In a strong message to Nepal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said there has been excessive political infighting in the country and it was time to focus on infrastructure and economy.
At a meeting with Nepal’s top business leaders, Modi said that the country’s real problem was the lack of infrastructure. “There have been enough political battles between parties here. It is time to move to infrastructure and economy.” Binod Chaudhary, Nepal’s richest businessman and a former MP, told HT in an exclusive conversation, “Modiji was very clear. He cited the Korea model and said the reason they succeeded was because of infrastructure.”
Chaudhary told PM Modi that his speech to the Nepali parliament had, “in one shot”, done more to allay any apprehensions about Indian intentions than all of India’s diplomatic activities and development assistance so far. He sought Indian assistance for the creation of an East West industrial corridor and removal of countervailing excise duties for industries in this belt for a limited period. Chaudhary also suggested that the Line of Credit of US$1 billion ought to be used for the construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track road and creation of Nijgadh international airport. Another business leader Prabhakar Rana spoke of the enormous potential in tourism.