Recognising Nepal’s efforts to build a democratic polity, India on Friday expressed the hope that the government of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” would hold an “inclusive dialogue” while implementing the controversial Constitution of his country.
India and Nepal held wide-ranging talks and sealed three significant deals as Mr. Prachanda’s September 15-18 visit to India unfolded.
However, differences over the Constitution which led to domestic discord and disturbed ties with Delhi persisted.
“We are hopeful that Nepal will successfully implement the Constitution through inclusive dialogue, accommodating the aspirations of all sections of their diverse society,” Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said.
This remark indicated that Delhi would maintain dialogue with the Madhesi leaders who had demanded that Prime Minister Prachanda should address representational and territorial concerns of their community, within a short time span.
Everyone will be on board, says Prachanda
Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Friday hinted that India would not give up on the concerns of the Madhesis, after India and Nepal held wide-ranging talks during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda.”
Mr. Jaishankar said, “In an open border, our doors are never closed to our neighbour.”
However, Mr. Prachanda who came to power in the first week of August has not initiated a cross-party dialogue for addressing the Madhesi concerns ostensibly as he does not have two-thirds mandate or 397 votes in the Nepali Parliament which is necessary for amendments.
In his official address delivered at the Hyderabad House, Mr. Prachanda described the Constitution as a “historic achievement.” “You are aware that my government has made serious efforts to bring everyone on board as we enter the phase of the implementation of the Nepali Constitution,” he said.
The new Constitution was criticised by the Madhesi Morcha led by leaders from the plains of Nepal who led the movement for blockade of economic supply lines on the Nepal-India border. The issue of the Constitution also featured prominently in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s formal speech welcoming Mr. Prachanda.
“I am confident that under your wise leadership, Nepal will successfully implement the Constitution through inclusive dialogue accommodating the aspirations of all sections of its diverse society,” Mr. Modi said, describing the Nepali leader as a “catalytic force of peace in Nepal.”
New line of credit
Prime Minister Prachanda was earlier welcomed at the Forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan by Mr. Modi and the two held wide-ranging discussions. The major agreements sealed between the Indian and Nepali delegations included upgrade of road network in Nepal and two line of credit agreements between Nepal and the Exim Bank.
“We signed also a Line of Credit for 750 million USD which was something we had committed earlier and which would cover a lot of development projects in Nepal,” said Mr. Jaishankar.
Mr. Prachanda is accompanied by his Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat.
