Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has clarified that India has never stood in favour of monarchy in Nepal.

In a meeting with her Nepali counterpart Mahendra Bahadur Pandey on the sidelines of 70th UN General Assembly in the United States on Wednesday, she categorically said India had never supported the idea, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s Foreign Relations Adviser Dinesh Bhattarai told the Post over the phone from New York.

This comes amid protests and unrest in Tarai, which many interpret as an attempt to restore monarchy.

“Despite the allegations, we’re not in favour of reinstating monarchy in Nepal,” Bhattarai quoted Swaraj as saying. The meeting comes amid souring relations between the two neighbours after the promulgation of the new constitution in Nepal on September 20.

“We have never said Nepal should do this or that,” she said, adding that it is up to the Nepali leaders to decide.

On the disruption of supplies to Nepal, Swaraj denied that India had imposed a blockade. She clarified that it was India’s responsibility to ensure that the vehicles carrying essential supplies, including petroleum products, reach up to the border with Nepal.

“India has not obstructed the transportation of goods to the border and will not do so in future as well,” Minister Pandey quoted Swaraj as saying. Nepal presented its view that as a landlocked country, it should not face any complications in transporting goods.

Urging caution in handling bilateral relations, Minister Pandey assured that Nepal would provide necessary security to the transporters within its territory. India also expressed sadness over growing anti-India sentiments in Nepal. Swaraj hoped the problems in Tarai would be addressed through dialogue.

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