India soft-pedals issues with Nepal
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 25
India has soft-pedaled reports of 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. On the map issue, he 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 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.”
