Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday called Sushila Karki, Prime Minister of the interim government of Nepal, and conveyed India’s “steadfast support for her efforts to restore peace and stability”, days after massive anti-corruption protests across the Himalayan nation that toppled the previous government.
Modi’s phone call comes days after Sushila Karki, former Supreme Court Chief Justice, was sworn in as the interim Prime Minister on September 12, making her the first woman to lead the country, and ending the political vacuum in Nepal following the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government after violent protests on September 9.
After the phone call, Modi posted on X, “Had a warm conversation with Mrs. Sushila Karki, Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. Conveyed heartfelt condolences on the recent tragic loss of lives and reaffirmed India’s steadfast support for her efforts to restore peace and stability. Also, I extended warm greetings to her and the people of Nepal on their National Day tomorrow.”
The interim government has been asked to hold elections to Parliament in six months. Delhi saw this as a major development that the political parties are part of the democratic process.
On September 13, India welcomed the formation of the new interim government in Nepal, led by Karki, and expressed hope that this would help in fostering peace and stability.
“We are hopeful that this would help in fostering peace and stability. As a close neighbour, a fellow democracy and a long-term development partner, India will continue to work closely with Nepal for the well-being and prosperity of our two peoples and countries,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on that day.
On September 9, within hours of the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government in Kathmandu, where leaders were singled out and assaulted, PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to discuss the situation in Nepal, and said the violence there was “heart-rending”.
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PM Modi had also expressed “anguish” that “many young people have lost their lives” in the protests, and appealed to the people of Nepal to “support peace” as he underlined that “stability, peace and prosperity” of the country are of utmost importance.
Amid unprecedented scenes of leaders being assaulted on the streets of Kathmandu, where protesters also torched government buildings, a worried Delhi had said it was observing the developments in Nepal and expressed hope that restraint would be exercised and all issues addressed “through peaceful means and dialogue”.
“As a close friend and neighbour, we hope that all concerned will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue,” the MEA had said in a statement.
India had also issued a travel advisory asking its “citizens presently in Nepal” to “shelter in their current places of residence” and “avoid going out onto the streets”.
