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 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. pic.twitter.com/S1CpLv8uu0

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 28, 2018

"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".

Regrettable that India’s External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj described Janakpur’s population that @narendramodi greeted as Indians.

One wonders what the confusion was,or if this was casual undermining of Nepal’s sovereignty.

Either way, @IndiaInNepal,it is unacceptable.

— Gagan Thapa (@thapagk) May 28, 2018

HE @SushmaSwaraj
MoEA
Do you mean 2 say that it was an inadvertent error on your part?
You are clarifying dat @PMOIndia @narendramodi didn't address Indians in Janakpur!
Perhaps it was your subconscious speaking!@KirtiAzadMP & you are implicitly saying same thing
Shame on you https://t.co/Z2Fjr3FXGw

— RatnaSansar Shrestha (@rsansar) May 28, 2018

Madam ,The address by @narendramodi @Janakpur was not to Indians rather majority of the crowd was Madheshis for whom Mr Modi didn't bother to spend a single word. As far as interests of Madheshis R concerned,for Delhi it has been just a bargaining plank with Kath. @SushmaSwaraj

— Sujit Kumar Thakur (@sujthr) May 28, 2018

@SushmaSwaraj madam I am a Nepali from Janakpur Nepal. You called Janakpur residents Indian on your today's speech. Please don't defame us. We (Madeshi) are already struggling to prove us Nepali at every step and you just made it harder for us.

— Neeraj chaudhary (@bhaiyaaniraj) May 28, 2018

Well ma'am, Janakpur is not in India, and Nepalis are not NRIs, but appreciate your honesty. I don't think they would mind too much about it.

— Bhabani Swamy (@bhanuSpeaks) May 28, 2018

Hon. @SushmaSwaraj I strongly protest against your claim of PM Modi address to Indian citizen at Janakpur in his latest visit to Nepal and request to correct your statement. Nepal Govt-Silence will be weakness so speak on it. https://t.co/zVCUUP4OVz @PradeepgyawaliK @kpsharmaoli

— Badri Guragain (@badri_guragain) May 28, 2018

(With inputs from PTI)