Tea talk at Modi’s residence reflects expression of friendship and goodwill

New Delhi, August 23

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a surprise invite for an informal meeting to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who arrived in New Delhi today for a five-day state visit to India.

Nepal’s ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay said the two prime ministers took stock of bilateral issues of mutual interest. “The informal talks are expected to facilitate both sides in finalising the memorandums of understanding between the two countries.”

The ‘tea talk’ at Prime Minister Modi’s 7 Race Course Road residence “reflects expression of friendship and goodwill,” said Prime Minister Deuba’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dinesh Bhattarai.

Modi later tweeted, “Happy to welcome Rt Hon Shri Sher Bahadur Deuba ji, PM of close & friendly neighbour Nepal. Look forward to more extensive talks tomorrow.”

A formal meeting between the two prime ministers is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, preceded by a customary half-an-hour one-on-one.

“Today’s meeting was planned to discuss agreements being signed at the end of Prime Minister Deuba’s visit,” Upadhyay told mediapersons on the embassy premises.

Prior to his meeting with Modi, Deuba addressed the Nepali community residing in India at the Embassy of Nepal. Deuba urged them to utilise their expertise and skills in Nepal, adding that his visit would help further strengthen age-old ties between the two neighbours.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who is accompanying Deuba, said a number of issues would be discussed tomorrow. Three  MoUs have been finalised so far, according to Mahara. They are: Indian grant assistance of $250 million for post-earthquake reconstruction ($100 million towards housing grant, $50 million for the health sector, $50 million for the education sector, and $50 million for the heritage sector); prevention of smuggling of illegal drugs, narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals; and cooperation in the field of standardisation and conformity assessment. Earlier, the prime minister was received by External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Deuba heads a 50-member delegation comprising Minister Mahara, Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Jitendra Narayan Dev, Commerce Minister Min Bahadur Bishwakarma and members of Parliament. The PM will attend a ceremonial reception and inspect a Guard of Honour at the Rastrapati Bhawan tomorrow.

After paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat tomorrow, the PM will pay courtesy calls on Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, according to DPM Mahara.

Later in the evening, the Indian prime minister will host a banquet dinner in honour of Deuba.

Deuba and Modi are also scheduled to inaugurate Kataiya-Kushaha and Raxaul-Parwanipur cross-border transmission lines for supply of 50 MW each via remote operations from Hyderabad House tomorrow.

The PM is also scheduled to attend a reception being hosted in his honour by the Embassy of Nepal, followed by a separate interaction programme with the Nepali community.

Deuba will also visit Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar before returning on August 27.