India sidesteps public expression of discord with Nepal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 25

India has soft-peddled reports of the obstructionist behaviour from Nepal on flood prevention along its border with Bihar as part of its attempt to avoid commenting on issues of bilateral discord with its neighbour.

It has also refrained from public expression of its views on Nepal changing its political map to include mutually disputed areas as well as on reports that spoke of a proposal to impose certain citizenship restrictions.

“Both countries are coordinating on a real-time basis to minimise the damage due to flooding this monsoon season,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in an observation that contradicted media reports critical of Nepal putting up barricades and hindering personnel from crossing over to complete the work.

“The embankment and anti-erosion works have already commenced,” MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava observed at a media briefing on Thursday.

The MEA spokesperson also refused to be drawn in on other issues of recent discord with Nepal, including the changes in its Constitution to update a new map or the Communist Party of Nepal considering citizenship restrictions on foreign women marrying Nepali men.

On the map issue, Srivastava said: “We have made our position clear on the issue and would not like to add anything.”

On media reports of Nepal posing problems in trade and supplies at a border point, the MEA spokesperson again offered a boilerplate statement. “Trade and supplies are going on without any hindrance between the two countries, including at the Kakarbhitta-Panitanki border.”

On the contrary, the two countries have extensive trade relations and bilateral trade has grown despite the lockdown.

“In fact, in May, it surpassed $300 million. Despite the present challenging times of COVID-19, we have facilitated continuous and smooth flow of trade and supply of essential goods to Nepal,” said Srivastava.

On the proposal to bar citizenship for seven years to Nepali men marrying foreign women, Srivastava was non-committal.

“We have seen the reports on this. People of India and Nepal share deep-rooted and familial bonds. These bonds reflect the close civilisational and cultural linkages between our two countries,” he observed.