PM IN NEPAL

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi emplanes for Delhi after his 2-day visit to Nepal on May 12, 2018. AAJ KI DELHI/YOGRAAJ SHARMA

HIGHLIGHTS : Congress accused PM Narendra Modi of timing his temple visit in Nepal to coincide with voting in Karnataka. It said PM Modi's schedule was aimed at influencing the mandate in the crucial southern state. PM Narendra Modi at Muktinath Temple in Nepal on Saturday.PM Narendra Modi at Muktinath Temple in Nepal on Saturday. NEW DELHI/KATHMANDU: Congress on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of timing his temple visit in Nepal to coincide with voting in Karnataka, saying his schedule was aimed at influencing the mandate in the crucial southern state. As Modi visited the revered Pashupatinath and Muktinath temples, AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot said, "This is not a good tradition in a democracy. In Gujarat, he held a road show after voting. Today, he has adopted a new path. When Karnataka is polling, he has gone to Nepal and is worshipping in temples there, as he could not do so in the southern state due to elections." Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale, who was in Kathmandu along with PM Modi, refuted Gehlot's charge when he was asked about it by reporters. He said Modi's visit was discussed with his Nepalese counterpart on February 12 when the former called K P Oli to congratulate him on his victory. "When PM Modi had telephoned Prime Minister Oli upon his election as the Prime Minister of Nepal, they had discussed the visit then. Prime Minister Oli had then expressed his desire for an early visit by Prime Minister Modi. They had discussed the visits, and the Prime Minister(Modi) had said you (Oli) come first."