Indian ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae has said that the recent souring of relationship between India and Nepal is an instance of a setback that strong relationships often face. Talking to journalists at the Indian Embassy on Wednesday, Rae said: “Nepal and India share a deep relationship both at the government and people’s level. Such deep relationships often face ups and downs. The scenario that has emerged currently is one such instance.” Ambassador Rae expressed concern over the ongoing anti-Indian protests and rhetoric in Nepal. He said the agitation in the Terai districts and difficulties being faced to bring supplies from India are being used to spread anti-Indian sentiments. “This is Nepal’s internal affairs, not an issue between Nepal and India,” he said. “Torching India’s flag and effigy of PM [Narendra] Modi won’t do good to both countries. That such incidents happen is a serious matter.” Rae stressed that India has not imposed blockade on Nepal and that supplies into Nepal have faced obstructions due to sit-ins being staged by the agitating Madhesi parties and the unrest in Terai. “India has not imposed any blockade. Difficulties have come about in transporting supplies because of sit-ins staged at the entry points,” Rae said. “However, some supplies are entering Nepal via some customs points.” Stating that India always wishes for peace and stability in Nepal, Rae said that the Indian government and people can never do anything that harms Nepal. India always harbors goodwill towards Nepal, he said while recalling the assistance provided by the Indian government to Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. The ambassador also told the journalists that it is false that India is unhappy over Nepal’s new constitution. “I would like to say on behalf of the Indian government that India is not unhappy about Nepal’s new constitution,” he said. “We also haven’t made any suggestions to amend any issue of the statute. But it’s India’s view that the ongoing agitation in the region along Nepal-India border should be addressed through dialogues and consensus.” He said that although India had felt assured that the Nepali leaders would encompass the views of all sides in the new constitution, that did not happen.
