Indian PM Modi meets Oli and Yunus in Bangkok: A study in contrast

By Our Analyst

The one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi fixed in the last hours, has spread different speculations among the intellectual circle at home.

Both Oli and Modi described the meeting as very cordial and beneficial. Oli’s supporters are describing that Oli has been able to end cold relations between Nepal and India. Oli, so far is highly encouraged from the one-on-one meeting.

Independent observers, who have observed the two meetings, one between Indian PM Modi and Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and one between Oli and Modi, have remarked that Modi downgraded the meeting with Oli.

When Yunus was meeting with Modi, he appeared with a notebook and also the Indian External Affairs Ministry’s officer was taking note during the talks. Both the sides have given priority on the meeting and the meeting was recorded by both sides.

During the meeting between Oli and Modi, the latter was waiting for Oli’s arrival and didn’t perform diplomatic courtesy to receive Oli at the door of the meeting hall. Modi was seen standing near the chair and Oli entered the meeting venue by extending Namaste (greetings) towards the chair allotted for him.

Points to be noted:

There are two sets of visuals of Modi's April 3 meeting in Bangkok with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Prof. Yunus and with KP Oli on the same day. Two visuals of the first meeting are from Dhaka Daily, The Daily Star. The other two are news photos of the Oli-Modi meet published on April 4 in Gorkhapatra and TRN. Photos, as indicated, have been sources to the PM's Secretariat.

The Yunus-Modi talks show:

Bangladeshi leader engaging Modi with a notebook in his lap - probably his prepared talking points. There is also an official note-keeper visible behind Modi. Members of the two delegations behind desks can also be seen at some distance from the two leaders. Clearly, the meeting between Oli and Modi was quiet - as is obvious from the fact that Gorkhapatra/TRN photos show only the two standing upright! There was apparently nothing else that could be shown.

While one can only speculate why Yunus received greater attention from Modi than did Oli, such a study in contrast can hardly be overlooked.

What about the secret meet?:

Normally, the Indian leaders avoid one-on-one meeting without the official from the Ministry for External Affairs. However, after the delegation-level meeting, Modi gave additional time for 20 minutes to meet with Oli for a one-on-one meeting.     

Some observers believe, Oli extended some precious gifts for India, perhaps, yet another mega Hydropower Project in the Arun River.

Did Oli talk about the border disputes or EPG report or new air routes and other impending issues?

Nevertheless, the outcome of the one-on-meeting can be surfaced in the near future along with the performance of Oli, observers speculate.

Modi’s meaningful message:

In diplomacy, the dress code also speaks a lot. During the meeting with Oli, Modi appeared in the Kurta-Surwal with a pink shawl printed with “Jai Siya Ram”. What message did Modi give to Oli, let the readers guess.