Kathmandu, Sep 30
India on Wednesday expressed
deep concern over growing anti-India sentiment in Nepal, including
setting ablaze the Indian tricolour and effigies of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, saying it "won't do good to both countries".
"We
have noticed several incidents of anti-India sentiment in a section of
the media, in social (networking) sites and streets. We have taken it up
seriously and we have brought it to the notice of the government of
Nepal," India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said at a press
conference here.
Student wings of Nepal's political parties have
been staging protests in front of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu almost
every day, after supplies from the Indian side stopped last week.
Expressing
concern over the ongoing anti-India protest and rhetoric in Nepal, the
ambassador said the agitation in the Terai districts and difficulties
faced in bringing supplies from India were being used to spread
anti-India sentiments.
"This is Nepal's internal affair, not an issue between Nepal and India," he said.
"Torching
India's flag and effigy of Prime Minister Modi won't do good to both
countries. That such incidents are happening is a serious matter," Rae
said.
The envoy stressed that India has not imposed a blockade on
Nepal and that supplies to Nepal have faced obstructions due to sit-ins
being staged by the agitating Madhesi parties and the unrest in the
Terai region.
"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 through some customs points."
Asserting
that India always wishes for peace and stability in Nepal, Rae said the
Indian government and people can never do anything that harms Nepal.
India
always harbours goodwill towards Nepal, he said, recalling the
assistance provided by the Indian government to Nepal in the aftermath
of the devastating earthquake in April this year.
The ambassador also said it is not true that India was "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 suggested any amendment on any issue of the statute. But
it is India's stand that the ongoing agitation in the region along
India's border should be addressed through dialogue and consensus."
Rae
said that although India had felt assured that the Nepali leaders would
encompass all sides in the new constitution, that did not happen.
He
said that showing concern over the unrest along the Indian border
before and after the promulgation of the new constitution was natural.
"But
this is Nepal's internal matter. Since it's a political issue, India is
of the view that it should be resolved through dialogue and not through
the use of force."
Rae said discussions were going on at the diplomatic level to remove obstacles in the entry of vehicles from India.
Though
the ambassador Rae did not elaborate, he assured that the issues
between the two countries will be solved at the earliest.
"I won't specify any particular date. But the problem will be solved soon. It will not prolong for long."
(Anil Giri can be contacted at [email protected])
