Narendra Modi talks 'strong SAARC' with neighbours; gets Yoga Day support

New York: Taking forward his 'neighbourhood first' policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today discussed matters of regional and bilateral cooperation with top leaders of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The three neighbouring leaders also promised their full support to Modi's suggestion to the UN to celebrate International Yoga Day once a year, which he made during his 35-minute speech at the UN General Assembly.

Modi also reiterated his commitment to make SAARC a strong regional block.

Before his UN speech, Modi met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and discussed issues like imminent reforms in the UNSC and the need to involve countries contributing peace troops in the decision-making process of the multilateral institution.

Modi made a strong pitch before Ban for the UNSC reforms before its 70th anniversary next year, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters while briefing about the Prime Minister's meetings on Saturday.

During bilateral meetings, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala congratulated Modi on his first UN speech and promised full support for his initiative of having an International Yoga Day.

Within hours of it being mooted, Rajapaksa gave his support in writing to the initiative, which would need to be ratified by the UN General Assembly by September 2015 for coming into effect.

The three leaders also said that they were looking forward to Modi's visit to their respective countries, including for the SAARC summit in Nepal later this year.

Modi told Koirala that he was looking forward to visit Nepal and said he would like to go to Janakpur and Lumbini, the birthplaces of Sita and Lord Buddha, respectively.

The Prime Minister also enquired about the status of bilateral projects he had announced during his Nepal trip.

Akbaruddin said that Modi in his meetings with the three neighbouring leaders discussed various other issues of common concerns for SAARC block and reiterated his commitment to 'neighbours first' policy.

The South Asian leaders congratulated India on its recent Mars orbiter mission and said they were looking forward to progress on SAARC satellite mission announced by Modi earlier.

After his nearly 30-minute-long meeting, Rajapaksa said, "The meeting was cordial and good. We talked about various issues."

This was the second meeting between the two leaders after Modi was sworn-in on May 26 this year.

Rajapaksa had earlier met with Modi in New Delhi after he travelled to India to attend his swearing-in ceremony.

Hasina, who also met Modi for nearly 30 minutes, said that she would not allow the soil of her country to be used for any kind of extremism and hoped that India would also reciprocate on the matter.

It was her first meeting with Modi, as she could not attend his swearing-in ceremony in May this year.

She described the talks as "very good" and said she discussed various bilateral issues of mutual concern with him.

Asked whether she gave a dossier on Saradha chit fund scam as reported in the media, she said it was never on the agenda.

On questions about extremism, Hasina said, "We are always against extremism. I have declared that I will not allow anybody to use our soil for any kind of extremism. We strongly fight the extremism and I hope that India will do the reciprocal."

Hasina also raised the issues of Teesta river and Land Boundary Agreement, to which Modi indicated that the bill on land boundary issue was already before the select committee of the Parliament and the new MPs have been given a copy of the bill.

On Teesta, Modi told Hasina that he was committed to work on reaching a consensus on the matter.

He also wished her all the best for her birthday on Sunday.

With Rajapaksa, Modi discussed various issues including a power project and a recent ATNLA delegation visit to India, in addition to the fishermen issue.

To a question that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had requested for a meeting with Modi, Akbaruddin said, "All the leaders from South Asian countries who had requested, were granted the meeting."

Modi is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among others, tomorrow.