In the midst of political and social sensitivities in Nepal, “India refrains from commenting on Nepal’s internal matters knowingly or unknowingly”, a senior South Block official said on Monday.

Indian officials were aware of what is happening in Nepal, said the official. “India is also informed about the efforts being made at consensus while Nepal reaches the last leg of bringing out a new constitution and completing the peace process.”

He tried to clarify India’s position on Nepal’s political and constitutional matters at a time when the neighbour’s interests in Nepal’s affairs vacillate between being controversial and cooperative.

The official, who is in charge of Nepal affairs at South Block in the Indian capital but is not authorised to speak to the media, told the Post that India wants to see a constitution resulting from maximum and broader consensus. “We hope there will be a new constitution by mid-September as per the present understanding.”

He clarified that India does not prescribe any form of federalism and religion. The recent visits of two former prime ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sher Bahadur Deuba had sent positive messages across to Nepal, the official said.

“We have heard that CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli has barred party leaders from visiting India. No UML leader has expressed interest to visit New Delhi,” said the official. He added that leaders of Madhesi parties had never sought to visit India as reported in some Nepali media.

The official, however, refused to comment on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement concerning Nepal on Monday.

Blaming local media for “unnecessary hype”, he said they were trying to render Nepal-India relations “abstract and meaningless”. The official said concerned entities from both the sides should step up vigil against such reports.

‘No relations with Amresh’

Meanwhile, the official said that the Ministry of External Affairs of India has no concerns over the activities of Nepali Congress lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh, who claims to have good rapport with Indian leaders and cordial relations with the Indian establishment.

Some days ago, when there was opposition against him in the Madhes, he was trying to sneak into the Consular General’s Office of India in Birgunj but he was denied entry, said the official.

The official, who keeps tabs on the developments in Nepal, said there was no need for India to extend relations with Singh. He also denied New Delhi’s role in Sadbhawana Party’s quitting the Constituent Assembly.

The official said some major agreements reached with Nepal particularly in hydropower development should be considered as achievements in bilateral ties.