Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has called on India to lift “unofficial blockade” in Nepal as soon as possible. In his televised address on Sunday to the nation, the premier, who assumed office as the head of the government on October 11, explicitly mentioned that Nepali people have been undergoing through a hardest time due to blockade imposed by India.”It is unthinkable that a sovereign nation faces such an inhumane and severe pain, misery and blockade in the 21st century for having a Constitution with progressive, pro-people and democratic contents through an elected Constituent Assembly with people’s overwhelming participation and democratic franchise,” Prime Minister Oli said, Xinhua reported. The Nepalese leader has also highlighted the background of the undeclared blockade by pointing out that it was unthinkable that a sovereign nation faces such an inhumane and severe pain, misery and blockade in the 21st century for having a Constitution with progressive, pro-people and democratic contents through an elected Constituent Assembly with people’s overwhelming participation and democratic franchise. His statement is reflective of the gross interference of India in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, which is struggling to safeguard its political independence. India has been hatching conspiracies against Nepal since occupation of Nepalese territory of Kalapani after 1962 Sino-India war and since 1978 when Kathmandu was made to accept Sikkim as an Indian state. Nepal is a land-locked country and deserves special treatment with regard to trade access but India has all along been trying to manipulate the situation to its favour by exerting pressure on Kathmandu. It has repeatedly subjected Nepal to trade and economic sanctions and imposed heavy duties on its imports and exports through Indian ports. Economic blockade of a landlocked country is violation of the international lawand treaties but India is least bothered to follow them and is treating all of its small neighbours with contempt. Despite flagrant violation of the UN Charter, India is eyeing at permanent berth of the UN Security Council. It was because of such policies aimed at exploiting economic vulnerabilities of small states that Nepalese were also there to record their protest in London on the arrival of Mr. Modi on his visit to the United Kingdom. We would urge the international community to listen to the SOS call by Nepalese Prime Minister and pressurize India to lift economic blockade of Nepal .
pk.shafaqna.com
