Nepal Rastriya Dainik
May 20, 2024 ,
TRENDINGS
Nine thousand victims of human rights violations in 2023 General committee meeting to make Congress strong and united: Deuba Those who pushed the country to violence are in power: Former President Bhandari Indefinite curfew order in Birgunj Permission for mineral extraction to 156 mining companies in Nepal Finance Minister Mahat’s request to focus on meeting the target of revenue collection

Indian PM Modi inaugurates Hindu temple Ram mandir

Posted on by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a grand temple to Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya.

The temple replaces a 16th-Century mosque torn down by Hindu followers in 1992, sparking riots in which nearly 2,000 people died.

Some of the Hindu seers and most of the opposition boycotted it, saying Mr Modi was using it for political gain.General elections are due in India in the next few months and Mr Modi’s political rivals say the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be seeking votes in the temple’s name in a country where 80% of the population is Hindu.

Critics have also accused the government of exploiting a religious celebration in a country which – according to its constitution – is secular. For Muslims, India’s biggest minority, the event evoked fear and painful memories, members of the community in Ayodhya told in the run-up to Monday’s ceremony.

The temple has been constructed at a cost of $217m (£170m), funded from private donations. Only the ground floor was opened – the rest is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The construction work is part of a revamp for the city, estimated to cost more than $3bn.

Hindu devotees chant religious slogans as they watch the inauguration of the Hindu Lord Ram temple on a big screen.January 22, 2024

The building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya fulfils a decades-long Hindu nationalist pledge. Many Hindus believe the Babri mosque was built by Muslim invaders on the ruins of a temple where the Hindu god was born.The movement to build the temple helped propel the BJP into political prominence in the 1990s.
In 2019, the Supreme Court gave the disputed land to Hindus after a protracted legal battle followed the mosque’s demolition. Muslims were given a plot outside the city for a mosque but have yet to build one.

Modi scheduled to Visit Nepal

Posted on by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, on May 16th at an invitation of UNESCO. Although Modi is certain to come to Nepal, a public announcement is yet to be made. Even there is no formal announcement, the government is preparing for his visit.

On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, Modi will participate in a special program organized by (UNESCO) in Lumbini on 16th of May. Modi will attend the UNESCO event in Lumbini along with his counterpart Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

According to the schedule, Modi will return to India on the same day. He will arrive in Nepal around 10 to 11 in the morning. He is scheduled to stay for 6 hours in Lumbini .

PM’s visit fruitful for enhancing bilateral cooperation: Foreign Minister Khadka

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Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba returned home on Sunday evening after completing a three-day official visit to India.

Speaking at a press conference held at Tribhuvan International Airport on the sidelines of Prime Minister Deuba’s visit to Nepal, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka expressed confidence that bilateral talks with high level leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Prime Minister Deuba’s three-day visit would further deepen mutual cooperation. During the meeting, the two Prime Ministers agreed on the Nepal-India Joint Vision Statement on Energy Sector Cooperation to further strengthen long-term cooperation in hydropower with the objective of deepening the close and cordial relations between the two countries. They discussed the need to promote connectivity and infrastructure by building roads, railways, pipelines, transmission lines and air services.

Minister Khadka informed that the following important documents were exchanged between Nepal and India: MoU to enhance technical assistance in the railway sector; The framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance; Agreement between NOC and IOC to supply fuel for 5 years and agreement between NOC and IOC for exchange of technical expertise. Similarly, the Jayanagar-Janakpur Cross Border Rail Link Project, 132 KVDC Solu Corridor Transmission Line Project, construction of 132 health institutions and Rupee Card were inaugurated in the presence of both the Prime Ministers.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Deuba had requested his Indian counterpart for additional air routes from Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj and Janakpur. Minister Dr. Khadka informed that the Prime Minister of India has responded positively to various proposals for development and economic partnership between Nepal and India.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on G2G supply of urea and DAP from India to Nepal. Prime Minister Deuba has requested to send the first consignment of 150,000 metric tons of manure to Nepal before the coming monsoon. He thanked his Indian counterpart for India’s assistance in providing Covid-19 vaccine, medicine, liquid oxygen and other medical supplies to Nepal.

Prime Minister Deuba also expressed Nepal’s gratitude for India’s assistance in post-earthquake reconstruction. Trade and transit, culture and tourism, cooperation in the field of agriculture and sugarcane germplasm and other bilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting. The two Prime Ministers discussed the development of National Respiratory Disease Center in Tanahu as an institution for cooperation in the health sector.

The two leaders had a talk on border dispute. Discussions were held on resolving the border dispute through the established bilateral mechanism. Stressing on the need for strong public relations, Prime Minister Deuba said that Nepal attaches high importance to its relations with India.

On the occasion, India requested Nepal to come up with a new proposal to utilize the unspent amount of USD 500 million under LOC-IV proposal. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both the Prime Ministers mentioned that there is great potential for intensifying economic and development partnership in historic projects like Pancheshwor Hydropower Project. Both sides have stressed on the need to finalize the DPR of Pancheshwor Hydropower Project as soon as possible so that the project can be implemented in mutual interest.

Prime Minister Deuba has also extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit Nepal.