External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday sought an action plan from Nepal on how it plans to address the grievances of protesting Madhesis and other groups. During a meeting with visiting Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, Sushma expressed unhappiness on India being accused of causing economic “blockade” even though the crisis was created by Nepal’s own leadership.
Thapa is in New Delhi to seek smooth supply of essential items from India that are held up at borders due to ongoing agitation by Madhesis. He also met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought support from India on the borders. This was the first high-level engagement between the two Governments after the establishment of new Government in Nepal.
During their meeting, Sushma sought brief on evolving political situation in Nepal and efforts made by the new Government in Kathmandu. Thapa, sources said, acknowledged that Nepal realises it was their own problem and the outstanding political differences need to be resolved through broad-based consensus.
According to sources, Sushma said that India is ready to provide assistance in accordance with the aspirations of Nepalese people but for that peace and reconciliation in Nepal is essential. She added India is looking forward to steps being taken by the Nepal Government to "credibly" address the concerns of its own people at the earliest. She urged Thapa to ensure the current crisis in Nepal, which involves its own citizens, is resolved peacefully and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
Thapa briefed Swaraj about the eight-point agreement signed by the Government and assured that Nepal PM KP Oli and his Government will honour the commitment to two Constitution amendments promised by previous PM Sushil Koirala. "Now we need your support for supplies which can be sent through lesser troubled areas," Thapa said.
On the issue of "blockade", Sushma reiterated that the problem was from Nepal's side because of the Madhesis protest. She added that Indian truckers too are suffering immense financial loss due to held-up traffic on borders. "The loss to our truckers is significant," Swaraj told Thapa.
About 300 Nepal-bound petroleum trucks are struck at Raxual due to agitation on the other side of the border. Thapa urged India to send supplies through trouble-free alternative routes so that supplies reach the people during the festive season.
India, sources said, assured Thapa it was trying its best and that it will examine the feasibility of sending these trucks through "existing border infrastructure capacity constraints." Swaraj also told Thapa that whenever the disruptions or protests on the Nepalese side eased India has tried to push through the supplies across the border.
"The meeting remained positive. I am confident that initiatives would be taken to resolve our mutual problems," Thapa told the media after meeting Swaraj. Nepalese officers added that the discussion focused on the crisis faced by Nepali people at the threshold of Dashain and Tihar festival and the "misunderstanding between the two countries."
Sources said Home Minister Rajnath Singh advised Thapa to do the needful to allay the apprehensions of Madhesis. India on Thursday had decided to tighten security along its porous border with Nepal to check movement of jehadi elements, smuggling of fake Indian currency notes and narcotics.
Thapa will leave for Kathmandu on Monday but some of the officers who came in his delegation are staying back to do the follow up of Sunday's discussion.