# Prem Sagar Poudel
By saying that Buddha was born in Nepal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried to overshadow the border dispute and other issues with Nepal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used the religious diplomacy to increase his declining popularity in Nepal.
Earlier, during his visit to Janakpurdham, Prime Minister Modi had said that Ram was incomplete without Sita. During his visit to Lumbini on the day of Buddha Purnima on 2nd Jeshth, Indian Prime Minister Modi also talked about Sita and Ram. His speech was aimed at refuting the argument put forward by former Prime Minister KP Oli that Ram was born in Nepal’s Dhori.
By raising the issue of Pashupatinath, Janakpur, Muktinath and Lumbini, Indian Prime Minister Modi has tried to divert the issue of Chuchche Map of Nepal. The then Prime Minister Oli had made public the Chuchche map covering the Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura areas which had been under Indian control for a long time.
India has not recognized the map prepared by Nepal on the basis of official evidence. Recognizing the latest map of Nepal, India should withdraw Indian troops from the land of the Chuchche map. So far, however, India has remained silent on the issue.
After the blockade of 2072 BS, Indian influence in Nepal seems to be weakening. During Oli’s tenure as Prime Minister, India viewed Nepal with more skepticism. The reason behind this is that Oli did not surrender to India during the blockade. In addition, Oli had forced India to lift the blockade by signing a transit agreement with China. The recent Chuchche map released under Oli’s leadership seems to have led to the conclusion that Oli was used against India.
The Deuba government formed after Oli has been making every effort to improve relations with India. During his visit to India, Deuba had reached the office of the Bharatiya Janata Party against diplomatic dignity. Deuba is likely to be the first prime minister to visit the ruling party’s office during his official visit to India. During the visit, Deuba even asked the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi to keep the old map of Nepal.
Use of religious diplomacy:
During his visit to Nepal, Vijay Chauthaiwala, a confidant of Indian Prime Minister Modi and head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) foreign affairs department, tied the knot (Rakhi) with PM’s wife Arju Deuba in Baluwatar. As soon as the Deuba government was formed, Chauthaiwala came on a five-day visit to Nepal. The religious diplomacy exercise started by Chauthaiwale, who came to Nepal as Prime Minister Modi’s envoy to improve relations between the two countries, seems to have come to fruition in Lumbini.
During his visit to Lumbini, Indian Prime Minister Modi seems to have tried to show that he is a follower of Buddhism. The message of his efforts is more aimed at China than Nepal. The influence of Buddhists in Nepal is not so great. Therefore, Pashupatinath’s worship is more important in Nepal than Lord Gautam Buddha. During this visit, Modi did not show interest to visit Pashupatinath in Kathmandu.
In recent times, Lumbini has become more of a Chinese tourist destination than an Indian one. China built a Buddhist temple in Lumbini in 2000. It is the first Buddhist temple built abroad by the Buddhist Association of China under the Chinese government. Along with the Buddhist temple, the interest of the Chinese in Lumbini began to grow. Most recently, in 2011 an agreement was reached between APEC and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the Chinese NGO Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation (APEC) to spend $ 3 billion in Lumbini development.
India is furious at the progress made by APEC, headquartered in Beijing, in Lumbini development. The United States, Japan, and European countries also expressed skepticism. At that time, it was made public that CPN (MC) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was the co-chairman and former prince Paras was also an APEC official. APEC’s works to move forward has not yet begun.
On the eve of Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lumbini, former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Ray said in an interview to Nepali language online Nepal Khabar: ‘China seems to be trying to use Lumbini to promote Buddhism. China has seen its religious and trade interests fulfilled by associating itself and Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia with Lumbini. So they have increased their interest in Lumbini.’
The interview of former Indian Ambassador Ray also shows that the visit of Indian Prime Minister Modi to Lumbini is not only political. He headed to Lumbini from Delhi with a plan. Modi seems to have set out on a visit to Lumbini to restore Nepal-India relations after India came to the conclusion that the attitude of Nepalis towards Indians could not be positive due to the Indian media claiming that Buddha was born in India.
In his 15-minute speech, Modi tried to restore his lost image in Nepal by addressing in Nepali language four times. In addition, he has succeeded in sending a message to China that India is also an important player in Lumbini. Although there is no agreement on the Buddhist circuit put forward by India, an agreement has been signed between Lumbini and Kushinagar to establish sister city relations. In Kushinagar, Buddha achieved Mahaparinirvana. Apart from these two places, India wants to make a Buddha circuit by connecting Sarnath and Bodh Gaya.
As the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Lumbini, Modi seems to be forwarding for a Buddhist circuit like the Ramayana circuit. His wish has been sown by the current visit. Visiting Kushinagar, Sarnath and Bodh Gaya for religious tourists, who visit Lumbini seems to bring more economic benefits to India than to Nepal. Apart from this, Nepal has remained silent on the possibility of making a Buddha circuit in Nepal by connecting the areas related to Buddha in Nepal.
The first and foremost message that Modi wanted to convey to China by visiting Lumbini through religious diplomacy is, “Not only you but we are also connected with Lord Gautam Buddha.” In other words, Modi’s visit is an attempt to change the negative attitude of the public at him not only in Nepal but also in China. Due to the large number of Buddhists in China, Modi seems to be trying to convey the message that he is a follower of Buddhism. In Nepal, however, this is just one link in improving relations.
Shame not covered:
During the visit of Modi in Lumbini, Nepal started the second international airport. Modi did not participate in the launch of Bhairahawa airport. It was an attempt to show China. The media tried to save the face of Modi by saying that Modi would not participate in the opening of the airport because it was built by a Chinese contractor.
During his visit to Lumbini, Modi flew from Delhi to Kushinagar Airport. Modi arrived in Lumbini from an Indian Army helicopter after attending a Buddha Jayanti program in Kushinagar. Modi could have used Bhairahawa airport directly instead of Kushinagar airport. Dominating thinking that India has been showing towards Nepal seems to have worked behind not using Bhairahawa airport.
After Nepal started construction of Bhairahawa International Airport, the possibility of Indian nationals traveling in and out of the border area through this airport had increased. In addition, Buddhist tourists visiting Kushinagar were also likely to pass through Bhairahawa International Airport. To counter this possibility, India upgraded Kushinagar Airport to an international airport. The airport was inaugurated by Modi on October 20, 2021. Sri Lanka’s Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and more than 100 Buddhist monks were brought to Kushinagar for the inauguration ceremony. Built with Buddhist tourism in mind, the airport is an alternative to Bhairahawa Airport.
As it is 135 kilometers away from Bhairahawa, India seems to have built this airport with the idea of bringing Buddhists to Kushinagar and from there to Lumbini by vehicles. On the other hand, the workers going to the Gulf from this area seem to be trying to develop Kushinagar as an alternative to using Bhairahawa airport. Therefore, during his visit to Lumbini, Modi seems to have used Kushinagar airport instead of Bhairahawa. His efforts suggest that one should use the Kushinagar route to Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
While using Bhairahawa Airport, the message of another international Airport operation in Nepal could have reached the Indian media. It also brought the issue of the short route from Bhairahawa to Lumbini to international prominence. Modi seems to have tried to convey the message that a helicopter is needed to reach Lumbini without using the possibility of coming by vehicle from Kushinagar. The visit highlights how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has long claimed that Buddha was born in India, is still trying to politicize the issue.
Depend on India:
This is the second meeting between the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India in 44 days. During this meeting, six agreements have been reached between the Prime Ministers of the two countries. Kathmandu, Tribhuvan and Lumbini Buddhist Universities and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in India have signed four MoUs and one agreement in the field of education.
As per the agreement, Kathmandu University (KU) and IITM have started conducting engineering classes on energy system at postgraduate level from this academic session. An agreement has been reached between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Center for Asian Studies (SINAS) at Tribhuvan University to establish an ICCR Chair for Indian Studies. It is said that this understanding will help in studying the Nepal-India relations. SINAS has stated that the professors of international relations from India, will stay in Nepal to help. SINAS has been studying Asian countries since 1984.
To study Buddhism between Lumbini Buddhist University and ICCR, An agreement has been reached to set up an Dr. Ambedkar Chair. The agreement was signed to research the Buddhist culture of Nepal and India. For this, the Government of India will send the professors of Buddhist universities in Nepal. The Indian Chair, which is being set up in three universities, will conduct research on Nepal-India relations. This program is likely to turn the knowledge-producing university sector into a platform for Indian experts.
Sutlej, which had earlier got the job of constructing two hydropower projects, has also been entrusted with the work of another hydropower project. Indian company Sutlej Hydropower Corporation has got the job of construction of Arun-4 semi-reservoir hydropower project in Sankhuwasabha. For this, a company will be established with the joint investment of Nepal Electricity Authority and Sutlej. NEA will own 49 percent and Sutlej 51 percent shares in the company.
Sutlej, a joint venture between the Central Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh, has been entrusted with the construction of the 900-megawatt Arun-3 and its 679-megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower Project. As per the agreement, Nepal will get 21.9 percent and 21 percent electricity free of cost from these two hydropower projects respectively. It has been agreed that Nepal will get 21.9 percent electricity from Arun-4 free of cost. Deuba has also negotiated to hand over the 750 MW West Seti hydropower project to Modi
India’s investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector seems to be increasing significantly. Due to which, India seems to be taking the first advantage of Nepalese water. On the other hand, this visit has shown that India’s eyes are again on Nepal’s micro-management. With the growing influence of the US, India is also seeking to increase its presence in Nepal, which is under its umbrella. For that, Navin Srivastava has been sent to Nepal as the new ambassador on 3rd May. He was earlier the head of the East Asia Desk at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. He is known as an expert on China affairs.
In May 2020, Srivastava played important role in resolving the dispute over the Line of Actual Control (LoC) at Ladakh, on the Indo-China border. His jurisdiction included China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Mongolia. He has also served as India’s ambassador to Cambodia. Srivastava, who has also served as India’s consul general in Shanghai, seems to be focusing on reducing Chinese activity in Nepal.
