Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Vice-President Ram Madhav on Thursday, 27 August declared that both the people and the government of India stand firmly behind Nepal as the country grapples with devastating flash floods that have caused widespread death and destruction since Wednesday. Speaking at the NDTV Anviksha: Ideas Across Borders dialogue in Kathmandu, Ram Madhav expressed solidarity and pointed to India's immediate relief response as evidence of the depth of the bilateral bond.

India's Flood Relief Response

'We are all with you, and we are really hopeful that with the relief activity that is being undertaken by the current government, Nepal would overcome this unfortunate tragedy,' Ram Madhav said at the event. He began his address by offering condolences to families who lost loved ones in Wednesday's flash floods.

Ram Madhav cited New Delhi's prompt action, noting that a plane-load of relief materials had reached Nepal on Wednesday, with a second relief aircraft landing in Kathmandu shortly after his own arrival on Thursday. The NDTV Anviksha dialogue itself observed a minute of silence for those who perished in the floods.

On the India-Nepal Open Border

Addressing the open border that India and Nepal share, Ram Madhav said it enables frequent people-to-people contact — a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. At the same time, he stressed the need for vigilance: 'We have to take whatever necessary steps are to be taken to ensure that no illegal activity happens across the borders.'

Youth Protests in Nepal and India

The BJP leader also weighed in on youth-led political movements in both countries. He acknowledged last year's mass protests in Nepal, which he said resulted in a significant shift in the country's political landscape, adding: 'Whatever decision people of Nepal or youth of Nepal took was in the interest of their country, and that is their prerogative also.'

On student protests in India, Ram Madhav said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is always prepared to engage with young people and address their concerns. 'That's what happened in Delhi last month... The issues raised were immediately addressed, and the movement's agenda was fulfilled,' he said. He cautioned, however, against using generational labels — Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennials — to divide India's youth, stressing that the country is proud of its young population as a whole.

India-Nepal Ties and the China Question

Ram Madhav firmly dismissed the notion of any widespread anti-India sentiment in Nepal, describing bilateral disagreements as 'family quarrels' that should not be mistaken for hostility. He said Nepal views India 'as a good friend, a dear neighbour,' with the two countries sharing deep civilisational and cultural bonds.

On Nepal-China relations, Ram Madhav was unequivocal: 'Nepal has sovereign rights to engage with any country, and India cannot dictate to any other country about its priority.' He invoked Prime Minister Modi's 'together we grow' philosophy for the neighbourhood, adding that Nepal's growth should benefit India, and vice versa.

Underscoring the complexity of regional geopolitics, Ram Madhav noted that India-China bilateral trade stands at $159 billion — higher than India's trade with the United States when the services sector is excluded — calling China 'an important country in our region.' He stressed that international relations ultimately rest on sovereign decisions of individual nations.

The Kathmandu dialogue, which brought together politicians, diplomats, business leaders, technology experts, athletes, and cultural figures from both countries, continues to spotlight the evolving and multi-layered relationship between the two neighbours.