Talks resume between India and Nepal

Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj welcomes her Nepali counterpart Kamal Thapa to a meeting, in New Delhi, on Friday, June 10, 2016.

The agenda of economic development was the post-constitution focus priority of Nepal, he said, adding that the government sought to maintain good relations with it both close neighbors to materialize the dream for economic development.

The deputy Prime Minister, who is also foreign minister, met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in the evening and will tomorrow serve as chief guest at the commencement ceremony for students of the South Asian University. The Nepal government under Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli agreed to amend some of the controversial provisions in the constitution, and the protesters called off their blockade – which had starved land-locked Nepal of crucial supplies of medicines, food and fuel.

Ties with Nepal have been fraught with tension since the Himalayan country adopted a new Constitution in September which upset the Madhesis, Tharus and Janjatis who together constitute half the population of the country.

“Nepal’s relations with India is incomparable”.

In response to this alleged move, the Nepal government cancelled the visit of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to India scheduled for the middle of May and recalled its ambassador from New Delhi.

Even during PM Oli’s visit, New Delhi had expressed its concern about Madhes and boundary demarcation, saying they were “outstanding issues”.

Speaking at a function organized in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Deuba said Oli had totally ignored the implementation of the constitution although it has been eight months since the promulgation of the new statute.

Fielding questions on a range of issues at a media interaction, Mr Thapa, also Nepal’s Foreign Minister, said his government was committed to resolve the contentious Madhesi issue and a high-level panel has been set up to suggest within three months ways to resolve their demands.

He said: We have reached an understanding to host Nepal and India’s presidents on appropriate time.