PM Modi holds bilateral talks with his Nepalese counterpart Deuba in Lumbini; 6 packs inked

Lumbini (Nepal): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held bilateral talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba in Lumbini, which is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. India and Nepal signed six MoUs on cooperation in cultural and educational sectors. PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba also discussed ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation and develop new areas in the multifaceted bilateral partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Nepal on a day-long visit to Lumbini on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. He offered prayers at the sacred Maya Devi temple and prayed Deuba. Also Read |  Canada: Punjab's Moga youth Navkiran Singh found dead in Brampton river “PM @narendramodi holds bilateral talks with PM @SherBDeuba in Lumbini. Opportunity to strengthen ongoing cooperation and develop new areas in our multifaceted partnership,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) inked separate MoUs with Lumbini Buddhist University on the establishment of Dr Ambedkar Chair for Buddhist Studies; with Tribhuvan University on the establishment of ICCR Chair of Indian Studies and with Kathmandu University (KU) on the establishment of the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies. An MoU between Kathmandu University (KU) and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) was also signed. A Letter of Agreement (LoA) between KU and IIT-M was signed for joint degree programme at Master’s level. An agreement between SJVN Ltd and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for Development and implementation of Arun 4 Project was also inked. Later, Deuba hosted a lunch in honour of Modi and his delegation. Also Read | No heatwave for next four days in Delhi: IMD  Earlier, both leaders participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a Centre of Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini, on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti. As Prime Minister, this is PM Modi's fifth visit to Nepal and first to Lumbini. -PTC News