Misleading publicity of Nepal’s constitution behind blockade: Mahat

Chitwan / November 12: Former Finance Minister and Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat has argued that the Indian government has imposed blockade to Nepal due to misleading publicity by Indian media on the issues of new constitution of Nepal.

Leader Dr Mahat accused Indian media of disseminating wrong information in India and the international community, saying Nepal’s constitution was not inclusive. NC leader Mahat was speaking at a press meet organised by the Press Union in Bharatpur in Chitwan on Thursday.

Saying that the blockade has a severe impact on Nepal’s economy, he expressed worry over 10 to 15 percent drop in foreign trade of Nepal as blockade’s consequence. Likewise, he viewed that the blockade has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis in Nepal at a time when the country has incurred a heavy economic and human loss due to the massive April 25 earthquake.

The trade embargo had started during his tenure but he was reluctant to call it as blockade. Nepali Congress tried to please Indian government for gaining power but tightening its stance on the issue of blockade after the party lost the race of Prime Minister. Trade should be done as per laws of both Nepal and India and international laws, he said, adding that the commerce and transit should be run as per past treaty. Minister Mahat pushed back the process of supplying fuel from China while he was the Finance Minister at the time of promulgation of new constitution.

“Supplies should not be restricted on the pretext of internal political problem of Nepal,” he stressed. RSS