Patna, April 26: A two-day seminar sponsored by the ministry of external affairs and Bihar government called “Emerging trends in India-Nepal relations” began here today.

India sought to clarify that it would stay “positively disposed” in assisting the process of the political and economic transformation in Nepal that shares over 100km of open border with Bihar.

“India is proud to have been a modest part of this historic transformation in a friendly neighbouring country and stands ready to assist in whatever manner it is called upon to be a part of the transformation in Nepal,” said Shyam Saran, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s special envoy, in his keynote address in the seminar. He also clarified that India was not surprised at all with the election results in Nepal contrary to the assumption in certain diplomatic circles that “India had put its bet on certain other political parties in Nepal”.

“Let me make it clear. Our stand has been that it is for the people of Nepal to deliver their verdict on who should govern them and in what manner,” said Saran who is also a former ambassador to Nepal.

The seminar also assumes special significance because Prachanda, the head of the Nepal Maoists, which in seven party alliance is billed to acquire power in Nepal called for the “redefinition” of the Indo-Nepal friendship pact, 1950.

It is for the first time that representatives of the Indian ruling establishment got the opportunity to interact with their counterparts of the proposed new Nepal’s establishment. The newly-elected Maoist politburo member, Hisila Yami was in the vanguard of the 40-member strong Nepal delegates, deliberating on the issue.

Indicating that the new establishment in the “transformed” Nepal will harbour no misgivings against India, Yami who is also the wife of the top Maoist ideologue, Baburam Bhattarai said: “India was the first country to welcome the changed mandate in Nepal”. “We are willing to learn from the federal and all inclusive democracy apart from an efficient module for economic development that India has. We are looking to learn a lot from the multi-party political and economic model in India and we are sure that India will assist us in our in our endeavour for liberation,” she said.

Earlier, inaugurating the seminar, Nitish Kumar emphasised the importance of Nepal for Bihar and vice-versa given the “age old cultural, economic and social relations” that the people of Bihar and Nepal share.

The chief minister said that India will assist Nepal in building the hydel power projects and buying power from India. “Nepal is repository of water. But due to poor water management, water from Nepal causes flood in Bihar. In fact, Nepal is discussed more in Bihar in rainy season. The management of water in Nepal will go a long way in improving the economy of Nepal besides benefiting Bihar too”.

Nitish said that he would eagerly await the “final analysis” of the two-day deliberations on the Indo-Nepal relations which is very crucial to Bihar. Kumar too welcomed the new people’s mandate warranting upon the new establishment to transform it into a “prosperous South Asian nation”.