Modi unlikely to visit Nepal

 

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: RSS

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat on Friday invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Nepal to attend an international conference of donors in Kathmandu on 25 June.

Mahat met Modi in New Delhi and handed over an invitation letter to him on behalf of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.

But Modi has yet not confirmed his participation in the donor conference, which is being organised by Nepal to seek financial assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

On Thursday, Koirala had a telephone conversation with Modi. After the conversation, Koirala tweeted: "(I) talked with Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi over the phone. (He) has given words to come for donors' conference on June 25th, so far possible."

Three hours before Koirala's tweet, the Indian government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) had issued a press statement saying that 'Modi will visit Nepal if his schedule permits'. Many have interpreted the PIB's statement as a hint that Modi will not attend the donor conference.

Modi wanted to organise the donor conference in India for Nepal's reconstruction, and had even sent his advisor to Kathmandu to convey India's message to Koirala. But Koirala turned down Modi's offer, insisting that the donor conference must be organised in Nepal as it is for Nepal's reconstruction.

Ranjit Rae, Indian ambassador to Nepal, reportedly met with Koirala's close aides to persuade Koirala to change his mind and accept Modi's offer. But Koirala appeared resolute. Analysts say this is why Modi will skip the donor conference.

Although Koirala has left no stone unturned to invite Modi to attend the donor conference, no effort has been made to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping so far.

According to Tara Prasad Pokhrel, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), no minister is visiting China to invite Xi to Kathmandu. "We are just writing an official letter," he told Nepali Times.

In a recent interview with Nepali Times, Mahat had said the government was expecting at least minister-level participation in the donor conference.

Ahead of the donor conference, National Planning Commission (NPC) is preparing a Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) report that will present the estimated budget required for post-earthquake reconstruction works. Mahat says at least five billion US dollar is required. But donors are unlikely to pledge money at the conference.

At a press conference held in Kathmandu earlier this week, the Netherlands' foreign trade minister Lilianne Ploumen had said, " The 25 June donor conference will just be the beginning of a series of discussions to help Nepal.”