Nepal invites Modi, Xi for Buddha Jayanti function

NEW DELHI: Nepal has played its own balancing game by inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Buddha Jayanti celebrations in Lumbini, birthplace of Buddha, on May 21.
If the leaders decide to visit, Nepal will have two of its top suitors on hand. This year is the 2,560th birth anniversary of Buddha, and the Nepal government has invited a large number of world leaders as well as top Indian political and religious leaders.Significantly, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been invited as a special guest.
It’s not yet clear whether Modi will go to Nepal. Buddha Jayanti is a big event in India as well, and a focus of the Modi government. Elaborate celebrations are planned in India on the day as well. Sources said it was unlikely Xi would come either.
Nevertheless, Nepal’s effort to balance its neighbours will be noted. India-Nepal ties have gone through a rough phase lately and Nepalese PM KP Sharma Oli attempted to use the China card by signing some far-reaching agreements with China. There has also been speculation about Nepal trying to edge India out from its pole position.
Sources in Bihar government confirmed that Nitish had received the invite, but said he would go by the advice of the ministry of extrenal affairs. They said the Bihar chief minister has already forwarded the invite to the ministry and will wait for them to take a view.
“He will defer to the advice of the Centre because of the foreign policy implications of the matter. There is no question of acting unilaterally. He might accompany the PM if the latter decides to avail of the invitation and invites him to join him,” said an official in the Bihar government.