Neighbouring countries India and Nepal who have been tied in conflict ever since the latter adopted a new Constitution, has finally resolved all differences as Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli came on a 6-day visit to the country. In his maiden foreign trip since assuming charge, it is the first bilateral visit by a Nepalese Prime Minister to New Delhi since Baburam Bhattarai in 2011. Oli said his main agenda behind the visit was “to clear the misunderstanding” and take ties between the two countries to the same level as in 2014, when PM Modi had visited Nepal.
After talks with Modi, Oli said, “The misunderstanding that persisted in the last few months is no longer there. I believe our relationship will greatly benefit from our discussions. It is high time to look at India-Nepal relations with a forward-looking approach in the interest of the two countries and their people.” Before his meeting with Modi, Oli was called upon by India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. In the meeting, Oli told Swaraj that India and Nepal have a natural and civilisational relationship, as said by Swarup. The visit stresses on the significance of the relation between both the countries as ties had soured recently over the adoption of a new constitution. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted, “India and Nepal exchange nine agreements for partnership and progress.”
The agreements include utilisation of Indian grant of $250 million for post-earthquake reconstruction, improving of road infrastructure in Nepal's Terai area, cultural cooperation, transit between Nepal and Bangladesh through Kakarbitta-Banglabandh corridor, operationalisation of Vishakhapatnam port and rail transport to and from Vishakhapatnam. Oli's visit is the first bilateral visit by a Nepalese PM since 2011.
Oli also visited Bhuj, Gujarat to take stock of the post earthquake reconstruction works in Bhuj after it was devastated by a deadly quake in 2001. The visit aims at learning post earthquake reconstruction as Nepal is in the process of rebuilding after a devastating earthquake struck Nepal in April last year. Oli was taken to the state in special Air India flight from Delhi, and welcomed by Gujarat Governor OP Kohli.
