External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday urged an All Party delegation visit to Nepal to take stock of the crisis situation there arising out of continuing blockade along the Indo-Nepal border owing to protests over the promulgation of the constitution. 

Swaraj said the new Nepalese constitution should have marked the culmination of Nepal’s peace process and political transition after decades of violent instability.

“But we could not ignore the fact that several sections of the Nepalese society felt that their interests had not been taken care of. 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 institutionalized in a manner that would enable broad-based ownership of the Constitution,” Swaraj said at the Rajya Sabha today.

She was calling attention motion on the ‘Situation in Nepal and the State of Indo-Nepal Relations.’

Swaraj said India had cautioned about the looming crisis in August when the draft constitution was released, which was regarded as non-inclusive by a large section of Nepalese people. 

Rejecting allegations that it was India that was behind the blockade in the border areas, which has led to a complete halt in supply of essential items into the Himalayan country, Swaraj said there is “no blockade by India.” 

“There is no blockade by India, which we have repeatedly clarified, of supplies going to Nepal. Obstructions are by the Nepalese population on the Nepalese side, in which government of India cannot interfere … Our freight companies and transporters also voiced complaints about difficulties of movement and security within Nepal,” she said. 

Swaraj added the government has facilitated essential supplies wherever possible. 

“Several thousand trucks have remained stranded for weeks, waiting on the Indian side of the border crossings. We have kept them there to respond quickly if the blockages on the Nepal side are peacefully lifted. The primary crossing of Raxaul-Birgunj, which accounts for two-thirds of our trade, remains closed from the Nepali side for more than two months. However, every day, several hundred cargo trucks have still been passing through those crossing points that are open and available,” she said. 

comment COMMENT NOW