Kathmandu, August 18

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the problem of Koshi River flooding the Indian state of Bihar has to be addressed in consultation with Nepal. He even said Nepal stands with India like a brother.

Addressing an election rally in Arrah, Bihar, today, Modi said he had held open talks with Nepali authorities on this issue. He criticised the previous governments led by Indian National Congress and the state governments of Bihar for not discussing a solution to Bihar floods due to the Koshi River, according a TV footage uploaded in Modi’s official twitter. “The solution to floods in the region lies in Nepal. But I am sorry to say they haven’t done anything to improve ties with Nepal in 17 years,” Modi continued. “It doesn’t take 70 minutes to go to Nepal from Patna. But it took an Indian PM 17 years. We went, sat and talked in detail about troubles in the Koshi.”

He recalled his government’s response to Nepal following the devastating earthquake in April. When crisis struck again in the Nepal earthquakes, we wasted no time. We stood by Nepal in the time of its need.”