Nepal leader cancels USA visit for talks on constitution

When Nepal was hit by a devastating natural disaster this year that left more than 9,000 dead, India pledged $1 billion in aid and its army assisted in relief efforts. “Nepal’s Constitution is written by a constituent assembly and endorsed by elected by members from all regions”.

They are also upset that Nepal’s leaders ignored their pleas for a change to the internal borders while giving in to pressure from protesters in the west of the country before the constitution was adopted. More than 40 people have died in weeks of clashes between police and protesters belonging mainly to the Madhesi and Tharu ethnic minorities, who inhabit the southern plains bordering India. To make matters worse, the new constitution concedes federalism, long a demand of the people of Madhesh, but not of the type they wished for. Article 154 of the Interim Constitution provided for the delineation of electoral constituencies.

India should have been the first to welcome the adoption of the Constitution.

Demonstrators have blocked two of the main border crossings from India, shutting off vital supply lines. India too must reciprocate and not treat the Nepalese with lesser respect than is due. He was to fly to New York on September 23 with an 18-member delegation.

The latest statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on the tangle was unusually blunt. It issued two consecutive strongly-worded statements and pointed out that it had “repeatedly cautioned” Nepal to defuse the tension. “This, if it had been done in a timely manner, could have averted these serious developments”. They do have reason to feel that their concerns have not been met. Firstly, in Article 63(3) of the Interim Constitution, there was proportionate representation which was omitted in Article 84 of the new Constitution. As per media reports Islam has lost the lives of ~ one hundred thousand Jihadis for Kashmir hence Pakistan will be compelled by Islam to snatch at-least Muslim Kashmir (if not non-Muslim Jammu & Ladhakh region of J&K) from India by taking advantage of said Sino – India confrontation in Nepal. Indian “advice” to the Nepalese government to wait for unveiling the constitution until the Madhesis and Tharus were brought on board was ignored.

Although the shutdown in the region was lifted temporarily today due to the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha, the blockade continued at the Nepal-India border check point affecting normal life.

Even the staunchest proponents of anti-India sentiment among Nepal’s political elite were softened. “We do hope the situation will ease at the earliest”.

The goal of a new constitution was to lay the foundations for an innovative state and society. There are seven provinces and three levels of government – the federal, provincial and local. Therefore, concerns expressed by India are legitimate and need consideration. The interests of neither country would be served by a non-conciliatory approach. The state of Bihar, which borders Tarai, often has its own problems with lawlessness and there’s fear the unrest could affect the state elections next month. India’s decision this week to step up security at key posts along its border with Nepal had triggered fears of a repeat for some in that country.