Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the grim security situation prevailing in neighbouring Nepal. On Tuesday, the PM called up Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and expressed sorrow at the loss of lives in the violence in Nepal and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of Nepal.
According to media reports, at least 20 people, including 17 policemen, were killed and more than 100 injured in a violent clash on Monday in western Nepal's Kailali district between security personnel and protesters demanding a separate Tharuhat province.
Expressing concern over the present instability in the neighbouring country, Modi urged the political leadership of Nepal to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue among all stakeholders through widest possible consultations. Also, he made an appeal to the Government, all political parties and the people of Nepal to eschew violence and maintain social harmony and conveyed that, as a neighbour, India would do all it can for security in Nepal. "Prime Minister Modi expressed concern that political and social instability would seriously compound the tragedy caused by the recent earthquake in Nepal. He called for exercise of restraint and restoration of peace and order," said a release from the Prime Minister's Office.
lauding the historic progress that Nepal had made in the peace process and drafting its Constitution, he reiterated that the political leadership of Nepal should resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue between all political parties and through the process of widest possible consultation, including with the public, so as to strengthen the climate of trust and confidence across and between all sections of society, and arrive at solutions that reflect the will and accommodate the aspirations of all citizens of a richly diverse society within a united, peaceful, stable and prosperous Nepal. In this regard he conveyed that, as a neighbour, India would do all it can for security in Nepal.
Modi assured Koirala that India's one and only desire was to see the emergence of a peaceful, secure, stable, democratic and prosperous Nepal, which draws strength from its rich social diversity, enormous resources and extraordinary talent. India, he reiterated, will continue to provide all support to Nepal, in accordance with the wishes and priorities of the people of Nepal, to achieve that goal.
The United Nations too has appealed all parties to have a peaceful solution to the present crisis where ethnic protesters are demanding statehood.