<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-story-highlight">
<h1>PM Modi says Nepal comes first in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, announces Rs 100 crore grant </h1>
<h2>Modi, who is on his third visit to the Himalayan nation since
assuming the office in 2014, assured Nepal that it is at the top of
India’s Neighbourhood First policy.</h2>
<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/" class="gmail-cta-link gmail-india-cb-section gmail-mr-15">india</a>
<span class="gmail-text-dt">Updated: May 11, 2018 17:28 IST</span>
<div class="gmail-media gmail-user-dt">
<div class="gmail-media-left">
<div class="gmail-media-img gmail-author-sm-img"><img src="https://www.hindustantimes.com/images/app-images/ht/default_author.png" alt="Anil Giri"></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-media-body">
<div class="gmail-para-txt">
<a><span>Anil Giri</span></a> <br> Hindustan Times, Kathmandu</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-story-lg-img">
<div class="gmail-thumbnail">
<img src="https://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_960x540/HT/p2/2018/05/11/Pictures/prime-minister-narendra-modi-in-nepal_810d1826-54fe-11e8-96b3-108223915881.jpg" alt="Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Nepal Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, during the inauguration of Janakpur-Ayodhya direct bus service, in Janakpur, Nepal on Friday." title="Narendra Modi">
</div>
<div class="gmail-img-captionh2">
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Nepal Prime Minister
Khadga Prasad Oli, during the inauguration of Janakpur-Ayodhya direct
bus service, in Janakpur, Nepal on Friday.(PTI Photo)</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-story-content">
<div class="gmail-social-icons-ar gmail-no-print gmail-social-fixed gmail-social-fix-none">
<ul class="gmail-social-list-icon">
<li><a>
<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-facebook gmail-story-fb" title="Facebook Share"></i></a></li>
<li><a>
<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-twitter gmail-story-tw" title="Tweet"></i></a></li>
<li><a>
<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-linkedin gmail-story-lnkden" title="Linkdin Share"></i></a></li>
<li><a>
<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-google-plus gmail-story-gplus" title="Google Plus Share"></i></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-says-nepal-comes-first-in-india-s-neighbourhood-first-policy-announces-grant-of-rs-100-crore/story-KsSO0fLlgQDDnM8tW5E6hJ.html&title=PM Modi says Nepal comes first in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, announces Rs 100 crore grant" target="_blank">
<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-reddit-alien gmail-story-reddit"> </i> </a></li>
<li><a href="mailto:please enter email id?Subject=Hindustantimes.com | PM Modi says Nepal comes first in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, announces Rs 100 crore grant&Body=PM Modi says Nepal comes first in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, announces Rs 100 crore grant-https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-says-nepal-comes-first-in-india-s-neighbourhood-first-policy-announces-grant-of-rs-100-crore/story-KsSO0fLlgQDDnM8tW5E6hJ.html">
<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-envelope gmail-story-email"></i></a></li>
<li><a>
<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-print gmail-story-prnt"></i></a></li>
</ul>
</div><div class="gmail-story-details"><p>Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a grant of Rs 100 crore to
develop the sacred city of Janakpur in Nepal, and said the country is at
the top of India’s Neighbourhood First policy.</p><p>Modi, on his <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-in-nepal-live-updates-pm-to-hold-bilateral-talks-with-nepalese-counterpart-kp-oli/story-7F8udgbu8QEJDl40VX4zrM.html" target="_blank">third visit to the Himalayan nation </a>since
assuming office in 2014, also flagged off a direct bus service between
Janakpur and Ayodhya, the two sacred cities for Hindus, alongside his
Nepalese counterpart K P Sharma Oli. The service is part of the
Ramayana Circuit to promote religious tourism in Nepal and India.</p><p>“Whenever
there has been a problem, India and Nepal have stood together. We have
been there for each other in the most difficult of times,” Modi said at a
civic reception hosted by the Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City at
Barhabigha ground.</p><aside><span class="gmail-read-more">
<div class="gmail-story-readmore">Read more</div>
<ul class="gmail-latest-news-bx gmail-row">
<li class="gmail-col-sm-12 gmail-col-md-12 gmail-col-lg-6">
<div class="gmail-media">
<div class="gmail-media-left">
<div class="gmail-media-img">
<img src="https://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_90x90/HT/p2/2018/05/11/Pictures/_271795c6-54db-11e8-aa60-d0af28d4422a.jpg">
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-media-body">
<div class="gmail-media-heading gmail-headingfour">
<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-nepal-on-two-day-visit/story-gJ74HWEuy13pmR0s2L1A7M.html">PM Modi arrives in Nepal on two-day visit</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="gmail-col-sm-12 gmail-col-md-12 gmail-col-lg-6">
<div class="gmail-media">
<div class="gmail-media-left">
<div class="gmail-media-img">
<img src="https://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_90x90/HT/p2/2018/05/11/Pictures/_bc8cbac8-54ea-11e8-96b3-108223915881.jpg">
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-media-body">
<div class="gmail-media-heading gmail-headingfour">
<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-s-third-nepal-visit-starts-off-bus-service-between-janakpur-and-ayodhya/story-Sar428omZOGJhpfuSdbIII.html">PM Modi’s third Nepal visit starts off bus service between Janakpur and Ayodhya</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li></ul>
</span></aside><p>While announcing the 100-crore-rupee package, Modi
said central and provincial governments of Nepal will select the
development projects and implement them.</p><p>He said the two
neighbours can work on 5Ts - Tradition, Trade, Tourism, Technology and
Transport - to achieve progress and prosperity.</p><div id="gmail-zdt_3644892_1_wrapper_0"></div><div id="gmail-zdt_3644892_1_wrapper" style="height:2px"><div id="gmail-containerDiv-3644892_1"><div id="gmail-mainPlayerDiv-3644892_1" class="gmail-zg-mainContainer"><div id="gmail-WrapperAdPlayers-3644892_1" style="width:100%;height:100%"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed" style="width:100%;height:100%"><div style="visibility: visible;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed0"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed1" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed2" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed3" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed4"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed5" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed6" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed7" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div><div style="visibility: visible; left: -99999px; top: -99999px;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_NonGuaranteed8" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div></div><div id="gmail-3644892_1_0_0" style="width:100%;height:100%"><div style="visibility: visible;"><div id="gmail-3644892_1_0_00" style="width:825px;height:464px"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>Upon
arrival in Janakupri earlier in the day, Modi offered special prayers
at the famous Janaki temple and invoked mythological King Janak of
Mithila and King Dashratha of Ayodhya. Janakpur is known as the
birthplace of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama.</p><div id="gmail-zdt_3644892_1_wrapper_1"></div><p>At
the civic reception, Modi initially spoke in Maithili, the main
language in Janakpur and Province no 2 of Nepal, and said he was happy
to link Janakpur with Ramayana Circuit. </p><div id="gmail-zdt_3644892_1_wrapper_2"></div><p>Our
relations do not have any definition but it is based on language, he
said in Maithli. “Our ties is such old which is ahead than diplomacy,
strategy and politics. It is Devniti that is the guided by our
relations. Changes in governments do not matter, our relations remain
the same,” he said. </p><div id="gmail-zdt_3644892_1_wrapper_3"></div><p>Modi
said he came to Janakpur as a pilgrim and not as prime minister, adding,
“Ayodhya is incomplete without Janakidham. Similarly, Nepal is
incomplete without India and India is incomplete without Nepal. ”</p><div id="gmail-zdt_3644892_1_wrapper_4"></div><p>The
Indian government has identified 15 destinations in India for
development under the Ramayana Circuit theme:Ayodhya, Nandigram,
Shringverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar &
Darbhanga (Bihar), Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Mahendragiri (Odisha),
Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bhadrachalam
(Telangana), Hampi (Karnataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu). <b><i>(With inputs from agencies)</i></b></p></div></div>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div>
</div>