Sue against the Indian media for  dominating Nepalese in their advertisements

Nepal and India on Saturday signed nine different agreements during official visit by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The deals were signed between the two countries during meeting between PM Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.

A  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Nepal and India on utilization of USD 250 million vowed by the Indian government as post-earthquake assistance.

Likewise, MoUs were signed on strengthening of road infrastructure in Tarai region of Nepal and between Nepal Academy of Drama and Sangeet Natak Akademi of India.

Similarly, Nepal and India inked letters of exchanges on transit between Nepal and Bangladesh through Kakarvitta-Banglabandhu corridor and operation and utilization of Vishakhapatnam port.

Moreover, another letter of exchange was signed on rail transport to/from Vishakhapatnam and rail transit facility through Singhabad for Nepal’s trade with and through Bangladesh. 

On the occasion, the two prime ministers jointly inaugurated Muzzaffarpur-Dhalkebar Transmission Line.

Nepal and India have also agreed to form eminent persons group.

Kathmandu: Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will begin his six-day India visit from Friday with an aim to bring back India-Nepal friendship back on track.

Briefing media persons here a day ahead of his state visit to India, Oli said his visit will clear the misunderstanding that developed recently between the two neighbours.

He, however, said that his government does not have any specific agenda or proposals to be made during his visit.

"This visit is being organised amid complex circumstances... the major objective is to clear a few misunderstandings that surfaced between the two neighbours in the last few months and taking the bilateral ties to new heights," the PM said.

"We want friendship, co-existence and mutual respect from India and we must continue this age-old relation on an equal footing... we are conscious about our interest," he added.

Refuting speculations about agreement on various pending projects, Oli stressed on creating a favourable and trust-worthy environment for strengthening the historic tie for implementation of development projects.

Observing that his upcoming visit, that begins on Friday, holds great importance for both sides, Oli said that taking the bilateral relations to a new heights and beginning of a new page in bilateral ties is another prime focus.

"We have some expectations ... and great expectation from India ... that is friendly behaviour from the Indian side. We also offer and commit the same on our side," he said.

"Investment in Nepal is secured, profitable and guaranteed ... I will tell the Indian business community in my interaction," said Oli adding that "We don't have any intention to add mud to water any more".

Oli's visit comes at a time when Nepal is struggling to get back to normal from an almost six-month-long Madhesi agitation and blockading of the India-Nepal border by the protestors that led to an acute scarcity of food, fuel and medicines in the Himalayan nation.

The prime minister said the invitation by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was an initiative to take the friendship to a new height on the basis of mutual respect and co-existence.

He said India has already welcomed Nepal's new constitution which was promulgated on September 20 last year. "India invited the PM who was elected under the constitutional provision... that means India has welcomed the constitution in Nepal."

No controversial agreements will be signed during the visit, said the PM adding that "My visit will lay ground for mutual trust and confidence".

"There has been some damage in bilateral relations and my duty is to repair it," he said.

Dwelling on the anti-Constitution agitation by the Madhesis, Oli said the issue will be resolved only through dialogue. "A high-level political body will be formed by this evening to resolve the disputable issues," he said.

The Nepali head of the government, who is embarking on the India visit with a 46-member delegation, further said that no agreement against national welfare will be concluded during his visit.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the prime minister will hold an official meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20. He will also pay courtesy calls on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

Oli said: "My government does not believe in diplomacy but in honesty and friendship. We do not believe in polished language but we believe in being practical."

"We do not use any card against each other but we just want to see mutual respect from both our neighbours," he added.

"Yes, there are some pending issues before us to accomplish but we need an advanced level of understanding to complete them ... we need to resolve them through the practical way."

This is Oli's first foreign visit after assuming the office of prime minister in October last year. He will return to Nepal on February 24.

With IANS inputs

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Dec 22, 2015- India on Monday welcomed the decisions taken by the government of Nepal to address demands regarding the constitution raised by agitating Madhes-based parties.
The government on Sunday had decided to form a high-level political mechanism to redraw the borders of federal provinces as part of its bid to end the prolonged Madhes crisis.
Issuing a statement on Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Government of India welcomes these developments as positive steps that help create the basis for a resolution of the current impasse in Nepal.”
The Cabinet-formed mechanism has been mandated with the task of submitting a report within three months of its formation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa on Monday spoke with India’s Minister for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and communicated the Cabinet decisions.
Stating that External Affairs Minister [Swaraj] was informed by Nepal’s DPM and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa on Monday that Nepal’s Cabinet has taken some important decisions to address and resolve demands regarding the constitution raised by agitating Madhes-based parties, the MEA said: “As a neighbour and well-wisher, India was deeply concerned at the unrest stemming from internal differences in Nepal on the constitution. India is confident that a return to normalcy in Nepal would create a more secure and predictable climate for unimpeded commerce between our two countries.”
The MEA has also urged all Nepali political forces to demonstrate the necessary maturity and flexibility to find a satisfactory solution to the constitutional issues through constructive dialogue in an agreed timeframe.
Sunday’s Cabinet decisions include amendments to the constitution on participation in the state organs on the basis of proportionate inclusiveness and delineation of electoral constituencies on the basis of population. The government has also decided to address the concerns about demarcation of provinces through an appropriate arrangement in the constitution on the basis of political consensus. On citizenship and other issues, the government has said the issues will be resolved through negotiations and consensus.
The Madhes-based parties, which are objecting to the government move of tabling the Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament, have made redrawing of provincial boundaries their key demand.
The government had tabled the bill in Parliament on December 15. The bill proposes proportional representation of women, Dalits, Janajatis and the Madhesi community in state bodies and electoral constituency delimitation based on the population by retaining at least one constituency for each of the 75 districts.
Objecting to the tabling of the bill, the Madhes-based parties have decided to intensify protests in the Tarai.
Before communicating Sunday’s Cabinet decisions to Swaraj on Monday, DPM and Minister for Foreign Affairs Thapa had handed over a copy of the decisions to the agitating Madhes-based parties at his office in Sheetal Niwas and urged the protesting forces to withdraw their protests in the Tarai.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPM and Foreign Minister Thapa assured the Madhes-based parties that the government was committed to politically addressing their concerns by forming a high-level political mechanism with the mandate to submit a report on redrawing of provincial border outlined by the newly adopted constitution with acceptable recommendations for all sides within three months and redrawing of electoral constituencies on the basis of the population. Thapa also urged the Madhes-based parties to withdraw the ongoing protests in the Tarai.

At least 13 Seema Shasatra Bal (SSB) officer’s have been detained by Nepal police on Sunday morning. According to reports, the SSB officers were handed over to the Nepal police by some villagers there.Watch Video here : 

13 SSB personnel detained by Nepalese border guarding force
The patrol party was detained near Kishanganj district at around 7 am this morning.
An entire patrol party of 13 SSB personnel have been detained by the Nepalese border guarding force early Sunday morning along the Indo-Nepal border, news agency PTI reports.
“The patrol party was detained near Kishanganj district at around 7 am,” Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB) DG BD Sharma said.
News agency ANI reports that the patrol team was chasing diesel smugglers post which villagers detained them and handed them over to the Nepal Police.
A meeting is currently underway between officials from both sides.
Earlier this morning, news reports suggested that all Indian news channels were banned in that country.
More details are awaited.

Jhapa, Nepal: Armed Police Force (APF) has taken under control 13 security personnel of Sima Surakshya Bal (SSB) of India from Jhapa-Bihar border point at Kechana VDC of the district on early Sunday morning.    APF personnel deployed at Armed Police Border Account Post, Kechana, arrested the SSB team at around 6.30 this morning while they had entered into Nepali territory illegally.     SSB personnel with rifle have been kept under control and investigation is intensified over the motive to enter in Nepal, the Police office at Jhapa said confirming the arrest.    Notwithstanding rule, the SSB personnel have repeatedly been entering in Nepali territory in different pretext.

Indian Member of Parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kirti Azad has said that Nepal should return 15 of its Terai districts to India.
Azad, who was elected to India's lower house Lok Sabha for the third term from Dharbhanga, Bihar, made the statement while addressing a program in his constituency on Tuesday, reports Hindi daily Jagaran. Azad's statement came as he protested that Nepal government had not addressed the demands of the Madhesi agitation.
A former cricketer of the Indian national team, Azad claimed that the 15 districts were once a part of India's territory and were granted to Nepal by the British rulers.
He said that no one in the Indian establishment had taken initiative to reclaim these territories into India once the country got independence from the British rule, adding that he would raise the issue in the parliament and make an appeal to demand the concerned districts from Nepal. He argued that if Nepal failed to abide by the demand, then India should annex these territories.
"If Nepal doesn’t return, these districts should be seized," he said.
Azad has been demanding that a separate Mithila state be carved out of Bihar for Maithili speakers.

BHOJPUR: At least four Nepali citizens were hit by bullets as Indian Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) personnel opened fired at them at Bhantabari, Haripur-7 of Sunsari district on Wednesday morning.

The injured have been identified as locals Manoj Yadav, Ashok Yadav, Saroj Yadav and Naresh Yadav.

Locals said the Indian border security force police team of SSB stepped into the Nepali soil and opened fired at the youth, who apparently were bringing in foodstuff and chemical fertilisers from bordering Indian market.

The chief of Sunsari District Police Office, Sanjaya Raj Sharma, also confirmed the incident. Earlier, police had said the source of bullet was yet to be confirmed.

The injured are being treated at a hospital in Ghopa of Dharan. Two of them are critical, police added.

Police further added that they are investigating into the case.

Get Madhesh on board, avoid potential insurgency
There is a danger of the country plunging into yet another insurgency originating in Terai if the crisis continues there and relationship with India remains strenuous. The only way of avoiding that is the government being flexible enough to address the demands of Madheshi parties and bring them on board the national dialogue, which will put moral pressure on New Delhi to show some level of respect to Nepal’s newly promulgated constitution.
Insurgency in Terai could be a powerful tool to sabotage everything that Nepal has achieved so far and push this country to another sustained crisis. It won’t be far-fetched to say that Indian establishment will remain quiet while its intelligence agencies stretch their muscles to destabilize the border areas and still ensure their own security in those areas. A too nationalistic percept while dealing with India and taking rigid stance vis-à-vis demands of Madhesh-based parties are dangerous for Nepal’s long-term economic sustainability and protection of its sovereignty.
September 20 - the day new constitution was promulgated from Constituent Assembly - was a mix of cheerful candlelight vigils in different parts of the country and protests especially in Terai. New Delhi did not welcome it, showing concerns over unrest in Terai. While the Indian capital was issuing one press release after another to display its dissatisfaction over Nepal's political developments, panic spread among consumers in Kathmandu and elsewhere, fueled by plausible rumors that the southern neighbor was in the mood of imposing blockade.
It would have been natural if India had used diplomatic channels to show its concerns and put moral pressures on Nepali leadership to be careful about its concerns and even to ensure the changes it wishes to see in Nepal's constitution. Instead, it publicly put political pressures to change the course of political and constitutional development in Kathmandu.
Conspiracy theorists argue that New Delhi establishment prefers to have a ‘controlled chaos' in Nepal, which may be true. Although Nepal hoped a change in such a tendency after a 'development-oriented' Modi rose to power, current developments only proved the futility of their expectations. Modi comes from a political background tainted with religious fundamentalism, and there are people and organizations around him that encourage him to lobby to make Nepal a Hindu state. Likewise, a section of people in India, who spent their career claiming to be expert on Nepal issue, have been strongly lobbying in New Delhi to reverse Nepal's constitutional process, suggesting that whatever course Nepal has taken is against India’s interests. Modi has been manipulated by factors such as religious organizations, bureaucracy and people, who are driven by their ego rather than calculated rationality. The last minute visit of India's foreign secretary S Jaishankar as Modi's special envoy is a result of accumulated pressure from all these groups. The real message that Jaishankar’s visit gives is that Modi also believes that things could be reversed in Nepal’s domestic politics if India wants. Failure to do so made this whole process a prestige issue for Indian political leadership.
Madesh has been historically marginalized and suppressed by rulers from Kathmandu and India has been exploiting this for its own interests. But too much nationalistic fervor, especially from Pahade leaders in Kathmandu just diminishes opportunities to bring all Nepalis together.
Political leadership has to abandon its idea that Madhesh is used by India and should heed to the demands of Madhesh pragmatically. What is important for the leaders to understand is that Madhesh-based parties do not represent all Madhesis; there are Terai denizens who do not agree with the agenda lobbied by the Madhesi parties.
Nepal's neighbors India and China are equally arrogant when it comes to their policies towards the country. Nepal’s only way out is to move forward by balancing the two powers. China’s political leadership is concerned about the future of Nepal, but not beyond the extent of its Tibet-issue; it merely looks at Nepal from its security point of view, vis-à-vis Tibet. It would be a mistake to show ultra-nationalism in Kathmandu against India since China would not be forth-coming to save Nepal except extending its support in some of the economic fronts and humanitarian assistance. That does not mean Nepal shouldn’t be paying attention to Chinese security concerns.
India has its own problems that range from bottlenecks to economic development to security challenges. But New Delhi is not ready to lose grips from its traditional ‘sphere of influence’. Moreover, Indian ambition is to gradually have more influence at the global level. The best approach for Nepal is to be diplomatically assertive but not too nationalist that may also keep other countries away from supporting it.
Our misfortune is that the world looks at Nepal from India’s lens. Sovereignty of a country is an ‘imagined reality’; hence no country will take it seriously until and unless the country in question has something to give them back in economic terms. The best approach out of this situation for Nepal is to be economically sophisticated by establishing world-class educational institutions, improving governance and building infrastructures without being too nationalistic about where the money comes from.
The leadership has to start slowly, shifting political debate from its current focus on nationalism, ethnic and regional politics to economic development and avoid a pseudo-insurgency in Terai, which could be enough to drag this country in another vicious circle of underdevelopment and backwardness.

NEW DELHI: Congress today expressed concern over India's ties with Nepal in the wake of recent statements made by its Ambassador amidst growing unease over framing of its Constitution, and said that the crisis could "compel" it to drift towards China.

"Indian National Congress expresses deep concern over the recent developments and statements questioning the time honoured Indo-Nepalese relationship with little initiative being seen on part of Government of India towards corrective action.

"Prime Minister Modi needs to take stock of the evolving situation and take immediate steps for restoration of this treasured relationship and protection of India's interests," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said.

He said that the Nepalese Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyay has asked India not to "push it to the wall" by choking petroleum and other essential supplies, which could compel it to turn to China despite logistical difficulties.

Tiwari said Nepal was a key neighbour of India and has maintained good ties which need to be carried forward.

He also recalled that Nepal was one of the first ones to be visited by Prime Minister Modi, who has visited the country many times.

Congress had earlier made a strong pitch for the PM to step in to urgently resolve the problems with the "important" neighbour in the wake of growing unease over the issue of Nepal's Constitution.

HONGKONG, Oct 6: Northern neighbor China has invited the chiefs of three major political parties of Nepal to its country on the occasion of the Silk Road Reconstruction Summit.

Even though China has invited the chiefs of three major parties of Nepal - Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal - who got united to promulgate the constitution of Nepal, only Dahal is making preparation to leave for China, so far.
Dahal will leave for China on a four-day visit unless possible hurdles including government formation and constitution amendment process obstruct him.

Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal - who got united to promulgate the constitution of Nepal, only Dahal is making preparation to leave for China, so far.

Dahal will leave for China on a four-day visit unless possible hurdles including government formation and constitution amendment process obstruct him.

According to Dahal's personal secretary and central member of the UCPN (Maoist) Chudamani Khadka , Dahal will fly to Beijing on October 14 and come back home on October 17. Dahal, who urged Chinese ambassador for Nepal to supply petroleum products by opening northern border, is heading to Beijing.

It is likely that Dahal will hold talks with top leaders including China's President Xi Jinping and apprise them of the latest political development of Nepal.

Dahal who is the strong supporter of the 'Silk Road Revival Project' brought by Xi Jingping will address the special conference.

The 'Silk Road Reconstruction' Special Summit will be held at the initiation of Communist Party of China between October 14-16, said Chung Eui-Yong, Co-chair of International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). Chiefs of over 50 political parties and governments of Asian countries have been invited.

'Silk Road Revival Project' has been initiated by establishing a fund of USD 40 billion with a view to connecting Asia and Europe.

Oct 5, 2015- The fuel crisis created by the unofficial blockade of Nepal by India has launched a discourse on the country’s energy security. As Nepal is completely dependent on India for petroleum products, a halt in fuel shipments has led to an acute shortage, forcing the government to ration gasoline, implement an odd-even system for vehicular movement and stop providing fuel to private automobiles altogether.

In this context, stakeholders have stressed the need to reduce the dependence on a single supplier and single source of energy. They said that efforts should be made to import fuel from multiple countries, maintain ample stocks and work on boosting self-reliance in energy by promoting hydropower and exploring for oil in the country. They also emphasized the need to learn from history as Nepal has faced frequent blockades by the southern neighbour for one or the other reason.
In 1989, India, which surrounds Nepal on the east, west and south, had imposed an embargo against Nepal that lasted one and a half years. Being a landlocked country, Nepal’s options are limited with regard to its fuel needs and has a hard time when its sole supplier turns off the supply.  
“There have been two blockades by India in the past 25 years. And both the times, tightening the supply of energy has been used as a way of intensifying the impact of the blockade,” said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, president of the Independent Power Producers Association Nepal (Ippan). “The oil shortage has crippled life across the country. This has imparted a lesson that we should increase our capacity and diversify our sources of energy supply.”
Ippan has also proposed that Nepal decrease its dependency on India for petroleum products to 60 percent, establish a trading relationship with China in the proportion of 20 percent and bring 10 percent of the petroleum requirement from each of the two neighbouring countries.
According to Bisht, energy is the main input of a modern economy, and energy security is a key component of national, economic and environmental security. There is a need to diversify energy resources, diversify energy procurement, maintain an appropriate strategic petroleum reserve and try to substitute imported petroleum by hydroelectricity, he added.  
As per Ippan’s data, 87 percent of the Nepali people are dependent on traditional energy resources like biogas and firewood, among others, 9 percent of the energy requirement is fulfilled by petroleum, coal accounts for around 3 percent and alternative energy resources account for 1 percent. One of the major strengths of the country -- hydroelectricity -- meets just 2 percent of its energy needs.
As of now, Nepal has petroleum storage points at 10 places, and they have a capacity to store 70,000 kilolitres of petrol, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. Stakeholders say this amount can address the country’s demand for fuel for 17 days only. According to Ippan, Israel maintains fuel reserves enough for 270 days, South Korea 240 days, United States 137 days and Switzerland 137 days.   
“We should do the needful. We should prepare the country in such a way that we can store petroleum for at least three months,” Bisht said. “Also, we should make sure that we do not forget this crisis even after it comes to an end and work hard.”
Expediting development of hydropower projects and solar power, replacing the use of LPG and reinitiating petroleum exploration are some of the things the country needs to do.  
Former water resource secretary Surya Nath Upadhyay stressed the need to translate plans, policies and strategies into action. “We have a tendency of doing much on paper, not on the ground,” Upadhyay said.
“When China offered support to open roadways on the Tatopani border, Nepal said it would do it itself. However, the border region hasn’t been opened even five months after the earthquake. And finally, when there were no other alternatives, I hear the road has been cleared now, and that too in just five days. This is how we tend to do things. We have to change it,” Upadhyay said.
He urged the government to sort out policy-level hurdles, change the licensing regime in the hydropower sector and increase coordination among government agencies to ensure energy security in the days to come.

According to Energy Secretary Rajendra Kishore Kshatri, rectifying the institutional mechanism is a must for developing the capabilities required to increase the strength of the government in terms of energy security. Kshatri also stressed the need to emphasize each and every energy project in an equal manner and address policy hurdles.
“We have to wait for the Ministry of Forest to give us permission to chop some trees to develop infrastructure for hydropower projects. This is just an example. There are many other similar hurdles.
Hence, the government should have a proper vision, and the political leadership should be able to give impetus to the bureaucracy to carry out the agenda,” Kshatri said.
Kshatri added that the government should focus on all the possible means of energy generation and increase coordination between inter-governmental agencies to get results.
“When we talk about energy-related national pride projects, the Energy Ministry has almost no stake in them. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is not a department under the ministry but an authority in itself,” Kshatri said, exemplifying the issue that has made it difficult for the ministry to take concrete steps.
Energy Secretary Kshatri also opined that political interference should be reduced for the sake of the national interest.

Govt told to develop energy strategy
The Agriculture and Water Resources Committee (AWRC) of the Legislature-Parliament on Sunday directed the Ministry of Energy to develop a National Energy Security Strategy by incorporating stakeholders like the Water and Energy Commission, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Oil Corporation and Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, among others.
“The unofficial blockade imposed by India has exposed our vulnerability. The absence of alternatives, abundant storage capacity and inefficient management has taught us a lesson.
Hence, the committee has concluded that preparing a National Energy Security Policy envisioning a long-term policy is a must, and we need to do it at the earliest possible,” said AWRC Chairman Gagan Thapa.
Likewise, the committee has directed the government to focus on long-term energy security and treat it as a national priority subject.
During the meeting, AWRC parliamentarians had slammed the government for its
lack of preparedness, and said that it should immediately find an alternative petroleum trading partner besides maintaining alternative plans to make sure that such a situation does not arise in the future.  


Expert suggestion
- Nepal should decrease its dependency on India for petroleum products to 60 percent
- One of the major strengths of the country -- hydroelectricity -- meets just 2 percent of its energy needs. Need to expedite development of hydropower projects
- Need to diversify energy resources, diversify energy procurement, maintain an appropriate strategic petroleum reserve
- Need to expedite development of hydropower projects and solar power, replacing the use of LPG
- Reinitiating petroleum exploration process

Border blockade connecting with new constitution is wrong: Diplomats
Diplomats have said that India's move to impose undeclared border blockade, relating it with the promulgation of the constitution, is inappropriate.

Speaking in an interaction organised by the Press Chautari Nepal here in the Capital today, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said that the constitution, promulgated with slight weakness in it though, has granted rights to all people and is in favour of the people and that it has also maintained international balance.

He added that there is no alternative to holding talks and reaching consensus to end weakness (if any) in the constitution. 
"The issue of addressing weaknesses (if any) in the constitution is Nepal's internal matter. There is no need for foreign group to be concerned on the matter," Thapa said.

He said that Nepal also should improve its diplomatic practice. "But there is not a situation to protect the tendency of letting a neighbor to take advantage through wrong means by troubling Nepali people," he added.

Similarly, CPN (UML) central member and diplomat Dr Rajan Bhattarai said that the capacity of a great country like India would be beneficial when she improves such capacity for improving her diplomatic relations with neighbour country.

Citing the Indian Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj denial on India's role in obstructing the movement of Nepal-bound cargo from border points while meeting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, on the sidelines of 70th session of the United Nation's ongoing General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Dr Bhattarai believed that the unannounced border blockade imposed by India would be lifted at the earliest.

Bhatatrai argued that widespread fuel shortage in Nepal should not be linked with the ongoing agitation in various parts of Terai and the unannounced border blockade.

According to him, Nepal may face a question if China raises the same question like seen in Teraibelt from other neighbouring country.

Dr Bhattrai said, " It is not meaningful to devoid the landlocked countries from the right to transit. Nepalis should be untied and committed to protect their dignity."

Press Chautari Chairperson, Rajendra Aryal spoke of the need for the government to gear up for the earliest resolution of the deadlock seen in the Nepal-Indian border points.

PM Modi signing on Tricolour sparks row

NEW DELHI: A controversy erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi autographed an Indian flag with Congress and sections of Twitterati accusing him of disrespecting the tricolour.

The government, however, strongly defended the Prime Minister and trashed the controversy as "mischievous and in bad taste", saying that Modi had only signed the 'flag', which is to be gifted to US President Barack Obama, drawn by a differently-abled child only to encourage a "precocious and enterprising" talent who has defied huge odds to create a piece of art.

"A differently-abled child drew the flag. It was not a proper flag in the first place, and did not even have the Ashoka wheel. So the question of attracting the Flag Code of India, 2002 or Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, does not arise. The Prime minister, in a gesture meant to appreciate the initiative taken by the child and offer encouragement, autographed it," DG (media & communications), government of India Frank Noronha told TOI.

"The entire controversy is baseless, mischievous and in bad taste," he said.

Earlier in the day, Modi's critics had drawn attention to the Flag Code of India and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act to accuse him of showing disrespect to the national flag. While the Flag Code of India states that "lettering of any kind shall not be put upon the national flag", the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act recognises "putting any kind of inscription upon the Indian national flag" as "disrespect" to the tricolour.

READ ALSO: Not in good taste, says flag foundation CEO

Congress' chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said, "We are not petty like BJP. We respect the office of the Prime Minister... However high you may be, the National flag is above you, you should understand this."

He said Modi must look within and take corrective action as respect for the national flag is the responsibility of 125 crore people, more so for the Prime Minister.

However, experts contacted by TOI such as former Cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian and two ex-home secretaries including N Gopalaswami insisted that both the Flag Code and Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act are applicable only to public display, use and hoisting of the tricolour.

"The tricolour (to be gifted by celebrity chef Vikas Khanna to Obama in New York) was meant as a personal gift and not for display. So there appears to be no violation of either the Flag Code or Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act," said Subramanian.

While Gopalaswami said disrespect to the national flag could be only during its public display and use, a former home secretary who did not want to be identified said, "The legal position is clear that Modi's act of putting his initials on a flag, a personal gift item does not amount to disfiguring or dishonouring the flag."
PM Modi autographed the Indian flag for President Obama to be handed over to him by renowned Chef Vikas Khanna. pic.twitter.com/fsvgj9aCeV

- ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2015

Vikas Khanna later said in a tweet: "It was Make in India insignia with Ashoka Chakra gears hand painted by Smile Foundation children. Not the national flag." He also said, "Hand impression on a light brown piece of cloth. It didn't have the 3 colours of the national flag represented."

‘Clash of egos resulted in blockade’
26 Sep 2015 | 07:20am NABIN KHATIWADA 10 Comments
KATHMANDU, Sept 26: Though India officially has been denying any blockade imposed on Nepal, the southern neighbor in practice has "stopped" cargo vehicles from entering into Nepal from various checkpoints.

However, it is not the first time, that India has imposed such blockade on Nepal.


Nepal had faced a blockade for 13 months from March 1989 to April 1990 as the then Trade and Transport Treaty expired and the two nations could not reach an agreement to sign a new treaty.

Leaders well-informed about the tension of the 1990s and the highs and lows of Nepal-India relations describe both the blockades as the result of clash of ego of the leaders and the "bossy mindset" of the Indian bureaucracy.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Prakash Chandra Lohani, who has held the posts of minister for finance and foreign affairs several times, believes that personality clash of leaders from the two sides resulted in the blockade in 1990.

"India had raised serious concerns after Nepal, asserting itself as an independent nation, bought some arms from China. In the meantime, the trade and transit treaty expired to add further complications in the situation," recalled Lohani.

At the time, India had to keep three checkpoints open for transportation due to its international obligations while it sealed rest of the others.

Because of the 13-month long blockade, there was crisis of petroleum products and other daily essentials and Nepal, as a landlocked country, had to ferry those items from third countries using various alternatives.

"The then Prime Minister Marichman Singh was determined to face it. I still remember the then government bringing petroleum from Singapore. Nepal Airlines' Boeings were used to carry petroleum from Singapore," said Lohani.

"India had used the disgruntled political forces against the erstwhile governments in the past and it has been using the same tactics again. In 1989, the Indian side viewed Nepal's move to purchase arms from China as an issue of prestige," he said. "The context is different now. But the basic reason is similar. This time, the Indian bureaucracy considers that the southern neighbor has been ignored by Nepal in the constitution-drafting process."

Lohani believes that the Indian side wants to maintain its supremacy each time Nepal makes some crucial decision.

According to former Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey, India becomes harsh whenever Nepal becomes reluctant to obey the Indian orders. "Nepal's denial in obeying India's order leads to the rise in tension in political relation between the two countries. India takes harsh measures and adopts a policy of using the political faces it has been nurturing in Nepal so as to create political instability," writes Pandey in his recently-launched book, Kutniti ra Rajniti (Diplomacy and Politics).

RPP leader Lohani also echoed similar views. "Our leadership utterly failed to maintain proper communication directly with the Indian political leadership and remained heavily dependent on Indian bureaucracy instead. It is the result of Nepali leaders giving undue importance to Indian bureaucrats," said Lohani.

Meanwhile, Lohani criticized the minister for foreign affairs and the foreign secretary for leaving the country at such a crucial time. "This problem should be solved through political and diplomatic channels. I'm taken by surprise to know that both the minister and secretary at the foreign ministry left for the United Nations' General Assembly at a time of such crisis, and, that too for 15 days," he added.

Nepal's cable federation said it would suspend Indian television channels and protesters marched in Kathmandu carrying an effigy of India's prime minister on Monday, accusing their neighbour of imposing an economic blockade and meddling in internal politics.

Nepalese student take part in a protest shouting anti Indian slogans near the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal September 28, 2015. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
ENLARGECAPTION

Nepalese student take part in a protest shouting anti Indian slogans near the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal September 28, 2015. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

KATHMANDU: Nepal's cable federation said it would suspend Indian television channels and protesters marched in Kathmandu carrying an effigy of India's prime minister on Monday, accusing their neighbour of imposing an economic blockade and meddling in internal politics.

Tension between the South Asian nations has spiked since Nepal adopted a new constitution last week, upsetting southern minority groups who fear being marginalised in a new federal structure.

More than 40 people have been killed in protests in the Himalayan republic since August. Indian oil trucks stopped crossing into Nepal because of protests in the south, prompting authorities to try to limit the use of cars and save fuel.

Nepal is almost totally dependent on India for overland supplies following earthquakes in the spring that killed nearly 9,000 people and blocked crossings from China.

India has been critical of Kathmandu for rushing through the constitution, despite opposition from minorities living close to the Indian border.

On Monday, a few trucks carrying fuel, vegetables and building materials started to cross the border into Nepal but hundreds more were waiting on the Indian side, a customs official in Nepal said.

TV CHANNELS OFF AIR

The Federation of Nepal Cable Television planned to suspend broadcasting of Indian channels in Nepal from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sunil Kumar Lama, the organization's general secretary, said on Monday.

"This is to protest against the blockade," Lama said. He declined to say how long the suspension would last.

Earlier in the day, protesters in central Kathmandu carried an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shouted: "Down with Indian expansionism! Down with Modi!" before police scattered them and confiscated the effigy.

"We are asking India 'Please, please open up the border and stop interfering in Nepal's internal issues'," said nursing student Amrita Baral, who was among 130 protesters in a second march headed for the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

A representative of India's Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on the new protests.

Nepal's largest trading partner, India strongly denies a trade blockade, saying its trucks have been hampered from entering Nepal firstly due to security concerns and later because protesters were blocking the roads.

A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Nepal had asked China to hasten the re-opening of the two border crossings closed since the earthquakes struck.

Nepal started rationing fuel for vehicles on Sunday, said Nepal Oil Corp spokesman Deepak Baral, after trade ground to a halt at crossing points on the India-Nepal border.

Hundreds of trucks carrying food and fuel lined up on the Indian side, while opposition protesters on the Nepal side sat on the road to block their path.

Some trucks started to move across the Sunauli-Bhairahawa border crossing on Monday, a customs official in Nepal said, but more than 1,000 trucks were still waiting in India.

"(Indian customs officials) are telling me, 'We're giving permission, there's no problem,' but we are still seeing a huge decrease in the number of trucks passing through," said Lawanya Kumar Dhakal, Bhairahawa's chief customs official.

(Additional reporting by Krista Mahr and Rupam Jain Nair in New Delhi; Writing by Krista Mahr; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

- Reuters

Buddha was born in Lumbini, Kingdom of kapilvastu ruled by his father Shakya king Suddhodhan. Kapilvastu was located in Bharat when Buddha was born. At present this place is located in terai region of Nepal.

When Buddha was born, only "JAMBU-DWEEP" was in existence at that time ... That time only India was an UNANIMOUS COUNTRY IN THE JAMBU-DWEEP.
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