Oli to Invite Modi for Bibaha Panchami Celebrations

In another move strengthening cultural and bilateral ties, Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli will invite his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to Nepal in view of ‘Bibaha Panchami’.

According to PM Oli’s Chief Adviser Bishnu Rimal, Oli is inviting Modi for the ‘wedding procession’ event from Ayodhya to Jankapur as part of the Bibaha Panchami celebrations.

During the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit, both Prime Ministers had planned to make Modi a part of the Bibaha Panchami celebrations and inaugurate the Janakpur-Jayanagar railway track in December 2018.

“Both the leaders had discussed about the plan. The PM will send a letter to Modi inviting him to take part in the wedding procession in Ram-Janaki temple,” said Rimal.

PM Modi will begin with a baraat from Ayodhya, Lord Ram’s kingdom to Janakpur, Sita’s birthplace. Modi will be accompanied by a large number of Indian officials and Bharatiya Janata Party members.

This is Modi’s second visit to Janakpur after his first visit in May 2018.

A political analyst describes Modi’s visit as a means to influence voters in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In the meanwhile, the Janakpur-Jayanagar railway track is almost ready and railways officials have finished conducting a test drive.

The two countries are yet to finalize the modality of railway movement. Nepal prefers wet leasing the railway due to its technical workforce unavailability.

According to an Indian railway official, Indian will recruit and train Nepali staff and then gradually phase out Indian crew. The Janakpur-Jayanagar-Kurtha railway line was built at a cost of Rs 8.8 billion with support from India.