Janakpur all ready to welcome Modi: FM Gyawali

JANAKPURDHAM, May 8: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Gyawali has said that all necessary preparations to welcome and extend a civic reception to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Janakpur have been completed.

Minister Gyawali, who arrived in Janakpur Monday to inspect the preparations being made on the part of the provincial government to welcome Modi on Friday, said the provincial and local governments had completed the preparations for Modi’s plan to offer prayers at Janaki Temple and extend him a civil reception on the Barhabigha ground.

“Security and other formal preparations to welcome Indian Prime Minister Modi in Janakpur have already been completed,” Minister Gyawali told media persons. “The management of roads leading to Janaki Temple and Barhabigha ground from Janakpur Airport is also being carried out expeditiously. The provincial government has assured us that all physical work will be completed by Wednesday.”

After inspecting the Janakpur Airport, where Prime Minister Modi will land, Janaki Temple, and Barhabigha ground and the tents and other decoration works being carried out there, Minister Gyawali had interacted with Chief Minister of Province 2 Lal Babu Raut and his cabinet members and Mayor of Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City about the preparations works.

The provincial government had briefed Minister Gyawali on the preparatory works carried out so far and the works that are yet to be completed for the security and hospitality of the visiting dignitaries. Stating that all the preparatory works need to be completed at least two days before the scheduled visit of Indian Prime Minister Modi, Minister Gyawali directed the officials concerned to work day and night to complete the preparations well in advance.

Minister Gyawali was accompanied by Nepal Police Chief Sarbendra Khanal and Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri during the inspection visit. Indian security agency officials, who are already in Janakpur to oversee the preparations, have asked the provincial government and Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City to complete the preparatory works by Wednesday. Security agencies will put Barhabigha ground, where Modi will be offered the civic reception, and Janaki Temple, under security cover from Wednesday itself.

Nepal Police has deputed a special police team led by DIG Thule Rai to ensure security during Prime Minister Modi’s visit. Acting Chief District Officer of Dhanusha, Dipak Karna said they are mobilizing at least 3,500 security personnel in and around Janaki Temple, Barhabigha ground and Janakpur Airport.

Besides Nepal Police personnel, the government is also mobilizing plain-clothes Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department personnel. A separate security team of Indian Prime Minister Modi will also be on the ground.

Sources said at least 500 Indian security personnel have already arrived in Janakpur. They are minutely studying the security threats that may arise during the visit.

Nepal Police Chief Khanal himself is on the ground to ensure foolproof security in Janakpur. On Monday, IGP Khanal directed provincial and district level security agencies for the security preparations. “Around 10,000 police personnel will be mobilized to keep the Janakpur municipal area under security cover. Around 3,500 police personnel will be mobilized on the road Prime Minister Modi will travel,” he said.

The provincial government is building a special tent at a cost of Rs 12.6 million to extend civic reception to Prime Minister Modi at Barhabigha. Minister of Physical Infrastructure of Province 2, Jintendra Sonal, who is also the coordinator of the State Preparation Main Committee, said tents and the stage will be ready by Wednesday.

The provincial government has mobilized lawmakers from all eight districts in Province 2 to bring as many people as possible to extend civic reception to Prime Minister Modi. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi has urged the party’s all district committees in Province 2 to participate in the civic reception.