Statement by External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj on Calling Attention Motion on ''Situation in Nepal and State of Indo-Nepal Relation'' in Rajya Sabha
Statement by External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj on Calling
Attention Motion on ''Situation in Nepal and State of Indo-Nepal Relation'' in
Rajya Sabha
Following is the text of the Statement by the External Affairs Minister
Smt. Sushma Swaraj on Calling Attention Motion on ''Situation in Nepal and
State of Indo-Nepal Relation'' in Rajya Sabha (December 03, 2015)
Hon’ble Chairman,
1.
I rise to make a statement on the Calling Attention Motion on
"Situation in Nepal and the State of Indo-Nepal Relations”. Hon’ble
Members would agree that India and Nepal share a unique relationship of
centuries-old civilizational ties based on shared geography, history, culture,
language and religion. The two countries have close political relations,
wide-ranging economic cooperation and deep-rooted people-to-people friendship.
India provides Nepal broad-based development assistance for infrastructural
projects in health, water resources, agriculture, irrigation, education,
culture, and rural & community development. Our 1950 Friendship Treaty
provides for open borders, free movement, and gives Nepalese citizens effective
‘national treatment’ in terms of education and employment in India, including
in our Army as well as in some civil services, where they are allowed to
compete along with Indians.
2.
India has always stood for a peaceful conclusion to Nepal’s on-going
political transition after decades of instability and violence. At times, at
the request of Nepali political parties, we have actively facilitated that
process. Throughout the process of Constitution making in Nepal, there has been
a political consensus in India on providing unstinting moral and material
support to Nepal in its efforts to establish a peaceful, stable and
Constitutional democracy. We have remained closely engaged with Nepal during
its ongoing political transition and have consistently supported early
promulgation of a broad-based, inclusive and durable Constitution. Prime
Minister emphasized this during his two visits to Nepal in 2014, when he
advised Nepal’s leadership to work with a ‘rishi-man’ to frame a Constitution
based on ‘sahmat’ rather than ‘bahumat’. I believe that this advice, of a
neighbour and will-wisher, reflects the broad opinion of the House as well as
our polity.
3.
Soon after assuming office in May 2014, our Government has embarked on a
rejuvenated partnership with Nepal, injecting a new sense of optimism in this
vital relationship. There was significant progress in the area of hydropower
cooperation and connectivity. Prime Minister visited Nepal in August 2014 on
the first PM-level bilateral visit in 17 years, and again in November 2014 for
the SAARC Summit. I myself visited Nepal in July 2014 to co-Chair the Joint
Commission, which met after 23 years. When a devastating earthquake struck
Nepal in April 2015, India was the first responder with its largest ever
disaster relief operation appropriately called ‘Operation Maitri’. For the
long-term rehabilitation phase, India’s commitment of US$ 1 billion (1/4th of
which would be as grant), was announced on 25 June 2015 in Kathmandu, which was
the largest pledge among all international donors. It is over and above our
existing commitment of another US$ 1 billion, 40% of which would be grant, over
the next five years. India will continue to extend all assistance, in
accordance with the aspirations of the people of Nepal, for peace, stability
and socio-economic development of the country. This should leave no one in any
doubt of our care, concern and heart-felt friendship for our northern neighbor.
4.
Prime Minister’s call for consensus and broad-based ownership, conveyed
during his two visits to Nepal, in August and November 2014, was strongly and
consistently conveyed by Government both before, and after the draft
Constitution was put out for public consultations from June-August 2015. Our
advice was reiterated on several occasions including the visits by CPN-UML
Vice-Chairperson Smt. Bidya Bhandari in January 2015, UCPN (M) senior leader
Shri Baburam Bhattarai in March 2015, UCPN(M) Chairman Shri Prachanda in July
2015, senior leader of Nepali Congress Shri Sher Bahadur Deuba in August 2015,
as well as other visitors from Nepal. I personally re-emphasized our advice
during my visit to Nepal in June 2015, and Prime Minister re-stated it during
his telephone conversation with PM Sushil Koirala in August 2015. Our
Ambassador in Kathmandu was also in regular touch with Nepali political parties
in this matter. Therefore, any suggestion that our position lacked clarity or
that there was lack of engagement simply has no basis.
5.
The draft Constitution that finally emerged was perceived as non-inclusive
by several sections of the Nepalese society, particularly in the Terai, who
became restive and came out in protest from mid-August 2015 onwards. Several
contentious provisions in key areas - such as constituency delimitation,
inclusion for needy sections of the society and provincial boundaries - were
apparently incorporated in the draft, either at a late stage without due debate
and discussion, or by diluting important provisions of the 2007 Interim
Constitution under which two successful elections had already been held in 2008
and 2013.
6.
In an effort to head off what clearly was a looming crisis, Foreign
Secretary travelled to Nepal on 18-19 September as Prime Minister’s Special
Envoy. He advised the Nepalese political leadership to (a) give more time for
dialogue to bring about broad-based acceptance; (b) send a positive signal to
the disaffected sections of the Nepalese population that their grievances will
be addressed; (c) reflect on our assessment that if the protests were not
addressed politically, the agitation in the Terai areas could intensify; and
(d) prevent a further deterioration of the situation in the Terai and on the
India-Nepal border. Regrettably, these cautions passed unheeded.
7.
As a result, the Constitution adopted on 20 September 2015 was perceived
by large sections of Nepal’s population as non-inclusive and diluting the
representation already available to Nepal’s ethnic and social groups since
2007. Unrest in the Terai escalated sharply, causing over 55 deaths and
injuries to hundreds since August. The agitation, which completed 100 days on
23 November 2015, has seen protestors obstructing movements of cargo trucks
across India-Nepal border crossings, thereby affecting supplies of fuel and
other essential commodities from India to Nepal.
8.
The Constitution was expected to mark the culmination of Nepal’s peace
process and political transition after decades of violent instability. That the
new Constitution established Nepal as a federal democratic republic was duly
noted and recognized by us. But we could not ignore the fact that several
sections of the Nepalese society felt that their interests had not been taken
care of. Our position, without being prescriptive, is that remaining issues
about perceived under-representation, should be resolved through dialogue in an
atmosphere free from violence and intimidation, and institutionalized in a
manner that would enable broad-based ownership of the Constitution. The then
Government of Nepal, led by former PM Shri Sushil Koirala, had also approved
two important constitutional amendments on constituency delimitation on the
basis of population and inclusion for needy sections, by the Cabinet on 2
October 2015. But the new government has not yet moved forward on these
amendments.
9.
This has caused continues resentment among the disaffected sections of
the Nepalese population, and the situation in many parts of the country
bordering India remains violent. With a 1751-km long open border with the five
Indian States of Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim,
India is directly affected by developments in the Terai. The unfortunate use of
force on 2 November, to forcibly remove protestors obstructing the
Raxaul-Birganj route, and thereafter on 22 November against protestors in
Saptari, has further vitiated the atmosphere. An Indian citizen was also
killed, and we have sought an investigation into his death.
10.
Leading members of the international community as well as many in Nepal
have increasingly taken a position similar to ours. The USA, UK, EU and UN have
spoken about the need to ensure an inclusive Constitution and address
fundamental issues through dialogue. Moreover, India’s ties with Nepal have
always stood on their own merits and will continue to be so. Even as protests
continued in Nepal, India has maintained constant touch with its leadership. On
11 October 2015, Hon’ble Prime Minister called PM Shri K.P. Oli following his
election and conveyed his hearty congratulations. I hosted the Deputy PM and
Foreign Minister Shri Kamal Thapa on 18 October 2015. Hon’ble Prime Minister
again spoke to PM Shri K.P. Oli on 2 November 2015. In addition, our officials
including the Ambassador closely monitor the situation.
11.
Let me take this opportunity to also clarify to Hon’ble Members that
contrary to some canards on this issue, there is no blockade by India, which we
have repeatedly clarified, of supplies going to Nepal. Obstructions are by the
Nepalese population on the Nepalese side, in which GoI cannot interfere. There
were incidents of violence resulting in death and injury in regions of Nepal
bordering India following the promulgation of this Constitution. Our freight
companies and transporters also voiced complaints about difficulties of
movement and security within Nepal.
12.
In fact, Government of India has facilitated supplies wherever possible.
Several thousand trucks have remained stranded for weeks, waiting on the Indian
side of the border crossings. We have kept them there to respond quickly if the
blockages on the Nepal side are peacefully lifted. The primary crossing of
Raxaul-Birgunj, which accounts for two-thirds of our trade, remains closed from
the Nepali side for more than two months. However, every day, several hundred
cargo trucks have still been passing through those crossing points that are
open and available. Despite constraints, Indian Oil Corporation has delivered
POL supplies to the extent possible. More than 400 medical consignments were
cleared through the India-Nepal border in November 2015. We are also assisting
in re-routing stranded POL tankers and vehicles carrying medical supplies
through other available crossing points, as also airlift. But there are also
logistical constraints and the best remedy remains a political solution leading
to the end of the agitation.
Hon’ble Chairman,
13.
Yesterday, I had another good meeting with the visiting Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal, Shri Kamal Thapa. He assured me that
there has been progress in the dialogue on the contentious issues with the
agitating parties. This gives us hope that an early resolution would be found
for the political problems facing Nepal. We will continue to encourage all
sides to come to a solution sooner rather than later.
14.
The causes underlying the present state of confrontation in Nepal need to
be addressed credibly and effectively by the political parties and people of
Nepal themselves. India’s only interest is in a peaceful, united and stable
Nepal. And our approach to the present crisis is completely consistent with
these objectives. There has also been the broadest goodwill for Nepal in India
and full political consensus on our policy. In that tradition, I would urge the
House to consider the merits of a visit to Nepal by an All Party delegation.
The Government will be guided by the sentiments of the House.
Thank you.
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