In a first open statement since recent trouble in Nepal, India has asked the neighbouring country to put its house in order instead of blaming India for lack of supplies and political disturbance. Reacting to the anti-India sentiments in Nepal, India said the blame lies with the Nepalese leadership which has failed to take its own people’s interest on board why drafting the Constitution.
India has advised Nepal to have a political reconciliation with the agitating parties and find a final solution now before the new Constitution actually gets activated. “A new Constitution should be reason for joy not protest. The solution to current crisis in Nepal is with its own leadership and the problem is completely of a political nature. It is domestic issue and India has no role in it. The need of the hour is that Nepal should resolve the issues at the earliest and first put its own house in order. It needs to have a political reconciliation and solution,” said External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup here on Thursday.
The Indian Government said it was in favour of a stable and peaceful neighbourhood for which Nepal needs to have a Constitution which is inclusive and accommodates the needs of its own people instead of discriminating them and dividing them. There is a discontent among the Madhesis that the new Constitution has taken away most of the important provisions for them that were present in the interim Constitution. However, the top leadership in Nepal has accused India of interference, an allegation India has strongly denied.
“We do recognise growing anti-India sentiments. But who has started itIJ Why has it peakedIJ This is a question for which answer lies with Nepal. Why would we want instability in Nepal when we know it would directly impact usIJ India and Nepal have more than just diplomatic relations. We are connected with history, civilisation and have a roti-beti ka rishta (family ties) which no country can substitute,” said Swarup.
India said that with the political parties and protesting groups now sitting across the table and talking to each other, there is hope that some solution will come out. “Nepal has to sort out the problem by talking to its own people. India can only advise it,” Swarup said dismissing allegations of interference. He added India has only been asking that the Statute should be broad-based which should take care of all its population.
In a bid to dispel another misinformation being spread by the Nepalese side that India has cut off supplies, the Indian Government gave a list of cargo-filled trucks standing at nine check points along India-Nepal border. As on Thursday 12 pm, 5,033 trucks were standing at borders with all amenities, medical items and petroleum. At Rupaidiha 130, Jogbani 800, Panitanki 90, Sunauli 1,000, Raxaul 3,000 and Pashupati Gate 13 trucks are queued up to enter Nepal but are unableto go through due to slow pace of traffic movement.
India has been using all alternative routes available where the border is comparatively peaceful. “Trucks are moving at a very slow pace and not at the speed we want them to move. But daily only 250-300 trucks are able to cross over while we have a huge number of cargo vehicles standing at check points. This is causing huge financial loss to Indian freight operators. The Indian Oil Corporation too could not send much petroleum due to disturbances at Beerganj terminal,” Swarup said.