Nepal’s stability linked to India’s security: Modi

“I and whole India is in favour of economic development of Nepal…”

With a banner headline, “India just extends support (to the constitution)” Nepali language daily Nagarik said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi terms the new Constitution of Nepal as a significant achievement”.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Nepal’s new premier K.P. Sharma Oli in New Delhi on Saturday, with the leaders pledging to work together to mend ties strained by a months-long border blockade. But he did not accept that Nepal’s constitution is discriminatory against any community on any the basis of religion, caste, language or geography.

“My sole goal was to clear the misunderstandings and improve the ties between the two countries that had reached its lowest for the past few months and I believe I have succeeded in that”, Oli said.

“During the joint press conference in New Delhi, Modi has urged Nepal government to address the remaining issues of the constitution through consensus and dialogue, which clearly shows India’s dissatisfaction over the constitution”, the daily said.

A day after his talks with Modi, Oli said Nepal followed a “very democratic process” in finalising and promulgating the Constitution.

Yesterday, Modi had conveyed to Oli that the success of its new Constitution will depend on resolution of contentious issues through “consensus and dialogue” in a time-bound manner.

“Had a good one-hour meeting with Nepal PM Shri K P Oli”.

Disclosing that security agencies of India and Nepal will strengthen cooperation to deal with threats of terrorism and extremism, the prime minister vowed that open borders of the two nations will not be allowed to be misused by terrorists and criminals.

The Madhesis called off their blockade early this month, easing severe shortages of fuel, medicine and other supplies that persisted in Nepal since the blockade and a general strike in the south started late a year ago.