Kathmandu:
Taking the initiative to enhance ties between neighbours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India was honoured to save and serve in Nepal, and the country has the primary right (pradhan adhikar) on India's 'Prime servant of the people' (Pradhan Sevak).
"India is always ready to help save lives here. It's an honour that we can get to save the lives of our own people. This is a medium of service," the Prime Minister said while launching a trauma centre built by India at Kathmandu's Bir Hospital. "Your happiness puts a smile on our face."
Since his Independence Day address to the Nation, PM Modi has referred to himself as the "Pradhan Sevak". "I'm not the Prime Minister, I'm the Prime Servant of the People," he had said.
PM Modi, who is in Kathmandu to attend the SAARC Summit, is trying to start a "new chapter in bilateral ties" that will serve as a model for regional partnership, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office had said.
The approach is in line with his invitation to the heads of the neighbouring countries during his swearing-in ceremony in May, which was viewed as a key strategic initiative to reach out.
Today, lauding the growing synergy between the two countries, the Prime Minister said, "There is a strong engine of trust and confidence between India and Nepal. We are cooperating in the field of defence. We are giving Nepal a Dhruv helicopter. We're also working on the police academy here."
Among the other projects the two countries are undertaking is a bus service between Delhi and Kathmandu, which, he said, would not only boost tourism but also help the common people.
The Prime Minister also made a strong pitch for the early drafting of Nepal's Constitution. India, he said, would not interfere but it would be sad if despite having the expertise, it could not help. "I request all political stakeholders to draft the Constitution by early next year... failing to do so can cause difficulties to Nepal and your difficulty despite our expertise to help you is a matter of sadness," he said.