EAM Swaraj Apologises for Saying Modi Addressed Indians in Nepal

Nepali leader Gagan Thapa criticised Swaraj, wondering whether it was a “casual undermining of Nepal’s sovereignty”.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. 

(Photo: AP/Altered by The Quint)

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj apologised for saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed lakhs of "Indians" in Nepal's Janakpur recently.

She posted a tweeted an apology after people on Twitter, including a Parliamentarian from Nepal, pointed out that Modi addressed Nepali people in Janakpur earlier this month and not Indians.

"This was a mistake on my part. I sincerely apologise for this," Swaraj tweeted tonight along with a video of her comments about Modi's efforts to reach out to Indian dispora abroad, including in Nepal.

Earlier addressing a press conference on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the NDA government, Swaraj said no prime minister before Modi had tried to reach out to the Indian diaspora at such a large scale.

Narendra Modi is the first prime minister of the country who has from America’s Madison Square to Janakpur (in Nepal) addressed lakhs of Indians and reached out to them.

EAM Sushma Swaraj

Swaraj Faces Wrath of Social Media

The apology came after facing wrath from the Nepal’s social media.

Nepali Congress leader and Parliamentarian Gagan Thapa criticised Swaraj for the comments and wondered whether it was a "casual undermining of Nepal's sovereignty".

(With inputs from PTI)