Modi goes to Nepal a month after PM Oli's visit
PM Narendra Modi has landed in Nepal on his third visit to the country, this time on a two-day trip. Apart from talks on bilateral projects, a key element will be political engagement with all sides, including the opposition. Also in the plans is a meeting with the Madhesi community, which harbors resentment at what they view as India dropping their cause.
Here's what Modi's two-day trip will entail
Modi has landed in Janakpur, where he paid obeisance at the Sita Temple, the first Indian PM to do so. He'll also offer prayers at Muktinath and Pashupatinath temple. In Kathmandu, he'll hold talks with PM KP Oli, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun. There'll be a public reception in Janakpur and Kathmandu, and a guard of honor by the army.
PMs to lay foundation stone of Nepal's largest hydropower project
Modi and Oli will jointly lay down the foundation stone for the construction of the 900MW Arun III project, which is being developed by India. It is Nepal's largest hydropower project. Later, Oli will host a dinner for Modi.
India maintaining relations with all key Nepali parties
Modi is taking care to maintain good relations with Nepal's opposition too. He'll meet Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of Nepali Congress, who earlier warned Delhi it was neglecting its older allies. He'll also meet Oli's key ally Prachanda, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). A merger between Prachanda and Oli's party, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), is in discussion.
Modi launches bus service in Nepal
Modi to reconnect with the protesting Madhesis
Another key goal is re-establishing cordial relations with the Madhesis, who initially had India's backing in their constitutional demands. This hit bilateral ties. But as Delhi and Kathmandu reconnected, the Madhesis felt left out. In a sign of friendship, Modi began his trip from Janakpur, a Madhesi-dominated province. He is also set to hold talks with leaders of two major Madhesi parties.
What does this trip mean for India and Nepal?
This is Modi's third trip to Nepal in three years, which came just a month after Oli visited Delhi in April. It is being seen as India's endorsement of the Nepali Constitution, which it hadn't backed when it was promulgated 2.5 years ago. The trip is also testament to India's 'neighborhood first' policy, undertaken with a goal of mending ties.
