India-Nepal Relationship AFTER Modi's Rise

During the 2014 general elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Narendra Mod defeated the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). It was the beginning of a new era in India's relations with its neighbors. Narendra Modi was dubbed "India's Shinzo Abe" by certain media members after his election victory, while foreigners dreaded him as the "Indian Putin." The "Indian Deng Xiaoping" has been dubbed a possibility for him. Only time will tell which name is most appropriate for Modi. In any case, Modi pursues a proactive foreign policy, which may be influenced by economic factors. India's electorate heard him promise "development and governance" as part of his campaign platform, and Modi has delivered on his promises to the country's citizens. There are advantages for the Nepali economy as well since it is closely tied to the Indian economy. He has pursued a pragmatic, anticipatory foreign policy linked with our Government's major aim of speeding national economic growth and fulfilling India's global obligations as the world's most populous young country and biggest democracy. As part of the Panchait, our foreign policy is now based on Samman, Samvad, Saiddhi, and Suraksha, which are the five pillars of the Panchait: dignity and honour, increased interaction and discussion, shared prosperity, regional and global security, and cultural and civilization links. As stated in the BJP's platform, they promise to maintain good relations with all of India's neighbors, but they will not be afraid to take strong positions and stand up for what they believe is right. When it comes to matters of national security and terrorism, there should be no room for compromise. All of your neighbors will be able to hear it well. With Modi's reputation as a tough politician and his party's "nationalist" stance, there is hope that the next administration in India will be different from the ones that have gone before.

PRAMOD JAISWAL ET AL (2014) in recent months, China has been making attempts to build a strong strategic engagement with Nepal as part of its efforts to strengthen ties with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liu Zhen in, told a group of Nepali MPs that Nepal's hosting of the SAARC summit will assist deepen Chinese cooperation with the South Asian regional grouping. An update to the bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between Nepal and China has also allowed the expansion of weekly flights between the two nations from 14 to 56, which is seen as a tremendous boost to Nepal-China economic cooperation in several sectors. ASA Update As a consequence of the new arrangement, an additional rise to superpower status. Given its position between two regional powers vying to be global players, Nepal has the potential to become the focal point of geopolitical conflict. A stable Nepal helps both India and China because it addresses their core concerns: safety. BUDDHI N. SHRESTHA ET AL (2013) Nepal is bordered on the north by China and on the south and east by India. On Nepal's border with China, there are 1,439 kilometers of natural barriers, but there are 1,880 kilometers of open and permeable borders with India. There are no natural constraints on Nepal's southern border. However, the Indo-Genetic Plain stretches into it. Since the southern Nepalese border has no natural barrier, boundary marks have disappeared in certain regions and the no-land man's identity has been obscured. The social interactions between the individuals who live on either side of the border have changed as a result. Screaming may be heard all around the place. Protests and chanting of slogans, for example, might lead to hostilities amongst neighbors. Residents on both sides of the border have sought to maintain peace and love by exchanging flowers and embracing each other. This storey has been repeated several times along the border. In this situation, it's critical to keep watch on both sides of the international border. A coordinated strategy should be developed to prevent border-shifting activities on both sides of the border. This research looks at the shifting international boundary between Nepal and India and seeks to explain and assess what's happening. The major concentration is on politics. This research focuses on cross-border migration, specifically Chinese migration policy preferences. Research on border and inter-group relations should be enhanced in light of this study's results. PRATIMA KOIRALA ET AL (2013) India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomed Sushil Koirala, head of the Nepali Congress, to Delhi in August 2013. When Koirala became party president in September 2010, this was his first official trip to India. It's tough to deny that Nepali leaders are vying for the opportunity to visit India in a hurry. Travels or meetings have a clear purpose, and that objective is made clear. Despite their close ties to India, many Nepalese citizens think that governments who have bowed to India's demands or provoked it with false rhetoric have failed to preserve the country's interests. Politicians in Nepal may also define Nepal's ties to India differently depending on their goals. Meeting with Indian politicians is seen as a heavenly gift by Nepali leaders. Indian approbation is often believed to be a prerequisite for gaining power. This might be advantageous to Indian participation in Nepal. Due to the present state of politics in Nepal, these blessings and discussions will have little effect. Without accountability, nothing will ever change in Nepal. They must also democratically settle their political disputes. Political developments in Nepal will have a huge PUSHPITA DAS ET AL (2013) The India-Nepal border has been brought into sharp focus by the recent arrests of two high-profile terrorists, Adul Karim Tunda and Mohammed Ahmed Sidibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal. Adul. There are various stories as to where these terrorists were captured. Despite India's insistence that Tunda and Bhatkal were apprehended by Nepalese law enforcement at the Banbasa-Mahendernagar border crossing and Raxual's Bhatkal was seized from a Pokhara hideout, some media reports claim that Tunda was apprehended at Kathmandu Airport and Bhatkal was apprehended at a Pokhara hideout. Terrorists and other criminals increasingly utilise Nepal as a base because of the country's open border with India, but this doesn't mean it isn't becoming a bigger issue. Via bilateral channels, India has also requested Nepal's assistance in border management planning and implementation. Due to local political instability and a lack of political will and resources, Nepal has been unable to collaborate productively with India despite this. It seems like things are starting to shift. HARI BANSH JHA ET AL (2012) a derogatory term applied to India's economy because of its sluggish expansion was the "Hindu rate of growth." As a result of the Indian government's "licensing raj" rules prior to the 1980s, there was a great deal of red tape and limitations in place. For decades, India's annual growth rate could not rise over 3.5 percent. Because to its erroneous economic policies, India's balance of payments plummeted in the early 1990s in the end, this was a blessing in disguise. Developments in trade and investment, as well as the economy, were instituted to improve the country's financial situation after these changes. With the dawn of a new era, the concept of being cut off from global markets, financial systems, and technical processes was abandoned.

Nepal and India have strong bilateral connections. These ties are based on a long-standing relationship between history, culture, tradition, and religion, and they are increasingly apparent in political, social, cultural, religious, and economic activities. Diplomatic ties between the two nations were formalized on June 17, 1947, capping off a long and fruitful relationship. The solid basis on which our bilateral relations have grown has been our unshakable dedication to the ideals of peaceful coexistence, sovereign equality, and mutual respect of each other's ambitions and sensibilities.. Its long-standing policy of not allowing its territory to be utilized by any groups hostile to India and its expectation of reciprocity and guarantees from that country show Nepal's earnest wish to establish and nurture amicable relations with its neighbors. The

other's area has been considerably aided by the absence of frontier restrictions.

The relationship between Nepal and India is far more than the sum of the treaties and agreements that the two countries have signed. Relations between the two nations are characterized by regular high-level visits by their leaders at various times in time, as well as their contacts (Manandhar, 2007: 164). As a result of these visits, goodwill, trust, understanding, and collaboration between the two nations have been strengthened, and a more mature and pragmatic foundation has been established for long-standing and multifaceted bilateral friendship and cooperation. Nepal is strategically located between China and India, with both countries' primary focus on maintaining peace and security in the country (Bhattarai, 2005: 49). In his essay titled "Resetting India-Nepal Relations," Kamal Dev Bhataral, published on April 10, 2018, in the diplomat, describes how the relationship between Nepal and India has changed after Modi's election as India's prime minister. When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected in 2014, the relationship between the two countries entered into turmoil. The economic embargo that followed India's dispute with Nepal's constitution stoked resentment on both sides, but it was Nepal that turned its gaze northward. The act of India caused a chasm between the two nations since Nepal saw it as an infringement on their sovereignty. He describes as a policy or rather a failed policy of Modi to create a balanced relationship with neighboring, provides the in-depth knowledge about two neighboring countries regarding cultural ties, education, diplomatic relations, defiance exchanges, investment of countries in each other's territory, trade relations, and high-level exchange of visits. The importance of a healthy friendship between two next-door neighbors has been well shown. To expand its strategic clout in the area, India must use connectivity as a tool, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted in recent speeches.

Nepal's most important development partner has been India. When it came to moving on with its own domestic peace process and drafting the Constitution with the elected Constituent Assembly, the latter garnered significant support and solidarity from both the Indian people and the Indian government Indian aid arrived quickly after the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal in April and May of last year (Thapa, 2005: 156). In addition, the Indian government has made a significant contribution to Nepal's restoration efforts. In 1952, an airstrip at Gaucharan was built as part of the Indian partnership. Since then, India has mostly supported Nepal's infrastructural and human resource development (Dahal, 2064: 231). As a result support to Nepal grew exponentially. Nepal and India have established a joint oversight mechanism to monitor progress and resolve issues in the implementation of India's economic and development aid projects. Every two months, the Mechanism gathers for a meeting (Bhatt, 1996: 23).

INDIA‟S ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE

B.P. Koirala Health Sciences Institute in Dharan, Bir Hospital in Kathmandu, Emergency and Trauma Centre, and the Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic in Biratnagar are just a few examples of the landmark projects that India helped construct and put into operation. The Indian government announced a grant of $250 million and a soft loan of $700 million during the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction held in Kathmandu in June 2015. Agreements for both grants and loans have already been made (Muni, 1995: 76). While projects for which the grant will be used are being finalized, those for which the line of credit will be used have already been selected. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his August 2014 visit to Nepal that an additional US$1 billion in lines of credit, on top of the previous US$100 million and US$250 million, would be made available to Nepal for the financing of development projects of the country's choosing. It was completed by the Nepali government. These projects will be contracted out after the mode of contracting has been determined.

After Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Nepal on August 3-4, a new era in Indo-Nepal ties was inaugurated. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Nepal's leaders and people on their commitment to enacting a new constitution by the beginning of next year, and he offered his government's and the Indian people's best wishes. Since the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in 2012, Nepal has been in the midst of a constitutional crisis. He believed that the Constituent Assembly would produce a constitution that would support a democratic and federal political system and promote fairness in the nation. According to Prime Minister, "we are ready to give all required assistance to deliver the constitution on time" as he reassured Nepal's political leaders. It was a well-received speech to the Constituent Assembly of Nepal by a wide range of Nepalese politicians. Even Pushpa Kumar Dahal, a vocal opponent of India, lauded Prime Minister Modi's address as "touching, motivating, encouraging and optimistic" in a tweet. "A new chapter has started in Indo-Nepal ties," Prachanda, the head of the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPNM), said after the meeting with Prime Minister Modi. Modi is ties with Nepal and Narinder Modi. As ancient as the Himalayas and the Ganges, Modi said, India-Nepal ties are "older than time." He also emphasized Nepal's constitutional framework. The president and prime minister of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, and Sushil Koirala, heard him say this. his allotment According to Narendra Modi, "you should not care about the party but the nation of Nepal." "Nepal is a really independent country we have always thought that it is not our role to meddle in what you do but to assist you in the route you chose to follow," Modi said, as quoted by AFP. The first time a visitor has been invited to speak a combined session of the constituent assembly and parliament in Kathmandu was when he spoke to the constituent assembly. He delivered a rousing 45-minute address before the Nepalese legislature. The relationship between India and Nepal will be elevated during my time as prime minister. According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ongoing peace process in Nepal is solely Nepalese in nature and should be completed as Nepal demands. Nepalese soldiers were also on hand for Modi's meeting, and the Indian prime minister went around them to welcome them. Political instability and political involvement have led to years of exhilaration, he added. warth Thapa, Rajesh That India's Prime Minister Modi has plans to lend one billion dollars for Nepal's infrastructure development is being praised by the people of India. Assuring both Prime Ministers that the work on Pancheswar Multipurpose would get underway within a year, he said it would. Nepalese authorities signed three ice Memorandums of understanding (MOUs): tourist development in Nepal; Goitre, control in Nepal; and cooperation among state-controlled broadcasters (doordarshan and NTV) (NTP), As a result of Modi's visit, Nepal has agreed to accept Indian assistance in developing its hydropower and tourist potentials, despite decades of distrust between the two countries. However, there is a great lot of optimism that the agreement between the two countries would come to fruition despite a last minute disagreement over the wording.

It was made clear by Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar that New Delhi want to see political stability in Nepal so that the nation could go forward in its developmental efforts. For this, India hoped that the Nepali leadership would quickly resolve their differences over the new Constitution and draught a new constitution. "India encourages Nepal's political leaders to design the Constitution with the widest possible compromise. Sushma Swaraj, India's Minister of External Affairs, then remarked, "India is worried about the continuing demonstrations and unrest in Nepal. Political parties should continue to be flexible so that any remaining disputes may be handled via conversation in an environment devoid of violence," we write in our letter. More than people, including Despite Nepal's adoption of a new democratic constitution on September 20, 2015, India's top diplomats greeted the Himalayan democracy with a frigid welcome, implying that this kind of change is not welcome. However, the spirit of democracy extends beyond these two extremes. The "entitlement approach" to rights was the foundation for Nepal's newly drafted constitution. All essential rights, including food, education and protection from environmental damage are protected by this legislation. The constitution grants citizens the right to be protected against human trafficking, a significant development. Protecting people from human trafficking is a symbolic act that suggests Nepal's present leaders are affected by the country's strong anti-trafficking movement. Because of its emphasis on social and economic equity, the constitution of Nepal has been likened to that of South Africa's post-Apartheid constitution. Nepal's constitutional accomplishments have been widely applauded by huge Indian audiences in Delhi's lecture rooms in recent weeks. Seeing an opportunity to criticize the governing BJP for what it called "a partial failure" of Indian diplomacy as ties between India and Nepal reached an all-time low, the Congress Party did so. "We have developed, cultivated, and nurtured very warm and strategic ties with Nepal through Congress regimes," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said. "Warm at the emotional level but strategic at all other levels with all neighbors and Nepal in particular, and if we see that being diluted or decapitated, then obviously we are extremely concerned and must express our dismay." Singhvi replied gingerly, knowing that any statement that may upset the Madhesi minority could boomerang on the Congress during the next elections in Bihar. To show its deep concern over the rising anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal, India reminded its neighbors on October 8 that it had not placed any restrictions on the country and requested them to do the same. He stated, "We do realize that there is a rise in anti-India sentiments and this is something we are genuinely worried about but who is responsible?" For the sake of maintaining India-Nepal ties, he said, we hope the Nepalese leadership takes action. He also noted that Nepal's dilemma is entirely of their own, and India never placed any restrictions on Nepal with respect to their constitution. At a meeting in India on December 6, representatives of the United democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) discussed the Nepalese crisis with Indian officials. She spoke with representatives of the Madhesi community, which has been protesting against Nepal's new constitution and demanding a quick political solution to restore normality. The Foreign Minister met with the leaders of the Madhesi

a quick political solution should be promoted so that life may go back to "normal". Nepal's External Affairs Minister Sushma rejected the claim that India has adopted a "big brother" attitude to the country. In her remarks, she made it clear that India valued Nepal's sovereignty and wished to see the neighboring nation address its current difficulties peacefully. Despite her denials, India's External Affairs Minister indicated that the BJP government's attitude toward Nepal will be similar to that of the previous administration. Rajya Sabha members voiced worry over deteriorating India-Nepal relations, and she added that the government shares their feelings as well as Nepal's fears about an embargo of supplies from India because of a Madhesi protest against the newly approved constitution. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj stated, "Still a method may be found... We are trying the same... We want to see a resolution via agreement so that supplies might be resumed the fastest."

Nepal and India have a special bond of friendship and collaboration based on mutual respect for each other's cultures and shared values that transcend national boundaries. People have been moving freely across borders for centuries, carrying their connections to family and culture with them. India and Nepal have frequent high-level exchanges and formal engagements. At the end of 2014, Prime Minister Modi paid two visits to Nepal: first in August for a bilateral visit and again in November for the SAARC Summit. People-to-people relationships between Nepal and India have improved since late 2015, but political concerns and border disputes have strained relations, with anti-Indian sentiment developing among the Nepalese government and people after Modi's election as India's prime minister. A boundary agreement has yet to be confirmed by either government due to ongoing border disputes between the two nations. Because of this, the "special" relationship between India and Nepal has to be reevaluated. In order to avoid making the same errors of the past, both nations will have to take a closer look at their history. This means that India will have to give up the right of first refusal and invest in increasing its first delivery capability when dealing with its smaller neighbors. As far as we can tell, New Delhi never expressed any of these concerns, or at least not loudly enough. Such expectations would have to be communicated more explicitly by New Delhi.

1. Jaiswal Pramod,―Chinese Inroads to Nepal‖,Himalayan Frontier, #4319, 3 March 2014,Nepal-Articles, IPCS. 2. Shreshtha Buddhi N., ―The Natural Environment and the Shifting Borders Visit and New Delhi's Interests‖, #4117, 13 September 2013, IPCS. 4. Das Pushpita,―Need to effectively manage the India-Nepal Border‖, September 19, 2013, IDSA Comment. 5. JhaHariBansh,―India's Economic Miracle and its Impact on Nepal‖,Strategic Analysis, IDSA,Volume 36, Issue 1, 2012. 6. Https://En.Wikipedia.Org/Wiki/Indian_General_Election,_2014 Indian General Election, 2014 -Wikipedia, the Free 7. P. Jasiwal, Modi and Nepal –India Relations, Himalayan Frontier. 2 June, 2014, IPCS. 8. "Koirala Congratulates Modi, Invites Him To Nepal". The Kathmandu Post. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014. 9. P. Jasiwal, Modi and Nepal –India Relations, Himalayan Frontier. 2 June, 2014, IPCS. 10. The Hindu, New Delhi, Jul 23, 2014

Research Scholar, Kalinga University, Raipur