister to visit Nepal after 17 years. He visited Nepal in 2014. Ever since Modi assumed office, exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries have become more frequent. Modi has already received four prime ministers from Nepal in New Delhi– which is an example of political instability and frequent changes of government in Nepal. But now, it seems the Indian PM wants to see political stability in Nepal.

MODI-OLI CHEMISTRY

But with Oli–who has always remained vocal critic of India against its meddling in Nepalese politics, becoming Prime Minister soon, how will Oli-Modi chemistry go? How will left dominance in Nepal impact Indo-Nepal bilateral relation?

Both Oli and Modi are charismatic, articulate and effective communicators. Both are expertise in diplomatic issues. Modi had frequently visited Nepal even when he was a cadre of Bharatiya Janata Party and is familiar with most things in Nepal. Since his adopted son is also Nepali, he is quite familiar with hearts and honesty of Nepali people.

During his visit to Nepal as Indian PM, Modi showed love and support for Nepal and won hearts of Nepali people. People hailed him in the streets.

But the Indo-Nepal ties suffered a crisis following Delhi’s diplomatic intervention in Nepal’s new constitutional process and Indian blockade, which became a recipe for fueling anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal. Oli stood strongly against India invoking anti-indian rhetoric and criticizing its ‘hegemonic interference’. Oli, however, has been saying that he is not anti-Indian while clarifying that all that he did during those days were meant for improving relations between the two countries.

Oli had even held India responsible for the fall of his government by ‘Indian remote control’ after CPN (Maoist Center) pulled out support in July 2016. India vehemently denied all these charges.

RELIABLE OLI

Historically, Oli’s relation with India has never been hostile. Oli once gambled his political career and was even branded ‘Man of India’ after his role in historic Mahakali Treaty of 1996. Oli was the only leader within UML to stand for the treaty.

In fact, Oli is the leader who can be counted to take firm stance in the issues of welfare of the country. He has always put national welfare first while respecting neighbor’s wants and wishes—a common character found in Oli and Modi. In 2015, the Indian PM Modi paid a surprise visit to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, the first visit by an Indian premier to Pakistan after 10 years, with the purpose of improving bilateral ties between the two countries.

Now, with Modi expressing his eagerness to welcome Oli in New Delhi as soon as he becomes PM, cracks between Kathmandu and Delhi are expected to gradually erase. If the Oli-Modi chemistry works fine, and if the left alliance give Nepal a stable government for a straight five years, a strong basis can be worked out to materialize the ‘Nepalese dreams’ of economic development and prosperity under his leadership.

At a time, India has been consistently focusing on developmentl issues, Oli can present the economic issues with Indian side. A comprehensible bilateral foundation should be prepared for the benefit of both countries. Nepal should learn to take advantage from the growing economy of India, and economic rise of China as well. Time has come for Oli to show his diplomatic ingenuity keeping in mind Nepal’s geo-political reality.

Nepal is a land locked country bordering China in the north and India in the east, west and south. Given our geographical connections, apart from cultural, religious, political similarities, it is necessary to develop a special diplomatic relation with India, with development as a major agenda.

As a strong leader, Oli can give a strong leadership to the country. But it will largely depend on his diplomatic policy how he can take India and China into confidence. Oli should be able to utilize the chemistry with Modi for better results.

PURI’S ROLE

Luckily for Oli, the atmosphere has become positive at the moment. After Manjeev Singh Puri came to Nepal as Indian Ambassador, India itself has made efforts to improve relation with Oli. Puri, a successful diplomat, has paid courtesy visit to Oli frequently after assuming office. His role has been crucial in improving the relation between Oli and India. Puri has sent clear message that India wants stability and prosperity in Nepal.

Oli can capitalize on this atmosphere but he should be able to establish a positive coordination with Deuba and Prachanda. Prachanda is a far-sighted leader while experienced Deuba can play a constructive role from the opposition. If Oli can take both Deuba and Prachanda into confidence and build a strong positive relation with India, stability and economic prosperity won’t be very far. Oli can prove himself as if he can make growing economy of India benifical of Nepal as well.

(This article was previously published in Republica Daily.)