No official or unofficial blockade of Nepal: External Affairs Ministry

Nepal has been hit by fuel shortages since last month amid ethnic protests in the south and an unofficial blockade by India stopped the flow of oil tankers and trucks into the country.

“It (the anti-India sentiment) is there, unfortunately, and for that, Nepal’s leadership is squarely responsible”, he added. Taxis get 10 liters per week while public buses get a limited amount of diesel fuel. They are the sovereign independent country and can make their own choices.

The community is protesting with a demand that the government recognises Madhesi’s rights as they are protesting for their share in the newly adopted constitution by Nepal.

“Despite earmarking quantities of petroleum products for Nepal, the Indian Oil Corporation was unable to physically transport much of the quantity on October 7 due to border obstructions”.

India has taken a tough stand on the new constitution of Nepal, as it fears that the unrest triggered by the statute could lead to prolonged instability in the neighbouring country and spill-over effect might turn into a serious security concern for itself. Meanwhile, the halt in truck shipments has hurt Nepal’s stocks of medicine and food.

“In fact all border posts remain open and there are long lines of trucks and containers waiting to enter Nepal”.

The verbal spat and the blockade have almost wrecked the BBIN (Banglades-Bhutan-India-Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement which was perceived to be an initiative of the Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar. “Nepal is a sovereign country and it is the people of Nepal who have to ultimately talk and resolve their problems”.

Statfor said New Delhi was seeking to counter China’s influence, citing India’s economic pressure on nearby Bhutan on the eve of an election and India’s support for the ousting of former President Mahinda Rajapakse in Sri Lanka.

At least 40 people have died in over a month of clashes between protesters and Nepal’s police.

People living in Nepal’s southern plains say the new constitution gives an unfair advantage to those residing in higher elevations.

“Nepal has to set its house in order, but instead, what we are seeing is an attempt to place the responsibility for the crisis on us”, Swarup said.

The corporation has also suggested the government of constructing a petroleum storage plant in the Nepal-China border area.

They maintain that the Terai-based people and ethnic groups have failed to find adequate representation in the new constitution that was promulgated on September 20.