Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit highlights different stories and priorities to fasten relations with Nepal. Establishing good relations with neighbours was precedent; Modi’s first foreign visit to the country like Nepal shows his consciousness over security. We cannot change neighbours but establish friendly relations with them. India has a good relation with Nepal so far and it gives us a very good opportunity to be a part of the development of Nepal. Cultural tourism between the countries is symbolic of the implicit relation, in a slew of diverse facets like language, belief and more that these nations have shared since time immemorial. India has to have a stronger relationship with Nepal because of its strategic location and growing friendship with China. After the BRICS meeting earlier, Prime Minister Modi’s stature has inclined higher especially in Asia. He can use his new-found influence to find a new powerful voice from Asia. It is true that if we want peace in our houses then we need to have friendly neighbours.
We are culturally intertwined with Nepal. As it stands, Nepal will require massive infusion of education and technology from elsewhere. India can make the first move – both for humanitarian and strategic reasons. Investments from private universities and the industry can flow towards Nepal. Modi government can plan of providing employment for the best Nepalese graduates. Cultural assimilation will stabilise the equation and improve our security. While we glorify and sanctify river Ganga, a holistic view that includes the Himalayan peaks is required and Nepal is historical friend in this vision. Modi is visiting Nepal to forge a new relationship with it and start a “new chapter” in bilateral ties that will serve as a model and catalyst for regional partnership.
The renewed vigour shown by the NDA government should take Indo-Nepal relations to newer heights as two countries are, from time immemorial, following the same culture and same values. They are our neighbour and it is in our own interest to foster our relationship with Nepal. If India does not take our rightful space with Nepal, other expansionist neighbours will snatch the opportunity. We need to work together in field of hydro power, irrigation and peaceful and friendly environment. Also, Nepal plays a buffer state in between India and China, so strategically we need to have a better relation with Nepal than China has.
Our relations, with whosoever it may be, must be good. This is because we have to develop. If we look at our nation without fear and fervour, then we can develop. It is time to think over and over again from every possible angle, how to take relation with neighbour to next level. My best wishes is to new government at the Center for it’s good efforts. I hope it will maintain harmony among country’s fellow citizens and work to make India an efficient and strong economy. In a special humanitarian gesture, Modi witnessed a Nepalese youth reuniting with his family after having nurtured him for 16 years.
26-year-old Jeet Bahadur, who is currently pursuing a Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) course in Ahmedabad, had come to India in 1998 along with his brother looking for work like many other migrants from Nepal. Mr. Bahadur came in contact with Modi in Ahmedabad over a decade back and has since been looked after by him. On Sunday, he travelled with Modi to Kathmandu to be personally handed over to his mother and elder brother. At the hotel where the Indian delegation is staying, Modi met Bahadur’s family members who have moved Kathmandu from their native place Kawasoti in Nawalparasi district in western Nepal where they live in a slum area. After coming to India with his elder brother, Bahadur worked in Rajasthan for a brief period. However, after sometime, he decided to return to Nepal as he was unhappy with his job. While leaving Rajasthan, he mistakenly boarded an Ahmedabad-bound train instead of one going to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, which borders Nepal.
On arriving in Ahmedabad, a woman took him to the house of Modi who had till then not become the Chief Minister. Since then, Bahadur has been in Modi’s care. However, after Modi became the Prime Minister and moved to Delhi, Bahadur shifted to a university hostel. Indian Embassy officials in Kathmandu earlier visited Bahadur’s family in Kawasoti and informed them about Modi’s visit and his desire to meet them. Anyways, reuniting family with God son is great gesture, but here comes many questions, why Modi never tried to reunite Jeet with his family for 16 long years. Being a very powerful Gujarat leader, this was quite possible for him. Moreover, in various interviews to the media, Jeet Bahadur told that he was reunited with his family in 2002, then why this drama? Is Modi Sarkar, using Jeet as a PR tool to give emotional touch to his Nepal visit?
