The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) honoured visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday at a civic reception held at City Hall in the Capital.

The KMC Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya presented a ‘Key to the City’ and a letter of felicitation to the Indian Prime Minister Modi.

At the reception, officials presented PM Modi a statue of Buddha, weighing 55kg, and a Peacock Window, one of Nepal’s precious artwork. Before PM Modi’s felicitation, KMC Mayor Shakya addressed the gathering first in Newari language and later part in Nepali language. Delivering the welcome speech, Minister for Foreign Affair Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said PM Modi’s latest visit would strengthen bilateral relationship and mutual understanding in another level. “I am sure that, the relationship between Nepal and India will continue to deepen and widen in the days to come,” he said. After the presentation ceremony, PM Modi addressed the gathering that included top dignitaries from Nepal and India, and from various international communities. He started his speech in Nepali language and then switched to Hindi.

During his 24-minute speech, PM Modi praised Kathmandu’s cultural, historical and religious heritage and its links with India since ancient era.Hailing Kathmandu as a mixture of the ancient and the modern era, Modi said the city exhibits the culture of Nepal and “There is something unique about the beauty of Kathmandu.“Nepal is a country of diversity and Kathmandu is a world in its own,” Modi said. “The diversity gives fresh air to any outsider.” He also lauded the gifted natural beauty of Nepal, hills and mountain, and asserted that India would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Nepal in its development journey.

“Nepal has successfully completed three elections; federal, provincial and local election within a year. It has established a new system despite of 2015 Earthquake. This resilience and integrity shown by the people here is an example to the world,” he said. Praising Nepal’s progress, PM Modi said, “Nepal has reached to the Base camp. It needs to reach to the top of the Mount Everest. India will work as a Sherpa for Nepal to reach on top of the world,” said Modi.

“Nepal has covered a long journey from Yuddh to Buddh (War to Peace). You have left the bullet to opt the ballot way...But this not the destination. You have to go a long way,” Modi told the gathering. PM Modi reached City Hall on Saturday after he visited Pashupatinath temple, Muktinath temple and Janakpur. He said he would visit Buddha’s birthplace during his next visit. “Lumbini is world’s precious monument, people from all over the world come seeking peace here,” he said. Modi lauded Nepal’s progress in sports, particularly cricket as an example of deepening ties between people of two countries. He mentioned Nepal’s promising young cricketer Sandeep Lamichhaney, selected by Delhi Daredevils for Indian Premier League (IPL) after his exploits as a leg-spinner.“Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane is taking part in IPL. I hope this people-to-people relation gets further strengthened in other sports too,” he said.PM Modi also informed that Kathmandu would be linked by railway to India’s Raxaul city bordering Birgunj, Nepal’s biggest trading point.

Police arrest 23 anti Modi protesters

Police arrested around two dozen people on Saturday for protesting against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Office Senior Superintendent of Police and Spokesperson Purna Chandra Joshi said police arrested 23 protesters in Kathmandu, for activities against PM Modi.

“Over the last two days, we detained total 53 protesters—30 on Friday and other 23on Saturday—in Kathmandu alone. They are in our custody,” said Joshi. Police arrested Mohan Baidya led Nepal Communist’s Party-Revolutionary leader C.P Gajurel along with 20 other members of the party from Ratnapark when they tried to protest against Modi visit. The Bibeksheel Sajha Party (BSP), which witnessed similar crackdown on Friday, for joining the protest against the visit, intensified similar acts even on Saturday.

In a press note on Saturday, the BSP criticised government action against the party for openly protesting Modi’s visit. BSP has said the government has shown authoritarian character by raiding the office. “The government has not acted only against the Bibeksheel but the nation that had suffered the blockade,” the statement said. According to party spokesperson Ramesh Poudyal, ppolice arrested Province 5 co-ordinator Anupman Sainju along with dozens of its members from Butwal.

Dahachowk police arrested Chandragiri Municipality ward 1 coordinator Pawan Giri with five other protestors. Security forces intervened in protest programmes organised by the party in Dhanagadi, Pokhara, Butwal, Chitwan and many other cities, said Poudyal. On the first day of visit, the party had put up banners with the slogan “You are Welcome Modi, But We Haven’t Forgotten the Blockade”, which was removed by the security personnel repeatedly.

The BSP, however, flew black banners tied with balloons in the air to continue their protest, from their central office in Bakhundole, Lalitpur on Saturday. It had also organised similar protest programmes in different cities outside the valley. The party has demanded the government to release its members arrested during the peaceful movement from all around the country.

Nepali lensmen denied entry to City Hall

Photojournalists staged a “camera down” protest after being denied access to the City Hall despite having obtained ‘special passes’ issued prior to PM Modi’s reception.

The president of Photojournalist Club (Nepal), Bikash Karki said, “All the photojournalists that were at the City Hall for the event had obtained prior permission to click photographs of the event.

However, at the last moment, we were denied access after being told that we could not be accommodated at the venue. All the while, Indian journalists were allowed access. This reflects poorly on the organisers and the security personnel deployed at the venue, particularly because this is not the first time that this has happened at events like these.”A total of 25 photographers and videographers from various Nepali news outlets were barred from the event organised by Kathmandu Metropolitan City for the visiting Indian prime minister. (PR)