PM DEUBA’S VISIT TO INDIA: WAS IT MORE THAN A DAMAGE REPAIRING?

 Many senior political experts in Nepal say that the present visit of PM Sher Bahadur Deuba to India did successfully bring Indo-Nepal relations back on the track which had been damaged by the erstwhile PM KP Oli. 

Nepali political experts say PM Deuba's visit to India has been successful as several important agreements have been made and most importantly PM Deuba's visit has also repaired the damage that had been caused by erstwhile PM KP Oli. Photo: PTI 

By LBTHAPA

Many political experts in Nepal think that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s three-day visit to India has been extremely successful. The present visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has further consolidated the social, political, economic, and cultural relationship between Nepal and India. 

According to the sources, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had a special meeting in New Dehli where both of the prime ministers did talk about several matters including border issues. 

Besides the border issue, which was the main agenda of Nepal’s concern, both of the prime ministers did also discuss security concerns, civil aviation, energy cooperation, trade, financial integration, investment, etc. 

Talking with the press here in Nepal, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the talk was successful in the sense that both sides have agreed to resolve all differences of any magnitude through bilateral talks. 

“I did advise to resolve the border issues by establishing a joint team which will study the entire matter fairly. This very idea was taken with a positive note by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi”, said Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. 

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s team had also asked the concerned Indian diplomats for providing adequate entry air routes to Nepal before the beginning of commercial flights from Gautam Buddha International airport in Bhairawa. Upon this request of Nepal, India has given assurances to provide maximum air routes facilities to Nepal.   

Sher Bahadur Deuba led team managed to sign four crucial agreements on Nepal’s entry to the International Solar Alliance, Indian technical assistance to Nepal’s railway sector, cooperation in the field of the petroleum sector, and exchange of expertise between Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation. 

There was a historical moment when the two prime ministers jointly inaugurated Kurtha-Jayanagar cross-border passenger train services. They did also jointly inaugurate India’s RuPay digital card, Solu Corridor 132 KV Power Transmission Line, and a Substation built in Nepal with the financial and technical assistance of the government of India. 

In a bid to develop uninterrupted power trade between Nepal and India, the two countries have reached an agreement where they have agreed to cooperate for mutual benefit in days to come. After signing the agreement, India will purchase an excess amount of electricity from Nepal and this will help Nepal to improve its balance of payment against India. Until now, Nepal has been importing more than Nepal exports. 

The political experts have vociferously appreciated PM Deuba led a high-level delegation for making India agrees to revise the old Transit Treaty. This will, it is believed, help Nepal to develop rail, cargo, transshipment, inland waterways, and access to additional ports in India. 

In the meantime, PM Deuba did also appreciate India for helping Nepal by providing much-needed COVID-19 vaccines.

While addressing a joint press conference by Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Sher Bahadur Deuba said, “Under the leadership of BJP led government, India has seen unprecedented economic growth. This is equally good news for Nepal. On a mutual basis, we can be benefited from trade partnerships on several fronts”. 

PM Deuba reiterated the need for Indian investment in Nepal. “Nepal has appropriate conditions for the Indian investment in Nepal. There are some potential areas such as hydroelectricity, tourism, manufacturing and information technology and transportation where Indian investment could be proved highly beneficial for India and Nepal”. 

Without any doubt, the present visit of PM Deuba to India has been highly successful. But whatever agreements have been signed must be implemented at the earliest possible. Delaying to bring those agreements into action will only harm the nation. 

In a nutshell, it can be said that the present visit of PM Deuba to India did not only benefit Nepal from an economic point of view, but also PM Deuba did successfully repair the damage that had been caused by erstwhile PM KP Oli. 

LB Thapa is a Pokhara-based freelance writer and author. 

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