Official Spokesperson (Shri Syed Akbaruddin):Good afternoon everybody and thank you very much for being here this afternoon. I will try to take you through the discussions that we had during the last couple of days, that is yesterday and today, and try to summarise and put them in context. Subsequent to that I will be open to answering any questions that you would like. We have exactly 25 minutes because I have to catch a plane back home.
As you are aware, it is the day after the historic statement by our Prime Minister at the Constituent Assembly and the Parliament. What we have been faced today with is a large number of responses about what people here feel about that. Rather than my saying so, I will try and quote for you what we have heard since this morning. That will provide you an idea of the responses that we have received. Some comments are in Hindi and some are in English. So, I will try and give you the exact quotes.
“Aapne man aur mastishk jeet liya hai”.“Yours is a historic visit which will take us to new heights”. There were others who said that this is a new era in relations. Some said, “If there were any misgivings about India-Nepal relations in the minds of Nepalese, you have clarified things.“Aapne hamaara man chhu liya hai. Man hi nahin, dil jeet liya hai.” “Aapne hamaare man ki baat keh di.”Basically all these in essence have been extremely positive feedback as far as we are concerned.
Every interlocutor we have met since this morning starting with the President of Nepal, said that this is something that they had never heard from anyone else; this is something that touched both their hearts and minds; this is something that the Nepalese will remember for a long time. That is the sum and substance of all these separate quotes.
While that has been the reaction, let me try and explain to you what has been the substance of our discussions yesterday and today. If we were to put it in four rubrics, we would define it as four C’s – cooperation, connectivity, culture and constitution. Let me try and explain to you what have been the outcomes in each of these.
The easiest one is the constitution and I will not get very much into it because it is quite evident for everybody. Prime Minister had spent a great deal of time yesterday in the Assembly explaining his views on this. But there were other issues in terms of connectivity, in terms of cooperation, in terms of culture, which are not yet in the public domain; so, I would like to share that with you.
Let us start with cooperation. Of course the most obvious is the USD 1 billion line of credit that was announced yesterday. As Prime Minister made it clear, this is an addition to any existing lines of credit that exist as of yesterday. Number two is that both the Prime Ministers have agreed that the Pancheshwar Development Authority will be set up and its DPR will be finalised within one year. We will try and explain to you further details on this.
The next is, both have agreed to conclude the power trading agreement in 45 days. The project development agreement between GMR and the Investment Board of Nepal for the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project would be agreed to in 45 days.
We move to connectivity. At the request of Nepal, India will assist in construction of a multilane motorable bridge over the Mahakali river at Mahendranagar. This will allow traffic along the East-West Highway to cross over the Mahakali river and establish a vital trade and transit link between the western region of Nepal and Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and New Delhi.
They have also agreed to expediting construction of the Postal Road and the feeder road in the Terai, and complete Phase-1 expeditiously. I will acknowledge to you that there have been considerable concerns raised on the delays on this project. Even while Phase-1 is to be completed expeditiously, the two leaders have agreed to commence Phase-2 within a year.
We come to culture. You are aware that Prime Minister yesterday very eloquently explained the cultural affinity between India and Nepal. This morning when he visited the Pashupatinath Temple, he announced a gift of 2,500 kg of sandalwood from India to the temple authorities. In addition, we have informed that work on adharmasala for the Pashupatinath Development Authority will commence soon through Government of India’s assistance. Also, along with the Archaeological Survey of India we will start on renovation and restoration of the complex. This amount is approximately Indian Rs.25 crore. This is a multi-year project which will begin shortly.
Finally, there is a discussion on development of Janakpur, Lumbini, including Lumbini as part of the Buddhist Circuit based on specific proposals which we expect to receive from Nepal.
I think we will stop here so that it gives you an idea of the broad areas covered in each of these. We will be willing to answer any questions. I have here with me my colleague who handles the Northern Division and he will respond to any specific questions if you would like to ask on the projects
per se. But if you would like to ask anything else, I am willing to answer that.
The floor is open now.
Question:Neither the PPA nor PDA had been signed in this visit. So, is it below the expectation of India?
Official Spokesperson: I think you heard the Prime Minister say very vividly yesterday, India will move at a pace and in a manner that Nepal is comfortable with. If you see our relations which go back centuries, if there are some procedural issues to be resolved, we need to give each other that time and space to resolve them. That said, let me tell you we have had extensive discussions today with parties across political spectrum. Each of them had assured us that they are for cooperation in the power sector between India and Nepal. They hoped that this will come about very quickly. And we are confident, after the reassurance by a cross section of Nepali political leadership, that we are on the cusp of moving ahead in terms of our hydropower cooperation with Nepal.
Question:You said every party assured that they were in fact on board with the power agreement. Mr. Baburam Bhattarai came out of that meeting and said that. He also said that he had reminded the Indian leadership of the many projects that have seen delays and many promises that have not been kept. What did Prime Minister Modi say in response to that?
Official Spokesperson: You are right that he did raise this question. I would have hoped that he would have also told you what the Prime Minister said. Let me try and explain what happened.
This came up in the context of a concern expressed that they had never anticipated that Prime Minister would know so many details about India-Nepal relations. And Prime Minister’s response was, ‘you have seen me succeed in the first concern you had, that was about not knowing the details, but you acknowledge yourself that I have covered the entire gamut of relations between India and Nepal. Now let me assure you, in the same vein I would ensure that your concerns will be addressed in terms of speed of implementation and the need to implement what has been agreed to’. And both the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. Bhattarai acknowledged that they had certainly been surprised with the depth of knowledge Prime Minister had on this issue.
And our understanding is, they also said at the end of that meeting that they are reassured by this conversation with the Prime Minister as well as his statements yesterday, and in fact some of those things that I told you are attributable to them. They were the ones who said, “Aapne hamaare man ki baat keh di. Aapne man ko hi nahin chhua, lekin mastishk ko bhi jeet liya hai”.
Question:This was Baburam Bhattarai?
Official Spokesperson: This was on behalf of him, Mr. Prachanda.
Question:Baburam Bhattarai also said the same thing.
Official Spokesperson: I do not want to parse every statement but he did say very similar things. Let me assure you, every leader who came today was full of praise for what happened yesterday. In fact, they said this ushers in something new in India-Nepal relations. The only concern that they had was, in the case of the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. Baburam Bhattarai, they said this was a concern that they had. But at the end of it, they acknowledged that they had concerns that even the Prime Minister would not know those details of Indo-Nepal relations. And Prime Minister’s answer I explained to you. He said, ‘If I have surprised you on one occasion, rest assured, we will deliver on this next’.
Question:Kal Pradhan Mantri ne apne bhaashan mein teen baaton par zor diya tha, ek tha scholarships badhaane ke liye Nepaliyon ke liye, dusra unhon ne kaha tha ki agar …(Inaudible)… Nepal badhaana chahta hai toh uske liye bhi Bharat taiyar hai. Teesri baat unhonne kahi thi soil testing, soil health part ke liye, kyon ki India mein already Gujarat mein chal rahi hai, kayi States mein chal rahi hai. Kya isko lekar koy baat aage badh payi hai …(Inaudible)…
Official Spokesperson:Main aapko education ke baare mein keh doonga, aur mere mitra aapko dusri cheezon ke baare mein samjhayenge.
Education ke baare mein, scholarships have been increased from 180 to 250. That is an increase of 70 scholarships annually. Number two, there is an agreement that Nepali students will go for short-duration courses or exposure to Indian universities. These are: the Benares Hindu University, the Delhi University, and the Calcutta University I think. They will go there for short-duration exposure for which they will get credits. This is the first time we have started this interaction between Indian universities and Nepali universities. As regards the others, I will ask Joint Secretary (North) to explain.
Joint Secretary (North)(Shri Abhay Thakur):There is a Joint Working Group on agriculture between India and Nepal which has not met for some time. So, we will meet quickly and will definitely offer the expertise on soil testing. As regards herbal medicine, it is a relatively newer area and has now been put on the agenda, and we will take it forward in one of the appropriate…(Inaudible)…
Question:During the bilateral talks, have any security-related issues been discussed?
Official Spokesperson: I cannot offhand remember whether it was only in bilateral talks, but it appeared in several of the discussions. And the reassurance repeatedly given was that the Nepalese soil will not be used for anything that is inimical to Indian interests. This was done in the bilateral talks, it was also done by several of the parties today while we were discussing, in fact virtually all that we were present.
Question:Aapne kaha ki Janakpur aur Lumbini ko lekar special charcha hui aur Lumbini ko Budhist Circuit ke taur par develop kiya jayega. Janakpur ko lekar koi special plan discuss hua hai aur kya koi timeframe hai aur kitna package kharch kar rahen Janakpur ke development ke liye?
Joint Secretary (North): We are awaiting details from the Nepalese side. We have given our assistance offer. One of the ideas that have been mentioned is developing the area inside the central complex of Janakpur. But we will need more details from the Nepalese side. We have offered assistance, they will come up with the proposal.
Question:Since Prime Minister stressed so much on the fact that Nepal has given up bullets for ballot, and there has to be a lot of improvement on that, the world is watching, there is still a cross section of people who are not part of that process of coming to the ballot side – in fact there are some parties that have boycotted the Constituent Assembly. I am told that their number is about as much as 33 – was there some communication done with that cross section of the Nepalese population as well?
Joint Secretary (North): There is one faction which is led by Mr. Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’, and the 33-party alliance that you are talking about. But there is already a discussion between parties within the CA in a constructive manner. We are supportive of all the parties who would join the mainstream and take the process forward.
Question:Yesterday, Syed sir also had briefed that Indian Prime Minister told Nepalese political leadership that…(Inaudible)…treaties that Nepal thinks unequal. What exactly did the Prime Minister tell to our political leaders about those?
Official Spokesperson: This issue came up twice. The first time it came up was in the bilateral discussion. Prime Minister said that his doors are open, he is willing to review any aspect of the 1950 treaty which Nepal feels requires a review. He said that it is best to clarify once and for all this aspect, and we now await any suggestion that Nepal may want to have on this. And this was repeated by Prime Minister last night in his banquet speech. The exact quote I have already put out. So, it is available in the public domain. That is the sum and substance of it that Prime Minister felt that it is best for friends like India and Nepal to discuss every issue, and if there are concerns or issues on any specific matter relating to the 1950 treaty, India is open to discuss and consider it.
Question:Sir, how did the Nepalese political parties who are asking for or lobbying for a Hindu Rashtra, react to India’s stand on supporting a federal democratic republic that…(Inaudible)…
Official Spokesperson: Anchal, you will have to ask them. We did not hear anything of this sort that you are talking of.
Question:India is very concerned that Nepal finish its Constitution. How much of the discussion was focused on that, and does India sort of believe that that will happen within the six-month time period that Nepal has set for itself?
Official Spokesperson: This was stressed by the Prime Minister yesterday in his Parliament speech, you are aware of that. Subsequently at every occasion Prime Minister has indicated that it is not India’s intention to interfere in Nepal’s internal processes; however, the entire world is watching this as a unique example of moving from internal strife to a peace process the culmination of which would be a new constitution. And he has urged every political party that he has met to work together.
If I can use a term he used, “Aap log dal kay hit mein nahin, desh ke hit mein sochiye aur kaam kijiye.”
This was his approach which he has articulated even in the Constituent Assembly saying that it is possible there may be issues that you will not fully address, there may be issues that may be not to your fullest satisfaction but what your country needs right now is a constitution, and we hope that all you work towards that goal. That was expressed by the Prime Minister in virtually every meeting that he had, either with the political leadership or with the government, as well as publicly. You are aware of his public statement yesterday in the Constituent Assembly.
Question:Are you aware of the meeting between Kamal Thapa…(Inaudible)… leader right now and Prime Minister Modi, and could you give us some glimpse about the meeting?
Official Spokesperson: I had two choices to make – either I come and brief you or attend that meeting. I chose the first. Sorry about it!
Thank you very much.
(Concluded)
