Indian Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, has apologised for saying PM Narendra Modi addressed ‘Indians’ during his Nepal tour earlier this month. While talking to MEA’s annual press conference she told, “Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister of the country who has from America’s Madison Square to Nepal’s Janakpur addressed lakhs of Indian”

A video report:

See more

This was a mistake on my part. I sincerely apologise for this. pic.twitter.com/S1CpLv8uu0

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 28, 2018

Right after the news of her statement were published in Nepali media, Nepali public and politicians started questioning Swaraj’s intention. Nepali Congress leader and a Member of Parliament, Gagan Thapa tweeted:

See more

Regrettable that India’s External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj described Janakpur’s population that @narendramodi greeted as Indians.

One wonders what the confusion was,or if this was casual undermining of Nepal’s sovereignty.

Either way, @IndiaInNepal,it is unacceptable.

— Gagan Thapa (@thapagk) May 28, 2018

Naya Shakti leader, Baburam Bhattarai, also tweeted:

See more

भारतीय विदेशमन्त्री सुष्मा स्वराजले 'प्रम नरेन्द्र मोदीने जनकपुरकी मैदानसे लाखोंलाख भारतीयको सम्बोधन किया'भनेर सीमापारीका भारतीय नागरिक भन्नुभएको हो कि नेपालको तराई-मधेसमा रहने नेपाली नागरिकलाई भन्नुभएको हो?प्रष्ट पार्नुपर्यो।अन्यथा यो धेरै गम्भीर कुरा हो;वहाँले माफी माग्नुपर्यो! https://t.co/FoNaoxvwKZ

— Baburam Bhattarai (@brb1954) May 28, 2018

As far as I know, this is the first time an Indian Foreign Minister has apologized to Nepal over their statement. Although there are claims that others have done so in history, I couldn’t find any proof.

The term “First time” is disputed but, I consider it correct until proven wrong. So, if you know such incident in history please comment so that correct information is given to the reader.

One response:

See more

बिपि पिएम हुँदा नेहरुले पनि भारतिय संसदको रोस्टम बाट माफी मागेको ईतिहास छ है

— बेरोजगार दक्षप्रजापति (@Sherjal3) May 29, 2018

Nehru was the Foreign minister (Minister of External Affairs)
from 2 September 1946 – 27 May 1964.

BP Koirala was prime minister from 27 May 1959 – 15 December 1960. He was home minister from 21 February 1951 – 12 November 1951. So in neither of his tenure Nehru was foreign minister. In fact Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India – from 15 August 1947 – 27 May 1964.

That means, even if Nehru apologized, he was the Prime Minister, not the foreign minister at that time. So, my statement still holds true.