No ministers will accompany Modi on Nepal visit

Dismissing media reports Nepal’s foreign minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey clarified on Friday that no minister would accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Nepal trip.

Updated on: Aug 1, 2014, 20:41:23 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Dismissing media reports Nepal’s foreign minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey clarified on Friday that no minister would accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Nepal trip.

“No minister is coming with Modi. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be the second highest in protocol after the Indian prime minister,” he told media persons.

Besides Modi and Doval there would be nine-member team of secretaries and joint secretaries from various ministries who will sit for talks with their Nepali counterparts during the visit.

A section of media had reported that as many as seven ministers from the NDA government including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would accompany Modi on his two-day trip to Nepal beginning Sunday.

“We are very confident that the power trade agreement between both countries will be signed during this visit. But first our cabinet has to approve its details,” said Pandey.

He termed strengthening of bilateral ties and increased levels of trust between both neighbours are Nepal’s biggest expectations from the trip----the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to Nepal in 17 years.

As there were many unverified reports on details of the trip, Pandey made official Modi’s itinerary during the trip

“Modi will be received at the airport by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. Nepali Army will give him a guard of honour and a 19 gun salute once he lands,” he said.

Modi will address Nepal’s parliament later that day. Meetings with President Ram Baran Yadav, counterpart Koirala, leaders of political parties and business delegations will take place on both days.

The Indian prime minister will also conduct special prayers at Pashupatinath Temple, the most popular Shiva shrine in Nepal, on Monday morning.

“Modi also wanted to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and Janakpur, the mythical birthplace of Goddess Sita. But they won’t happen during this trip,” said Pandey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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