New Delhi: Nepal on Sunday made a strong pitch to India to help in restoring supply of essential commodities, which have been blocked by the Madhesi protesters.
According to sources, Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, who is visiting India, told External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that New Delhi should help in ending the economic blockade because of the coming festive season.
Mr Thapa, who is on a three-day visit, will make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Modi today where he is likely to raise the Madhesi issue.
India has told Nepal that problem is on their side of the border and New Delhi will do all it can to facilitate the movement of goods.
Sources said Ms Swaraj also urged the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister to address the political concerns of Madhesis.
The protests by Madhesis - people of Indian origin living in Nepal's Terai region - have virtually choked Nepal as protestors have blocked key entry points since September 20, the day Nepal adopted a new Constitution.
Madhesis say the new Constitution ignores their rights and interests by dividing the country into seven new regions.
To press for their demands, Madhesi groups have resorted to protests and blockade, preventing essential supplies including fuel to enter into the country.
Top Nepalese sources told NDTV that the economic blockade has caused a loss of nearly 400 billion Nepalese rupees as 2,000 industries in land locked Nepal have been affected. Tourism sector, one of Nepal's main income generating sector, has also been affected.
The Madhesi protests also started a diplomatic war of words.
Advising Nepal to accommodate the concerns of all its citizens, India described Madhesi protests as an internal issue of Nepal.
Kathmandu, on the other hand, had accused New Delhi of informally supporting the economic blockade.
But after weeks of diplomacy, Nepal has come around to acknowledging that the Madhesi issue is a political problem that the newly appointed Nepalese Prime Minister KP Oli Sharma needs to resolve.
Sources claimed Nepal has now said they are ready to talk with Madhesi groups and they have invited their leaders for a dialogue.
According to sources, Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, who is visiting India, told External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that New Delhi should help in ending the economic blockade because of the coming festive season.
Mr Thapa, who is on a three-day visit, will make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Modi today where he is likely to raise the Madhesi issue.
Sources said Ms Swaraj also urged the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister to address the political concerns of Madhesis.
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Madhesis say the new Constitution ignores their rights and interests by dividing the country into seven new regions.
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Top Nepalese sources told NDTV that the economic blockade has caused a loss of nearly 400 billion Nepalese rupees as 2,000 industries in land locked Nepal have been affected. Tourism sector, one of Nepal's main income generating sector, has also been affected.
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Advising Nepal to accommodate the concerns of all its citizens, India described Madhesi protests as an internal issue of Nepal.
Advertisement
But after weeks of diplomacy, Nepal has come around to acknowledging that the Madhesi issue is a political problem that the newly appointed Nepalese Prime Minister KP Oli Sharma needs to resolve.
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