Lumbini, May 16 (RSS): Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has arrived here in connection with an official visit to Nepal.
He arrived on a special helicopter
of the Indian Air Force, leading an 11-member delegation. Prime Minister Sher
Bahadur Deuba welcomed his Indian counterpart at the helipad constructed near
the International Buddhist Prayer Center and Auditorium here in Lumbini.
First Lady Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, Home
Minister Bal Krishna Khand, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka,
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Renu Kumari Yadav, Minister
for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale and Minister for
Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel were also at hand to welcome
the visiting Indian dignitary.
Also present were the Chief
Minister of Lumbini Province, Kul Prasad KC; Government Chief Secretary Shanker
Das Bairagi; Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal; Ambassador of Nepal to
India, Dr Shanker Sharma; Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of India, Kathmandu,
Namya Khampa, among other officials.
Indian PM Modi waved to the general
public gathered at the location after alighting from the helicopter.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to
perform puja (worship) at the Mayadevi Temple during his visit to the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.