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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Nepal foreign minister Kamal Thapa says ties with India back on track
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Nepal foreign minister Kamal Thapa says ties with India back on track

At least a dozen meetings planned for June and July, says Nepal deputy PM and foreign minister Kamal Thapa

Kamal Thapa. Photo: PTIPremium
Kamal Thapa. Photo: PTI

In a flip-flop, Nepal’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Kamal Thapa on Friday said ties between his country and India are “back on track" and in an excellent state.

Thapa’s comments come around a month after Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli accused India of trying to topple his government.

“Despite some initial hiccups, irritants or misunderstandings, now we have excellent relations with India. We are back on track," Thapa, who arrived in India on Friday on a brief visit, said.

As evidence of relations returning to an even keel, Thapa said that at least a dozen meetings had been planned for the months of June and July.

“That in itself speaks for the fact that relations with India are back on track. We would like to further strengthen them," the Nepal deputy prime minister said during a speech on Current developments in Nepal and India-Nepal relations at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi.

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. According to these groups, the new Constitution tilts the balance in favour of the hill tribes.

Relations between India and Nepal soured when Nepal accused India of covertly supporting the Madhesis, Tharus and Janjatis against the Nepalese government and blamed New Delhi for imposing an economic blockade—stopping shipments of fuel and medicine, besides other supplies, to the landlocked country.

India, on its part, said the protesters were blocking roads, not allowing the passage of trucks into the country through designated routes.

The chill happened despite two visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal in 2014 to reverse what was called years of neglect of Nepal by New Delhi. India was also among the earliest responders to deliver medicines and other essentials when a powerful earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April last year.

Both countries, it seemed, had turned the page on their six-month-old acrimonious relationship when in February the Nepalese Prime Minister visited India.

The two sides signed nine agreements in areas ranging from transport and connectivity to cooperation in the energy sector.

But ties deteriorated once again last month when Oli reportedly accused the Indian government of trying to upset his government when Nepal’s Maoists, a key partner in the ruling coalition, said they were withdrawing support. The move fizzled out when the Maoists backtracked. Oli, however, cancelled a visit to India by Nepal’s president Bidhya Devi Bhandari, fraying ties.

In his remarks on Friday, Thapa urged the international community to give Nepal’s new Constitution, adopted in September, a chance.

“Our Constitution is not perfect but it’s a living, dynamic and amendable document... how flexible our new Constitution is can be judged by the first amendment that has taken place within four months of the promulgation of the Constitution," he said.

Thapa added that ties with India were “unique" and that Nepal wanted to take advantage of the opportunities thrown up by India’s rapid economic growth.

“Similarly, our northern neighbour (China) has also emerged as a global economic power. There have been tremendous changes in our vicinity close to our border... we would also like to take advantage of that nation’s progress," he said, in a clear indication of Nepal’s intention to engage more closely with China.

Later, Thapa met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. According to Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup, Swaraj “reaffirmed India’s interest in the development and stability of Nepal".

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Published: 10 Jun 2016, 11:38 PM IST
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