KATHMANDU, May 11: A group of youths has burned the effigies of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital on Monday, to protest India’s inauguration of a road link connecting Manasoravar which passes through Nepali territory Lipulekh.

The police have arrested around 30 protestors from BabarMahal.

Photos: Mukunda Kalikote/Reporters’ Club

KATHMANDU, April 10: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi has held a telephone conversation on Friday.

“We talked about consolidating the collaboration in the combat against coronavirus and looking after people stranded in each other’s countries due to the lockdowns enforced in both countries,” wrote PM Oli on his twitter.

According to Oli, they also discussed keeping the supply system smooth and easier.

Oli also thanked Modi for assistance including medicine to be provided by the Indian government.

NEW DELHI, March 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from Tuesday midnight, asserting that social distancing is the only way out for the country in its decisive battle against the coronavirus.

In his second address to the nation on the pandemic raging across much of the world with the number of infections rising in India, Modi made a fervent appeal to the countrymen not to cross the ‘lakshman rekha’ of their homes in the next three weeks.

Any negligence in these 21 days will “push the country and your families by 21 years”, he said underlining the massive danger the coronavirus poses.

The experience of countries, which have been able to contain the virus to some extent and experts’ views have made it clear that social distancing caused by a lockdown is the only way to break the cycle of the infection, he said.

This is the only ray of light, he asserted.

“To save India, to save every Indian, there will be a complete ban on people from stepping outside their houses from 12 midnight today,” he said.

“Lockdown is being imposed on every state, union territory, district, village, mohalla and street,” he added.

The lockdown will be like “curfew” and more stringent than the ‘janata curfew’, which the country had observed on Sunday, he said, adding it will have an economic cost but saving people’s lives is of the paramount interest to his government.

A lockdown in most of the country was already in place till March 31, and Modi’s announcement extended it everywhere and for two more weeks after this month.

Modi folded his hands a few times to emphasize his request to citizens to adhere to his call, saying it is applicable to everyone from the prime minister to a citizen in a village.

Even countries like Italy, France and the US with world-class infrastructure have been left helpless due to the spread of the disease despite their relentless efforts, he said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Some people suffer from this wrong mindset that only infected persons need to follow social distancing, he said, warning that such a view can endanger the lives of others and their families. PTI

KATHMANDU, March 15: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed the SAARC member states to establish an Emergency Fund to tackle the possible outbreak of Covid-19.

He said so while addressing a video conference of the SAARC heads of states/governments this evening.

Modi also announced to provide 10 million US dollars for the fund from the Indian side.

He also shared that the foreign secretary of India will further initiate and coordinate to establish such a fund.

PM Modi opined to keep the teams of experts and doctors alert to depute in the risky zones at any time. RSS

KATHMANDU, March 13: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the SAARC leaders to chalk out a joint strategy to fight the coronavirus.

He said the strategy could be discussed via video conferencing to keep the citizens of SAARC nations healthy and set an example to the world.

“I would like to propose that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy. Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet,” Modi tweeted on Friday.

“Our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it.

“South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population should leave no stone unturned to ensure our people are healthy,” he added.

Modi’s appeal comes after India reported its first fatality from COVID-19 today morning.

The Karnata government said that the 76-year-old man died while being treated for suspected COVID-19 on Tuesday and his samples sent to the lab earlier were tested positive.

India has reported 74 cases which the highest number of coronavirus infections in South Asia. Pakistan has confirmed 21 cases, the Maldives has eight cases, Afghanistan has seven cases, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have three cases each and Nepal and Bhutan have one case each, according to the World Health Organization.

As of Friday, the global pandemic has infected 132,567 people in 123 countries and territories and killed 4,947.

KATHMANDU, March 2: Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has wished a successful surgery and speedy recovery to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who is undergoing a second kidney transplant on Wednesday.

“My dear friend @kpsharmaoli ji, wishing you a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. May Lord Pashupatinath bless you always with good health, happiness and very long life. Look forward to your continued contribution to taking India-Nepal relations to new heights,” Modi tweeted on Monday.

The 69-year-old prime minister will be admitted to Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital today.

Previously he had undergone a kidney transplant in India in 2007. However, the doctors suggested another kidney transplant after the transplanted kidney stopped function properly.

In reply PM Oli thanked Modi and expressed commitment to work with him.

“Thank you dear Prime Minister Modiji @PMOIndia for wishing me successful surgery and speedy recovery. It was thoughtful of you to express such warm words, reflecting our close friendship,” Oli tweeted.

“I am fully committed to continuing working closely with you to take Nepal- India relations to new heights,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Jan 1: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli held a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday morning and invited him to Nepal.

“This morning I had a telephone conversation with @PMOIndia Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modiji. We exchanged new year’s greetings and best wishes. We shared that the year 2019 proved to be successful in elevating bilateral ties to a new height and expressed confidence that the year 2020 will be equally successful in taking the India-Nepal relation to the next level by resolving the pending issues,” tweeted PM Oli.

“I renewed my cordial invitation to Modiji for a visit to Nepal,” Oli added.

Reporters Club: The warmest reception to have been received in recent times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was overtly greeted by an ecstatic crowd of over 50000 people at an event in Houston Texas titled “Howdy Modi”.

Howdy is a traditional Texan greeting was the hallmark of this event.

This event is by far one of the largest such for any foreign leader in American soil.

This event had a 90-minute show and had over hundreds of different artists and performances before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump came into the stage to address the gathering.

In this occasion, President Trump paid a fitting tribute to the Indian American community for their sincerity and allegiance.

Both the leaders spoke favorably regarding their bilateral relations and there is hope that this relationship will continue strengthening in the future.

The program featured the line “SHARED DREAMS, BRIGHT FUTURES”, by the Texas India Forum.

(Photo: Scott Dalton | Bloomberg | Getty Images)