Bihar-Nepal Take Fresh Steps to Renew Ties
Patna: April 26, 2008
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Nepal Delegate in Patna
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Photo by Shashi Uttam |
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Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while inaugurating a two-day seminar on the "Emerging Trends in India-Nepal Relations" jointly sponsored by the state government and the External Affairs Ministry in Patna on Saturday, said Bihar was committed to foster bilateral economic and cultural ties with its neighbor while also stressing the need for 'judicious' sharing of the water between the two nations.
Emphasizing the need to develop Bihar’s nearly 700 km border that it shares with Nepal, Kumar said proper development of the area could lead to economic prosperity and growth for both Nepal and Bihar.
Citing Bhutan as an example, the Chief Minister invited mutual collaboration on water management and offered help in developing hydro-electrical plants in Nepal that would not only substantially reduce annual flooding in Bihar but also allow the two nations to use their immense water resource for further economic advancement.
Hisila Yami, the Minister for Physical Planning and Work who is leading the 45-member delegation to Patna, in her speech said the emergence of the Maoist government in Nepal was an indication of the nation's desire to strengthen its ties with India, a bond that went back centuries and was impossible to sever.
"The electoral mandate in Nepal has given us a chance to bring an end to the feudal way of ruling the people and promote true democratic values that are conducive to both Nepal and India," said Yami.
Shyam Saran, the special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said India was prepared to assist Nepal in developing its democratic structure and promote economic ties between the two nations.
"We have always believed that political issues concerning Nepal were its internal matters and our efforts to promote between the two nations would not be affected irrespective of the political climate in either nation," Saran said.
Senior Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leader C. P. Gajurel said Nepal's foreign policy would be based on Panchsheel philosophy in which equal proximity would be maintained with India and China.
"We are not going to play one against the other," said Gajurel.
Durgesh Mansingh, the Nepalese Ambassador to India, said that Nepal was conjoined with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for centuries and it was only in the interest of these two states and his nation that they continue to help each other towards attaining the ultimate goal of peace and economic prosperity.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh also attended the seminar.
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