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Congress questions timing of Modi’s Nepal visit, govt says dates decided in advance
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot alleged that PM Modi had timed his visit to the Himalayan nation on the Karnataka poll date, and was “giving a message to Hindus” in the southern state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal was decided soon after KP Sharma Oli’s election as the prime minister of the Himalayan nation, Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said on Saturday. But the Congress accused Modi of trying to “influence” voters in Karnataka on the polling day through his temple visits in Nepal.
Modi on Saturday prayed at Nepal’s iconic Muktinath temple that is regarded sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists, becoming the first world leader to offer prayers there. He also offered prayers at the Pashupatinath temple, located on the banks of the Bagmati river. The Pashupatinath temple is regarded as the most sacred and oldest temple of Shiva (Pashupati) in Nepal.
Responding to a question at a press meet, Gokhale said PM Modi had telephoned Oli, who was sworn to the post on February 15, to congratulate him and the visits were discussed then.
“When Prime Minister Modi had telephoned Prime Minister Oli upon his election as the prime minister of Nepal, they had discussed the visit then. Prime Minister Oli had then expressed his desire for an early visit by Prime Minister Modi. They had discussed the visits, and the Prime Minister (Modi) had said you (Oli) come first.
“So that’s how the sequence has been, first Prime Minister Oli visited India and now Prime Minister (Modi) is in Nepal,” Gokhale said.
Oli had arrived in Delhi on April 7, when he said the “historical” and “renewed” friendship between India and Nepal was oriented towards the future and the bilateral ties have evolved according to the “needs of times”.
On questions over the timing of the visit that coincides with the high-stakes Karnataka assembly election, he said, “Whenever state visits take place they are decided as per the convenience of the two nations. No one prime minister alone can say that I will come at this time.”
“So, don’t focus on the dates, but focus on the content of this visit,” the foreign secretary said.
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot alleged that PM Modi had timed his visit to the Himalayan nation on the Karnataka poll date, and was “giving a message to Hindus” in the southern state.
Alleging violation of the model code of conduct, he said Modi’s temple visits in Nepal were being aired on the day of polling in Karnataka.
“This is not a good tradition in a democracy. In Gujarat also, he held a road show after voting. Today, he has adopted a new path. When Karnataka is polling today, he has gone to Nepal and is worshipping in temples there, as he could not do so in the southern state due to elections,” Gehlot said.
“If one asks him (Modi), no other person is Hindu, except the BJP and RSS people, besides him and Amit Shah,” he said.
Modi arrived in Kathmandu on Friday on a two-day visit and held discussions with Oli on strengthening ties between the two neighbouring countries.
He also met Nepal’s former prime ministers Prachanda and Sher Bahadur Deuba, and opposition leaders and held wide-ranging discussions on ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
