New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today conveyed to his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala India’s support to the upcoming Donors’ Conference on the quake-hit country’s rehabilitation but left open the issue of his participation in the meet.
Modi assured Koirala that India would respect and be with Nepal in all its decisions taken on rehabilitation when the latter called him up to invite him for the conference being hosted by the Nepal government on June 25 in Kathmandu.
Koirala briefed Modi on the steps his government is taking for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Nepal following the earthquakes in April and May 2015, a PMO statement said.
He invited Modi to visit Nepal on June 25 to address the First Donors’ Conference. Koirala also mentioned that he has sent Finance Minister Ram Chandra Mahat to Delhi with a personal invitation for the Prime Minister.
Thanking Koirala for the invitation and conveying his best wishes for the conference, Modi said he would participate, if his schedule permitted. He assured the Nepal leader that India would, in any case, be represented at a high ministerial level, the statement said.
Modi reiterated India’s unwavering and sustained support to Nepal in his rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, “guided by the preference and priorities of the government of Nepal”, it added.
Reaffirming that India has always been “guided by humanitarian concerns in a spirit of equality and friendship”, Modi reiterated that India’s “only desire was success, peace and progress for the people of Nepal”.
PTI
