"Foreign investment for Nepal’s Lumbini development pinches India" :: telegraphnepal.com
From Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Nov 8 (PTI) With China showing keen interest in developing Buddha''s birthplace in Nepal, Congress leader Karan Singh today said New Delhi should remain cautious about it as Lumbini, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated close to the Indian border.
India should also extend help for the development of Lumbini, Singh, an eminent scholar who is on a visit here, said.
"Both India and Nepal can benefit from tourism if we could market the entire Buddhist circuit, including Lumbini, together with India''s Bodh Gaya and Sarnath," he said.
Asked about China''s growing involvement in the development of Lumbini, he said India should remain cautious and play an active role in this regard as the Buddhist pilgrimage site "lies near our border".
Maoist chief Prachanda, who is also the co-chairman of Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation (APEC) Foundation, is currently in New York to seek the United Nation''s cooperation and assistance for the development of Lumbini in Nepal''s Rupandehi district, which is about 8-km from the open Nepal-India border.
APEC Foundation had recently come under fire by Buddhists and some political leaders after it floated the idea of developing Lumbini as a ''mecca'' of Buddhists by mobilising USD 3 billion aid from various donors, including from China, without consulting the Lumbini Development Trust, a government body authorised to develop the area and implement the master plan prepared by famous Japanese architect Kezo Tange.
Karan Singh, who met top leaders like President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Nepali Congress'' Sushil Koirala and former King Gyanendra during his visit, said that India wants to see a peaceful, stable, democratic, prosperous and strong Nepal.
He hailed the Seven-Point Agreement reached among the major political parties of Nepal, including the ruling Unified CPN-Maoist and main opposition Nepali Congress, saying that it was an important pact which had been widely appreciated both in Nepal and India.
He, however, stressed on the need to properly implement the pact that aims to conclude the peace process within a month and expedite the Constitution-drafting process.
Singh said that once Nepal attains political stability and concludes the political transition, the economic activities will gear up.
[[.. Read more at "Foreign investment for Nepal’s Lumbini development pinches India" :: telegraphnepal.com..]]
Kathmandu, Nov 8 (PTI) With China showing keen interest in developing Buddha''s birthplace in Nepal, Congress leader Karan Singh today said New Delhi should remain cautious about it as Lumbini, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated close to the Indian border.
India should also extend help for the development of Lumbini, Singh, an eminent scholar who is on a visit here, said.
"Both India and Nepal can benefit from tourism if we could market the entire Buddhist circuit, including Lumbini, together with India''s Bodh Gaya and Sarnath," he said.
Asked about China''s growing involvement in the development of Lumbini, he said India should remain cautious and play an active role in this regard as the Buddhist pilgrimage site "lies near our border".
Maoist chief Prachanda, who is also the co-chairman of Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation (APEC) Foundation, is currently in New York to seek the United Nation''s cooperation and assistance for the development of Lumbini in Nepal''s Rupandehi district, which is about 8-km from the open Nepal-India border.
APEC Foundation had recently come under fire by Buddhists and some political leaders after it floated the idea of developing Lumbini as a ''mecca'' of Buddhists by mobilising USD 3 billion aid from various donors, including from China, without consulting the Lumbini Development Trust, a government body authorised to develop the area and implement the master plan prepared by famous Japanese architect Kezo Tange.
Karan Singh, who met top leaders like President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Nepali Congress'' Sushil Koirala and former King Gyanendra during his visit, said that India wants to see a peaceful, stable, democratic, prosperous and strong Nepal.
He hailed the Seven-Point Agreement reached among the major political parties of Nepal, including the ruling Unified CPN-Maoist and main opposition Nepali Congress, saying that it was an important pact which had been widely appreciated both in Nepal and India.
He, however, stressed on the need to properly implement the pact that aims to conclude the peace process within a month and expedite the Constitution-drafting process.
Singh said that once Nepal attains political stability and concludes the political transition, the economic activities will gear up.
[[.. Read more at "Foreign investment for Nepal’s Lumbini development pinches India" :: telegraphnepal.com..]]
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