Kathmandu, Aug 27 (IANS) The people and the government of India stand by Nepal and those ravaged by the widespread flooding that has led to death and destruction since the day before, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) recently appointed Vice-President Ram Madhav said on Thursday.

“We are all with you, and we are really hopeful that with the relief activity that is being undertaken by the current government, Nepal would overcome this unfortunate tragedy,” Ram Madhav said at the NDTV “Anviksha” Dialogue held in the Nepal capital.

He began by paying condolences to families who lost their near and dear ones in the deluge.

NDTV World’s new dialogue series, “NDTV Anviksha: Ideas Across Borders”, in Nepal observed a minute of silence for people who lost their lives in Wednesday’s flash floods.

The Kathmandu event focuses on Nepal and its relationship with India, while also looking at the country’s politics, economy, society, and future.

The day-long dialogue brings together politicians, diplomats, business leaders, technology experts, young entrepreneurs, athletes and cultural figures from the two countries.

Ram Madhav cited New Delhi’s prompt reaction, saying while a plane-load of relief materials reached Nepal on Wednesday, another landed right behind his aircraft as he reached Kathmandu on Thursday.

On issues over the open border that India and Nepal share, he opined that it helps people meet with each other frequently, but at the same time: “We have to take whatever necessary steps are to be taken to ensure that no illegal activity happens across the borders.”

The BJP leader also spoke about the youth-led protests in Nepal last year and in India this year.

“There was a particular situation in this country (Nepal) last year which led to that massive popular outburst, and it had resulted in a major change in the political dispensation here,” he noted.

“Whatever decision people of Nepal or youth of Nepal took was in the interest of their country, and that is their prerogative also,” Ram Madhav said.

About the student protests in India, the BJP National Vice-President began by saying that the terms of Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennials, among others, tend to divide the youngsters.

He stressed that India is proud of its youth as a whole, and if the need arises where a group has some issues, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is ready to address it, as it did in the case of the recent protest.

“The government is always willing to engage with them (youth),” he said.

“That’s what happened in Delhi last month… The issues raised were immediately addressed, and the movement’s agenda was fulfilled,” he added.

This group, however, did not comprise all of India’s youth, Ram Madhav said.

There are many platforms, like the BJP-affiliated students and youth organisations as well as a large number of Gen Z and others associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as well, he noted.

On bilateral relations, Ram Madhav ruled out any widespread ‘anti-India’ feelings being held in Nepal.

He stressed that everybody looks to India “as a good friend, a dear neighbour” where the two countries, being sovereign neighbours, share close civilisational and cultural bonds.

The few incidents of disagreements, the BJP Vice-President termed as “family quarrels” which, he asserted, should not be seen as “anti-India” sentiments.

On Nepal-China relations, Ram Madhav made it clear that “Nepal has sovereign rights to engage with any country, and India cannot dictate to any other country about its priority”.

Reminding PM Modi’s call “together we grow” for India’s neighbours, he said that Nepal’s growth should help India, not create trouble.

“Similarly, India’s growth should help Nepal, or any other country in the neighbourhood,” he added.

“China is an important country in our region. India-China relationship is important,” he exhorted, sharing that bilateral trade amounts to $159 billion, which, excluding the services sector, is higher than New Delhi’s trade with the US.

Ram Madhav stressed that international relations are issues of sovereign decisions of a country.

–IANS

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