NEW DELHI: After a red carpet welcome and signing of seven agreements, Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli on Saturday said that “misunderstandings” with India “no longer exist”, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to urge “consensus and dialogue” to resolve pending constitutional issues.
Oli held formal delegation-level talks with Modi at Hyderabad on the second day of his six-day trip - his first foreign trip since becoming PM last year.
Before leaving Kathmandu, Oli had said that the key objective of his visit was to “clear misunderstandings”.
When he stood next to Modi to make press statements after the talks, Oli, who has accused India of being behind the border blockade, said, “Misunderstandings that persisted between the two countries in the last few months no longer exist.”
After three months, border restrictions were eased in last week of January, ending shortages of fuel and essential commodities, which had crippled life in Nepal. Even as New Delhi went all out in giving Oli and exceptional welcome, Modi indicated that the Indian stance on the Nepali constitution remained unchanged. “The announcement of the new Constitution in Nepal came after decades of struggle in Nepal. It is a major achievement….But its success depends on consensus and dialogue. I am confident you will take Nepal on the path of peace and stability by resolving all Constitutional issues on the basis of these principles, through political dialogue and taking all sections of Nepal,” Modi said.
Seven agreements were signed at the ceremony in Hyderabad House, which included agreements on post-quake reconstruction assistance and construction of postal highways. India also allowed Nepal transit facilities to access Bangladesh’s Banglabadha, as well as, Visakhapatnam ports.
Both PMs also dedicated the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line, which supply 600 MW to Nepal in the next two years.