India supports Nepal

Kathmandu, Aug 15 (UNI) India today said it stands firmly behind the Nepalese people in their quest for peace.

''The achievement of the recent people's movement through non-violent means is another vindication of the vision of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace and non-violence,'' Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee said.

''They can be assured of India's unwavering support as they travel the road ahead in addressing the challenges facing Nepal'', he added.

He was speaking at a function held to mark the 60th Independence Day of India.

The people of Nepal have written a glorious chapter in not only their but in the world's history, he said.

The Indian envoy announced that India will almost treble its annual outlay for economic development projects in Nepal to about NRs 2.4 billion.

''India's intense engagement in economic development of Nepal, worth about NRs 18 billion and having a direct bearing in all 75 districts of Nepal and on more than 10 per cent of the country's population, has been further enhanced and expanded during the recent successful visit to India by Prime Minister of Nepal, Girija Prasad Koirala,'' he added.

A large number of Indians living in Nepal and Nepalese attended the function.

Almost all major newspapers carried special supplements highlighting various facets of Nepal-India cooperation.

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