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                                        <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>
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                        
                                        
                                                                                
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                                                                        <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>
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                                                                        <a><span>Anil Giri</span></a> <br>        Hindustan Times, Kathmandu</div>
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<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">

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                                                                                                        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>

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                                        </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>
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                                <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>
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                                <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>
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                        </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>
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