Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Buddha Purnima on May 16 invoked Indian Tridev- Lord Ram, Lord Buddha and Lord Kashi Vishwanath- in Lumbini for revival of inseparable cultural and spiritual ties of Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal and India.
To give boost to Buddhism in Nepal, Prime Minister Modi and Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba laid the foundation stone of the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha.
Prime Minster Modi’s visit to Nepal followed on the heels of similar visit made by Deuba few months ago to India that revived the ties between the two countries after the change of regime in Nepal.
The visit is significant as China has been supporting “leftists in Nepal" and has been interfering in the affairs of Nepal as China had sent delegations to Nepal during pandemic as well”.
Government of Nepal and India public corporate, SJVNL also signed an MoU on the 490 MW Arun-4 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal in the presence of Modi and Deuba.
Both Prime Ministers and Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka also hold bilateral talks and both countries and signed other MoUs strengthening the mutual relations and cultural ties.
Addressing the public meeting at Lumbini that went live on social media, Modi said Nepal is the nation of world’s highest mountains, Sagarmath, world oldest civilisation and place of oldest sacred Tirthsthan and Maths.
Modi said the International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini will be an important site for learning and cultural exchange between India and Nepal.
He said it will also further popularise the teaching and noble ideals of Lord Buddha. “Addressing the program in Lumbini on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. I feel blessed to have performed puja at the Maya Devi temple”, he added.
Modi said that Buddha Purnima is all the more significant as Bhagwan Buddha was born on this day in Lumbini, he attained enlightenment on this day at Bodh Gaya, and he attained Mahapari Nirvana at Kushinagar on this day”.
Modi said Lord Buddha taught world the “way of sacrifice” to attain fulfilment of life”. “That he chose this path leaves no place/scope for discrimination and division for humankind”, he added.
Lord Buddha is for everybody and for everyone. India and Nepal have sharing common cultural and spiritual heritage down the centuries, Modi said.
Striking chord with the people of Nepal by citing examples in Nepalese language Modi said Lord Rama is not complete without Lord Buddha. “As Deuba has mentioned about Kashi Vishwanath, we feel same Anubhuti at Lumbini as we feel it at Kashi and Ayodhya”, he added amid applause.
SJVN and NEA Signs MoU on Arun-4 Project
This historic MoU was signed Nand Lal Sharma Chairman & Managing Director, SJVN & Kulman Ghising Managing Director, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Nand Lal Sharma said that the 490 MW, Arun -4 Hydro Electric Project will be developed in Joint Venture (JV) mode by SJVN and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). In this JV, SJVN will be majority stakeholder.
The project is situated in Sankhuwasabha district province-1 of Nepal and will cost Rs 4900 Crores.
Sharma further informed that this will be the third Mega Project to be constructed in Nepal by SJVN. The 900 MW Arun-3 and 669 MW Lower Arun which is in Survey and Investigation Stage are also being executed by SJVN. SJVN is targeting these 5000 MW Projects in Nepal by 2030, he added.
