Modi’s religious diplomacy
Minister Narendra Modi will kick off his Nepal visit from Janakpur, an important religious centre in the Terai plains where Lord Ram was supposed to have wed Sita according to the Ramayana. Modi has already visited Nepal twice. In the run up to his second visit, in November 2014, Janakpur was on the itinerary, but the then Nepal government was not too keen on this. It was a time of constitution writing. Janakpur is the key centre of the Madhesis, people of the plains who were assertive in seeking a federal structure and inclusion. Kathmandu’s hill-dominated political establishment felt Modi’s visit would embolden the Madhesis. It would also, a section of the Nepali leadership argued, encourage those who wanted the country to become a Hindu state rather than have a secular constitution. They read in the desire to visit Janakpur, an intent to push this agenda. Given the cold reception, India decided to cancel the Janakpur leg of the visit.
A lot has happened since then. Nepal drafted a secular constitution; the clauses on federalism alienated Madhesis who waged a five month long movement with Indian support. Eventually, the broad constitutional compact was accepted; Madhesis participated in the constitution;
This will be a part of his effort to get India’s ties with Nepal on track after a difficult phase in the relationship when differences over the Nepal constitution led to deep trust deficit and public acrimony between Kathmandu and Delhi. The prime minister’s decision, though, has stirred up a debate on the use of religion in diplomacy.
NEWDELHI:Prime
an ultra-nationalist leader PM K P Oli won the election; and but India and he began a process of rapprochement. He visited India and to deepen ties, Modi decided to visit Nepal for the third time in his tenure. Janakpur was back on the itinerary.