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PM Modi's first reaction as Sushila Karki becomes Nepal’s interim Prime Minister: ‘India remains…’
Sushila Karki, a former Chief Justice of Nepal, was sworn in as the head of the interim government after days of political turmoil in the Himalayan nation.
India is committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he extended his best wishes to his new Nepalese counterpart Sushila Karki.
The Indian government had earlier welcomed the formation of an interim government in Nepal led by former chief justice Karki and expressed the hope that this would lead to peace and stability in the neighbouring country.
Karki, an anti-corruption activist, is Nepal’s first woman PM. She was sworn in at the president's office after being chosen by student groups whose protests this week led to the resignation of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli.
“I extend my best wishes to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal,” Modi said in a social media post.
The so-called Gen Z protests against a social media ban expanded to target Oli's administration over corruption and misrule. Oli quit after a crackdown on protesters by police left more than 20 people dead, mostly students, and hundreds injured.
Violence continued even after Oli’s resignation and mobs rampaged across Kathmandu and several cities on Tuesday, torching official buildings such as the Parliament and houses of political leaders. More than 50 people were killed before the situation was brought under control by the army.
In its first reaction late on Friday night, the external affairs ministry welcomed the formation of the interim government led by Karki.
“As a close neighbour, a fellow democracy and a long term development partner, India will continue to work closely with Nepal for the well-being and prosperity of our two peoples and countries,” the ministry said in a brief statement.
On Tuesday, Modi had chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss the situation in Nepal and appealed for peace in the neighbouring country. He described the violence in Nepal as heart-rending and said he was anguished by the death of many young people.
“The stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance to us,” Modi had said.
