Blockade ‘risk’ to Nepalese children

Madhesis, who live in the Terai region of Nepal have been protesting over “discriminatory” seven-province model of new Constitution adopted by the Parliament. This has reportedly been a major point of contention for Nepal’s closest ally, India, with reports indicating that the Indian government had levelled pressure on Nepal to declare itself a Hindu Rashtra.

“We are deeply concerned with the growing anti-India sentiment”. At least 40 people have been killed in confrontations with police since August.

Nepal is heavily dependent on giant India for fuel and other supplies, but little cargo has crossed their main checkpoint since protests broke out in late September. “Continued obstruction at border customs points and the International Olympic Committee halting supply of petroleum products have created an abnormal situation in fuel supply”, Nepal’s home ministry said in a statement.

The Indian embassy in Nepal says Indian border guards fired at smugglers in self-defense inside Indian territory.

With schools closed due to the fuel shortage, some children are even seeking work to help their families get by, Tuladhar said. We have policy vis-a-vis Nepal and not in relation to a community.

“Smuggling is going on at the Indo-Nepal border, which is a matter of concern, as it may lead to violence and law and order situation”.

Shortages mean there is no fuel for private cars and the Nepalese authorities have rationed petrol for taxis and buses. Stocks of other vaccines and antibiotics are critically low.

To ease the fuel shortage, the Nepal Oil Corporation signed an agreement in October to source fuel from China, ending the longstanding monopoly of Indian Oil Corporation as Nepal’s sole fuel supplier.

In 1989, the Indian government of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi imposed a trade blockade that lasted for more than a year, using disputes over the renewal of a bilateral trade pact as the pretext.

Nepal and India do not have a new version of the extradition treaty or mechanism for mutual legal assistance.