Miscellaneous
India for Nepal’s leaders to resolve crisis without delay
Indian PM Narendra Modi called Prime Minister KP Oli on Monday evening to condemn the unfortunate death of a youngster from Bihar in police firing in Nepal.Indian PM Narendra Modi called Prime Minister KP Oli on Monday evening to condemn the unfortunate death of a youngster from Bihar in police firing in Nepal.
According to an Indian statement, Modi requested Nepal for details of the incident. Ashish Kumar Ram of India was killed in Birgunj on Monday while two other Indians were caught pelting stones at Nepali security forces. According to CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel, PM Oli received the call when he was attending a meeting of the party’s Standing Committee.
In a 25-minute conversation between the two leaders, Oli said he was saddened by Indian nationals’ involvement in protests carried out by Madhes-based parties in Nepal. “When the Indian PM inquired about the Birgunj incident, our PM said an Indian national was killed while a group of people including the deceased encircled the police and hurled petrol bomb at a police unit in Birgunj,” said Pokhrel.
The PM reportedly said he was saddened by the behaviour of Indian nationals towards Nepal particularly on the border. “When the incident happened, we did not know an Indian national was killed,” Oli told Modi. “He was killed in police firing after he pelted stones at the police providing security in the area.”
The PM said that the police and Armed Police had to use force to maintain law and order. “The security agencies were compelled to use force after they targeted government offices and police personnel deployed there,” said PM’s press adviser Pramod Dahal, who was privy to the conversation.
The two prime ministers also discussed the fuel scarcity in Nepal. “On supply of fuel and other essentials, PM Modi assured that there is no obstacle from the Indian side,” India stated. “At the same time, PM Modi urged Nepal’s leaders to work towards ensuring an early and effective solution to the crisis.”
Earlier, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed concerns over the killing. In a statement, the MEA urged the government of Nepal to restraint from using force as the issues facing it are “political in nature”.
‘’We are deeply concerned at reports coming in of firing today in Birgunj. An innocent Indian was also killed in the firing,” read the statement. India also said that it was advising its freight forwarders and transporters to exercise caution and not to put themselves in harm’s way.
“Causes underlying the present state of confrontation need to be addressed by the government of Nepal credibly and effectively,” read the statement, adding that India was monitoring the situation carefully.