Kathmandu, May 9
Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali says the government is conscious about how it can take advantage of multidimensional relationships it has established with neighbours and other countries.
Gyawalis statement is an apparent response to comments that the government might compromise its independence and sovereignty as it is preparing to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a number of ‘civic felicitations’ this Friday.
Whereas social media are full of comments that Nepal should not give a warm welcome to Modi as he imposed the inhumane border blockade in the wake of promulgation of new constitution here in 2015 September, Gyawali says his government knows how to respond to persons and countries differently with the movement of time.
“The government takes its stance whenever it is necessary. They should remember that KP Oli was the Prime Minister that time too, the CPN-UML was in the government leadership,” the party’s secretary and a confidant of Prime Minister Oli says in an interview with Onlinekhabar, “The UML knows how it has to take stance on national interests. Nobody needs teach us.”
In another context, Gyawali says civic felicitations to be offered to Modi will be just reflections of the culture of hospitality that Nepali people have for their guests. He reminds that people of Gujarat, Modi’s home state, had also offered a civil felicitation to Oli when he visited India in 2016, just few months after the blockade was over.
“The government is alert about protecting national interests. Rest assured that we will not let people feel humiliated with our foreign relationships,” he says, “Felicitations or paying respects are related to our conduct and culture; and no one should be overexcited about it.”
Meanwhile, the Minister clarifies that Modi’s trip is equally significant on both political and cultural dimensions for bilateral relationships as he will be visiting Hindu and Buddhist shrines of Janaki Temple and Muktinath as well as holding formal talks with officials here.
