With political parties in Parliament raising concern over strain in India-Nepal relationship and growing anti-India sentiments in Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday suggested the members to send an all-party delegation to the Himalayan country to have a first-hand assessment of the situation there.
In her statement in the Rajya Sabha, Sushma rejected allegations of any interference or blockade from the Indian side and added India is all set to re-route cargo carrying essential supplies to Nepal.
“let me take this opportunity to also clarify that contrary to some canards on this issue, there is no blockade by India of supplies going to Nepal. Obstructions are by the Nepalese population on the Nepalese side, in which the Government of India cannot interfere. There were incidents of violence resulting in death and injury in regions of Nepal bordering India following the promulgation of this Constitution. Our freight companies and transporters also voiced complaints about difficulties in movement and security within Nepal,” Sushma said in a statement made during the Calling Attention Motion on “Situation in Nepal and the state of Indo-Nepal relations.”
The motion was moved by former diplomat and now a Janata Dal (United) member Pawan K Verma.
Moving the motion, Varma said India’s relations with Nepal are in a crisis and the current phase of ties is “perhaps going through the worst phase”. He added that it appeared as if India is close to handing over Nepal to China.
“Despite constraints, Indian Oil Corporation has delivered supplies to the extent possible. More than 400 medical consignments were cleared through the India-Nepal border in November 2015. We are also assisting in re-routing stranded POl tankers and vehicles carrying medical supplies through other available crossing points, as also airlift. But there are also logistical constraints and the best remedy remains a political solution leading to the end of the agitation”, the Minister said.
Sushma added that India had been constantly advising Nepal to have a Constitution which has broad-based ownership, is inclusive and made with consensus of all groups. But the draft Constitution of Nepal that finally emerged was perceived as non-inclusive by several sections, particularly in the Terai, who became restive and started protesting from mid-August 2015 onwards.
She also explained India’s efforts to reach out to Nepal since the NDA Government took office last May, especially after crisis in Nepal started building up since August this year. “In an effort to head off what clearly was a looming crisis, Foreign Secretary travelled to Nepal on September 18-19 as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy. He advised the Nepalese political leadership to (a) give more time for dialogue to bring about broad-based acceptance; (b) send a positive signal to the disaffected sections of the Nepalese population that their grievances will be addressed; (c) reflect on our assessment that if the protests were not addressed politically, the agitation in the Terai areas could intensify; and (d) prevent a further deterioration of the situation in the Terai and on the India-Nepal border. Regrettably, these cautions passed unheeded,” the Minister told the MPs.
Also, Sushma made it clear that while India respected Nepal’s internal process, it cannot ignore the fact that several sections of the Nepalese society have a feeling their interests had not been taken care of in the new Constitution.
She also expressed concerns over use of force against the protesters and excess violence in Terai which has led to death of one Indian as well.
Nepal shares a 1,751-km long open border with five States - Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim - and India is directly affected by developments in the Terai.
“Our position, without being prescriptive, is that remaining issues about perceived under-representation should be resolved through dialogue in an atmosphere free from violence and intimidation, and institutionalised in a manner that would enable broad-based ownership of the Constitution…India’s only interest is in a peaceful, united and stable Nepal. And our approach to the present crisis is completely consistent with these objectives. There has also been the broadest goodwill for Nepal in India and full political consensus on our policy,” Swaraj added.
Justifying the Government’s position, Swaraj said India was not isolated in its stand on Nepal as leading members of the international community and many in Nepal have increasingly taken a position similar to India.