Minister in-charge of Foreign Affairs Khaga Raj Adhikari asked Indian ambassador Rae to clarify why there were obstructions from the Indian side at the border customs points. Minister Adhikari also requested India's cooperation for uninterrupted movement of vehicles carrying essential supplies to Nepal.
Sources said the Nepali side also raised the issue of protestors coming from the Indian side to stage demonstrations on the 'no man's land' and protestors being provided food and other supports on the Indian territory. Minister Adhikari raised objection about Indian assistance to protestors to stage protest activities on the no man's land as any untoward incident in the area may affect bilateral relations.
According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Minister Adhikari informed the ambassador about the current situation at Nepal-India border checkpoints and stressed the need for removing the lapses in the supply chain that have surfaced in the recent days.
Nepali side also assured that it will ensure safety to the transport vehicles on the Nepali territory. "He also assured that there would not be any security problem inside Nepal for the transport vehicles since arrangements are already in place for their security," he said.
Although fewer vehicles carrying goods had been allowed to enter Nepal Thursday, Indian authorities on Friday completely stopped all cargo vehicles from crossing over to Nepal. Nepal is not convinced by the claim made by Indian authorities that the obstruction of cargo vehicles is due to protests on the Nepali side and India is not responsible.
During the meeting, Minister Adhikari also reiterated full commitment to ensuring security of life and property of the Indian nationals in Nepal, according to a MoFA statement. Indian ambassador Rae, who reached MoFA at Singha Durbar, had reportedly said he would convey the issues raised at the meeting to the Indian government.
The top leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) had decided to seek clarification from the Indian envoy as fewer cargo vehicles have been entering Nepal from India in recent days despite special security arrangement by Nepal to keep the border checkpoints open.
Apparently unhappy with the decision of major political parties in Nepal to promulgate new constitution amid protests by Madhesi parties, India has been putting pressure on Nepali political leadership to make several amendments to the new statute. The latest move has been criticized in Nepal as India's 'undue' pressure on Nepal to meet all the demands put forth by the agitating Madhes-based parties.
Envoy Upadhyaya briefs Prime Minister
Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, who arrived in Kathmandu for consultation, briefed Prime Minister Sushil Koirala about his meeting with top officials of the Indian government regarding the ongoing agitation in the southern plains and its effects across the border.
Upadhyaya informed Prime Minister Koirala about the comments made in Indian public forums about the Tarai-Madhes agitation and viewpoints of Indian officials. His arrival to Kathmandu comes a day after three-party meeting on Thursday decided to send a special envoy of the prime minister to India to brief the Indian leadership on the issues concerning new constitution and latest security situation.
Talking to Republica, Ambassador Upadhyaya said the stand-off between the two countries will be resolved soon. He is busy holding meetings with top leaders of various major political parties.
Meanwhile, Indian ambassador Rae held separate meeting with CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli at UML parliamentary office in Singha Durbar and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal at his residence in Koteshwar on Friday. Ambassador Rae had cancelled his scheduled press meeting in the eleventh hour.
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