Nepal’s Foreign Minister to Visit India on October 17

India is expected to convey its concerns over the continued unrest in Nepal during the visit of the neighbouring country’s new Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa here from Saturday.

The arrests come a year after Nepal’s powerful football chief Ganesh Thapa temporarily stepped down from his post after allegations emerged he embezzled millions of dollars and accepted bribes during his 19-year tenure.

“I am looking forward to my meeting with the external affairs minister of India”.

“The visit will provide an opportunity to discuss all issues of mutual concern as well as review and further strengthen India-Nepal relations”, Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup told reporters here.

India rejected Nepal’s contention that New Delhi has blocked a key border trade point with Kathmandu that had resulted in acute shortage of essential goods. But New Delhi denies the charges, arguing that the obstructions at border points were due to violent protests on the Nepali side. If the blockade from that side is removed and if the protesters end their demonstrations, our truckers are waiting to go inside and deliver the supply that Nepal needs.

He said that of the nine crossing points for commercial cargo on the India-Nepal border, five to six points were constantly in use.

Divulging detail of the trucks moving in Nepal, he said, “In the 24-hour period, 733 commercial vehicles moved through seven crossing points that are open”.

“By 12 noon, 2,500 trucks are still queued up, mainly at Raxaul, where the number is between 1,500-2,000, and Sanauli where number is approximately 750”, he added. The Madhes-based parties have been protesting for the past two months against the provision on demarcation in the new constitution, saying that it will leave them under-represented in the federal government.