Indian ambassador to Nepal, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, has said vibrant Indian democracy is the biggest success story of independent India.

Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee

Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee
(File photo)

In a message on the occasion of the 59th Independence Day of India on Monday (August 15), envoy Mukherjee said when India got independence from the British colonial rule in 1947, there was a commitment to three pillars of democracy—an elected legislature, a vibrant and free press and a fiercely independent judiciary.

Democracy in India can be noisy and rambunctious but the noise of debate is music of democracy, he added.

Ambassador Mukherjee said India is expected to grow at around 7 percent during the next decade. He, however, said India has much more to do to eliminate poverty.

Talking about Nepal-India relations, the Indian envoy said history and geography, culture and tradition, have made it inevitable that Nepal—our closest neighbor—is one with whom we share a unique and fraternal relationship, which goes beyond the formality of state to state relations. It is India’s considered policy to make its neighbours full stakeholders in India’s economic destiny. This is particularly so in case of Nepal, said Mukherjee.

Mukherjee further said open border (between the two countries) also leads to India’s ever-growing markets, which are open to Nepal, for cooperation, which will be mutually beneficial to both our peoples. He also reiterated his government’s commitment towards strengthening cooperation with Nepal in every area of human endeavour.

Meanwhile, addressing the `Independence Day’ function from Lal Quila in New Delhi this morning, Indian premier felicitated people of the neighbouring countries including Nepal. He said he wanted to assure deep from his heart that India was ready to promote peace, happiness and work towards development in partnership with its neighbours.