Sushila Karki and Narendra Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday not only congratulated his new counterpart in Kathmandu, Sushila Karki, but also reached out to the youths of Nepal, lauding them for signalling the advent of a new dawn in their country.
The prime minister praised the people of Nepal for upholding democratic values through the turbulence, subtly indicating that New Delhi would stay away from the controversy over the dissolution of the parliament by President Ram Chandra Poudel, soon after Karki was sworn in as the head of the interim government in the neighbouring country on Friday.
New Delhi is likely to seek early engagement with Karki and extend an invitation to her for an early visit to India.
Her predecessor, K P Sharma Oli, would have been on a visit to New Delhi next week, had his government not collapsed due to the mass uprising against the brutal police crackdown on the Gen Z protesters of Nepal early this week.
Modi took to X early in the morning to extend his best wishes to Karki on assuming office as the prime minister of the interim government of Nepal. “India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal,” Modi posted on the social media platform, before leaving New Delhi for a tour to Mizoram, Manipur and Assam.
He again extended his heartfelt congratulations to Karki while addressing a rally in Imphal. “India and Nepal have been close friends bound by shared history, faith and cultural ties, and India would always stand firmly with the people of the neighbouring country during its transitional phase,” the prime minister said, addressing a rally in Imphal.
"Today, from this land of Manipur, I will also talk to my colleagues in Nepal. Nepal is a friend of India, a close friend. I am confident that she (Karki) will pave the way for peace, stability and prosperity in Nepal. Sushila Ji's taking oath as the first woman prime minister of Nepal is a very good example of women's empowerment,” he said.
"I also want to congratulate the people of Nepal who, despite such turbulent times, have kept democratic values supreme," said Modi.
He lauded the students and youths of Nepal. “Over the past few days, young men and women in Nepal have been seen working hard, cleaning and painting the roads. I have also seen their pictures on social media,” he said, adding: ‘Their positive thinking and constructive actions are not only inspiring, but also a clear sign of the advent of a new dawn in Nepal. I wish Nepal all the best for its bright future.”