Keeping in line with Kathmandu’s ‘India First’ policy, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli arrived in New Delhi on Friday on a three-day State visit. This is Oli’s first visit abroad after taking over as PM for the second time.
On Friday Oli was received at the airport by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. later he met Modi and attended business and community events. Oli will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday during which a range of bilateral issues will be discussed. During their bilateral meeting, Modi and Oli are also expected to review the progress of ongoing India-funded projects in Nepal.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were among those who called on Oli in the evening.
Oli be travelling to G. B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand on Sunday where he will visit the Breeder Seed Production Centre and an integrated farming project. He will also be conferred with a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science at the University.
The relationship between the two countries went through tense moments between 2015-2016 when Oli’s Ministers accused India of destabilizing his Government and blamed New Delhi for causing an economic blockade in 2015. The harsh tones led to a dip in relations and Oli even recalled the envoy in New Delhi. In his previous tenure and later in his election campaigns Oli constantly gave indications of cosying up with China.
However, having now won with a comfortable margin, Oli termed his tenure during 2015-2016 a difficult period in India-Nepal relationship. In the recent times he made it clear that the bitterness of relations in his previous regime and the misunderstanding between the two countries are a thing of past now and the present Nepalese Government is keen to work with India in a Rs new and more equal relationship’. Oli has also made it clear that the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 needs to be reworked. India, on the other hand, wants Nepal to take care of its security concerns given the fact that the two countries have an open border. Nepal is looking at India expertise in employment generation and training of its youth in the IT sector.