​PM Modi 'corrects course' to mend ties with Nepal

By Ritu Raj Subedi
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, May 21, 2018
Adjust font size:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi [Photo/Xinhua]


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi resorted to "religious diplomacy" to mend the strained relations with Nepal during his two-day (May 11-12) visit to the Himalayan republic. 

The majority of Nepalis and Indians are Hindu and Buddhists, and Modi sought to invoke spiritual sentiments as a check to the toxic geopolitical fallouts that have largely resulted from India's hegemonic attitude towards its small neighbor.

He visited three famous Hindu shrines – Janaki Temple in Janakpur of central Terai, Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and Muktinath located in Mustang, a Himalayan district bordering China. He also held bilateral talks with Nepal's government and political parties to develop Nepal-India relations from a fresh perspective.

The visit marks Modi's proactive course-correction initiative to bring Nepal-India ties back on track after the Indian blockade in 2015 brought their relations to a low ebb. It is the reciprocation of Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to India last month.

Modi has dramatically changed his tone thanks to the assertive foreign policy that new Prime Minister Sharma Oli has adopted after taking the reins of the majority communist government in mid-February this year.

During his one-to-one talks with his Nepali counterpart Oli, Modi committed to respecting Nepal's territorial integrity and sovereignty by refraining from intervening in the internal affairs of Nepal.

"Now we have built an atmosphere to develop Nepal-India relations on an equal footing. We agreed not to interfere in each other's internal matters," said Oli while briefing the parliament about Modi's visit.

Yet Modi's visit fell short of the expectations of Nepalis that he would apologize for the blockade that had turned their lives upside down in the wake of the devastating earthquake three years ago. India had enforced an unofficial economic embargo over the contents of Nepal's new constitution. 

If he had given mea culpa for the inhuman blockade, he would have been able to heal the wounds of Nepalis. Ahead of his visit, social media was trending with #BlockadeWasCrimeMrModi.

Nonetheless, Modi tried his best to respect the feelings of Nepalis and cautiously distanced himself from the internal affairs of Nepal, especially the Madhes issue that India has been exploiting as a geopolitical instrument to cower its smaller neighbor for over a decade. 

He said India supports an integrated Nepal and is ready to be its vital development partner based on the latter's necessity and priorities. 

Modi, who is known for his eloquent speeches, offered lofty words to assuage the bitter feelings generated by the blockade: "The dignity of Nepalis is taller than Mt Everest and their heart is as deep as the ocean." The remark sounds like a veiled act of contrition on part of his administration.

Despite the rhetoric that Nepal has been at the top of India's "Neighbourhood First" policy, it needs to match the words with action to overcome deep-seated distrust. There is a saying – "India only talks but China delivers." Scores of Indian-funded projects have been lying pending for decades, posing a question to its ability to timely execute development.

This time the Nepali side tried to pin the Indian PM down on many bilateral agreements. In the 16-point joint statement, the two prime ministers have directed their respective officials to "address outstanding matters by September 2018, with the objective of advancing cooperation in all areas." They include inundation in Terai, glitches in trade and transit, opening four additional air routes for Nepal and integrated check posts, among others.

India has proposed to complete survey of railways from Raxaul in India to Kathmandu this year and build it in five years with Indian funding. In yet another breakthrough, Oli and Modi had jointly laid the foundation stone of a 900 MW Arun-III hydro-electric project, located in Sankhuwasabha in east Nepal, by using the remote-control technology. If constructed in time, the hydro project can be a milestone not only to meet the domestic energy demand but to also boost the confidence of foreign investors in Nepal.

PM Oli and his nationalistic credentials have become subjects of criticism in social media for allowing two civic receptions in honor of Modi.

Poised to balance ties with both neighbors and reap the economic benefits from them, PM Oli is embarking for China soon. He will probably give a fitting answer to his critics, who are accusing him of tilting towards India, by giving momentum to landmark accords signed with the northern neighbor.

Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal.


Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter