India to support Nepal's pursuit of peace, stability: President Pranab Mukherjee

India is determined to support Nepal in its pursuit of peace and stability, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday, as he described his visit as a "mission of friendship" reflecting the priority attached by the country to further strengthening the unique bilateral relationship.

"As two sovereign nations, we wish to take forward our relationship on the basis of trust, goodwill and mutual benefit. I conveyed the good wishes of the people and government of India to the friendly people of Nepal in their national efforts to achieve peace, stability and development within a federal democratic polity," Mukherjee said after the conclusion of his three-day state visit.

"Nepal has been a 'mission of friendship' and reflects the priority that India attaches to further strengthening our unique relationship with Nepal. Our destinies are inter-linked and there is recognition on both sides of the need to advance common prosperity," he said.

Mukherjee, the first Indian President to visit Nepal in 18 years, described his trip as successful and said, "The warmth and affection with which I was received by the people and Government of Nepal was truly overwhelming. It reflects the historic bonds of friendship as well as the unique and multi-faceted people-centric ties that exist between India and Nepal."
"India is determined to support Nepal in its pursuit of peace, stability and development. Both sides agree that focus should now shift to implementation of ongoing bilateral development and connectivity projects as well as projects for post-earthquake reconstruction of Nepal," he said.

During his visit, Mukherjee held "fruitful" meetings with his Nepalese counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Prachanda and the entire cross section of the political leadership of the country as well as members of the civil society, an official statement said.

"I conveyed that India remains committed to enhancing its partnership in all areas of priority for the people and Government of Nepal," he said.
Mukherjee invited President Bhandari to visit India. She accepted the invitation with happiness, the statement said.

"In all my meetings, I found tremendous goodwill and strong desire to advance our excellent bilateral ties for the benefit of our two peoples," he said.
Underlining the strong cultural and religious ties that unite the two nations and peoples, Mukherjee visited Pashupatinath Temple and offered prayers.
During his visit to the temple, the President announced that India will undertake two small development projects to repair and renovate the Ghats near the Pashupatinath temple on River Bagmati.

He was accorded a civic reception at Rashtriya Sabhagriha by the Kathmandu metropolitan city office, and was presented with the keys of the city.
He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Kathmandu University.

Today Mukherjee visited the ancient city of Janakpur where he offered prayers at the Janaki Mandir and was accorded civic reception by Janakpur Municipal Corporation.

"The city of Janakpur symbolises the long history of our contacts and close friendship and family ties which have existed between our peoples. I announced that India will construct two Dharmashalas along the Parikrama Path, which would be of use to pilgrims from both our countries," Mukherjee said.

In Janakpur, he also spoke about development of border areas of the two countries. "It is essential that we pay adequate attention to the development of border infrastructure and connectivity to facilitate movement of people. Today, in consonance with priorities of the people of Nepal, both governments are giving particular attention to expediting implementation of connectivity and developmental projects such as Terai roads, cross border rail links integrated check posts, power and transmission lines," the President said.

These projects, he said, are vital not only for Nepal's socio-economic and infrastructural transformation but also demonstrate our "collaborative efforts to facilitate trade, investments and movement of people."
"The government of India is assisting in the construction of four integrated check posts along important India-Nepal entry point. The ICPs at Birgunj and Biratnagar will be of great advantage to the people of Janakpur around the surrounding region," Mukherjee said.
He also lauded the People of Nepal for their contribution towards the safety and security of India through their service in the Indian Army.
"They have distinguished themselves through their valour and courage," Mukherjee said.
"It is a matter of pride that the brave Gurkhas have been serving in India since the last 200 years with exemplary courage and sincerity. They have earned a name for themselves in the Indian Army," Mukherjee said as he visited Pokhara and interacted with Indian ex-serviceman and their families.

"Today, 32,000 Gurkha soldiers are serving in the Indian Army and around 1 Lakh, 26 thousand ex-servicemen and their dependents are drawing pension in Nepal.
"The ex-servicemen are the foundational pillars of the friendship between Nepal and India. The Indian Government and Indian Army are proud of the Gurkha soldiers and ex-servicemen. I, on behalf of Government of India assure you that the Government of India will never step back in its efforts for the welfare of its ex-servicemen.
"I am happy to say that Government of India is running many welfare schemes for your prosperity and well-being. Every year nearly 3,100 crore Nepali rupees are being distributed as pension in Nepal. In the current year our objective is to distribute around 4,000 crore Nepali rupees under 'One Rank One Pension' and 7th Central Pay Commission."

Mukherjee said India is committed to rehabilitation efforts pertaining to the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal last year and is working with the Government of Nepal in this direction.
"The Government of India has provided 32,000 Nepali Rupees per pensioner in addition to other aid to 6,832 earthquake affected ex-servicemen," he said.
"I am convinced that my visit has provided new dynamism to our common cooperative endeavours. I am confident that building on shared strength of geography, history and culture, India-Nepal relations are poised to ascend to new heights in the coming years for the mutual benefit of our two peoples," he said after the conclusion of his visit.
Mukherjee also addressed a seminar organised by the Neeti Anusandhan Pratishthan Nepal, Nepal Center for Contemporary Studies and India Foundation, and shared his vision for advancing India-Nepal relations.