Indian ambassador to Nepal , Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, has said Indian stands firmly behind the Nepali people in their quest for peace.

Foreign Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee (second and fourth from left) in a program marking the 60th Independence Day of India in Kathmandu, Tuesday, Aug 15 06. nepalnews.com/rh

In his message on the occasion of 60th Independence Day of India on Tuesday (Aug. 15), the Indian envoy said 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. The people of Nepal have written a glorious chapter in not only their but in the world’s history. They can be assured of India’s unwavering support as they travel the road ahead in addressing the challenges facing Nepal, he added.

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 percent 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.

In a separate context, ambassador Mukherjee said 1800-km open India-Nepal border represents “not a barrier, but both an opportunity and a responsibility for the two countries to use it as a channel, a lifeline, for the mutual benefit of their citizens.”

Unlike in the past, in his message the Indian ambassador did not refer to the so-called twin pillar theory of Indian support to the “constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy” in Nepal. The message explicitly said India would firmly stand behind Nepali people’s aspirations.

Major newspapers carried special supplements on Tuesday highlighting various facets of Nepal-India cooperation. Nearly two-third of Nepal’s international trade is directed to India while India is also the largest source of foreign investment in Nepal.