India’s History, Faith, Lord Ram Incomplete without Nepal: PM Modi

TIL Desk JANAKPUR, NEPAL/ After weeks of hectic campaigning in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Nepal’s Janakpur, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita. PM Modi and Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated a bus from Janakpur to Ayodhya – believed to be Lord Ram’s birthplace – to promote religious tourism in Nepal and India. Apart from holding meetings with the Nepal Prime Minister and other leaders, PM Modi is visiting three Hindu pilgrimage centres on his two-day visit. This is his third visit to the country as Prime Minister.

“These high-level and regular interactions reflect my government’s commitment to the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, in consonance with the motto of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ (development for all),” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statement.

Prime Minister will make several major announcements on bilateral ties between India and Nepal.PM Modi and his Nepalese counterpart, KP Sharma Oli, jointly inaugurated the Ramayan Circuit Bus Route that connects Janakpur, Goddess Sita’s birthplace, to Ayodhya, Lord Ram’s birthplace. “For centuries the ties between Ayodhya and Janakpur are unbreakable,” PM Modi said.

High security is in place in Janakpur, Kathmandu and Muktinath where PM Modi is visiting. Close to 11,000 security personnel from both countries will be deployed during the visit.

The PM said he is looking forward to his visits to Janakpur and Muktinath which attract a large number of pilgrims every year.

After flagging off the bus, the provincial government in the town will host PM Modi at the Bahrabigaha’s Rangabhoomi ground. A holiday has been declared in the province because of PM Modi’s visit.

PM Modi and KP Sharma Oli will hold one-on-one talks in Kathmandu later today. He will also meet the Nepal president, vice president and leaders of major political parties. In Kathmandu, PM Modi will offer prayers at the famous Pashupatinath temple.

The foundation stone for a hydroelectricity project in the eastern Nepal district of Sankhuwasabha will be laid by PM Modi via video conferencing. Indian government-owned Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam is handling the project in Nepal.

Tomorrow, PM Modi will offer prayers at the Muktinath temple, on the foothills of the Thorong La mountain pass. He is expected to announce a “surprise gift” for its development .

“I am confident that my visit will further cement our people-centric partnership with Nepal on the basis of mutual benefit, goodwill and understanding,” PM Modi said in a statement.