Kathmandu:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the famous Pashupatinath temple on Monday where he performed a special prayer. Meetings with Nepal’s President Ram Baran Yadav and former Prime Minister Prachanda are on his agenda.
Modi, who arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday on his maiden official visit to Nepal, met his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala the same day, during which the two sides inked three agreements. The three agreements included one on the 5,600 MW Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project that will pave the way to start the stalled project.Â
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced $1 billion (Rs. 6,000 crore) as concessional line of credit to Nepal and proposed a “HIT” formula for the development of the land-locked country endowed with rich hydropower potential.Â
The two leaders discussed various issues including Nepal’s peace process and constitution-drafting process as well as economic issues. They also discussed various facets of mutual relations and issues of common interest.
Modi also addressed the Constituent Assembly in Kathmandu on Sunday during which he sought to touch an emotional chord with the people of Nepal saying that “such are our ties that India has won no war in which the blood of Nepalis has not been shed”.
For India, Nepalese nationals have not shied away from shedding blood, he said. Amid thumping of desks and applause all round, Mr Modi went on to quote Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to buttress his point. “If a soldier says he is not afraid of death, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha,” Modi said quoting the late Field Marshall Manekshaw.
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