Border blockade connecting with new constitution is wrong: Diplomats

Kathmandu / October 1: Diplomats have said that India’s move to impose undeclared border blockade, relating it with the promulgation of the constitution, is inappropriate.

Speaking in an interaction organised by the Press Chautari Nepal here in the Capital today, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said that the constitution, promulgated with slight weakness in it though, has granted rights to all people and is in favour of the people and that it has also maintained international balance.

He added that there is no alternative to holding talks and reaching consensus to end weakness (if any) in the constitution.

“The issue of addressing weaknesses (if any) in the constitution is Nepal’s internal matter. There is no need for foreign group to be concerned on the matter,” Thapa said.

He said that Nepal also should improve its diplomatic practice. “But there is not a situation to protect the tendency of letting a neighbor to take advantage through wrong means by troubling Nepali people,” he added.

Similarly, CPN (UML) central member and diplomat Dr Rajan Bhattarai said that the capacity of a great country like India would be beneficial when she improves such capacity for improving her diplomatic relations with neighbour country.

Citing the Indian Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj denial on India’s role in obstructing the movement of Nepal-bound cargo from border points while meeting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, on the sidelines of 70th session of the United Nation’s ongoing General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Dr Bhattarai believed that the unannounced border blockade imposed by India would be lifted at the earliest.

Bhatatrai argued that widespread fuel shortage in Nepal should not be linked with the ongoing agitation in various parts of Terai and the unannounced border blockade.

According to him, Nepal may face a question if China raises the same question like seen in Teraibelt from other neighbouring country.

Dr Bhattrai said, ” It is not meaningful to devoid the landlocked countries from the right to transit. Nepalis should be untied and committed to protect their dignity.”

Press Chautari Chairperson, Rajendra Aryal spoke of the need for the government to gear up for the earliest resolution of the deadlock seen in the Nepal-Indian border points. RSS