UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that Nepal will do everything it can to resolve disputes with India, but Nepali people are ready to stand against undue pressure manifested through the “undeclared” blockade.

“We want to settle disputes between Nepal and India amicably. But if India continues to bring us to our knees we are ready to fight until the end,” the Maoist chief told a press meet here on Saturday.

Insisting that the constitution has not discriminated against any section of the society, Dahal said when it comes to identity the Madhesi community has benefitted with more rights than ever.

“As a good neighbour, India should welcome and assist the decision of Nepal,” the Maoist chairman said, referring to the promulgation of the new constitution. “But India has committed a grave mistake by punishing the Nepali people for exercising their sovereign rights.”

Dahal also dismissed India’s concern over the events of armed conflict in Nepal during the 23rd Session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, “irrelevant”.

“It is meaningless to raise the issue now as the peace process was initiated in Nepal under UN mediation in which India had also played a supportive role,” he argued.

Warning that the agitation in the Tarai and India’s blockade after the constitution promulgation have pushed the country to the brink, Dahal urged everyone for a concerted effort to resolve the current problem. He said the ruling parties are in favour of resolving the Tarai problem through talks. He also reiterated his support to the erstwhile Nepali Congress-government’s proposal to carry out amendments to the constitution with the participation of the protesting Madhes-based parties. “A political mechanism is being formed to resolve the dispute over state demarcation. The dialogue with the agitating Madhes-based parties, stalled by the violent incident in Birgunj last week, is moving on the right track again,” he said.

UML’s Nepal against Indian interference

DANG: Senior CPN-UML leader and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has suggested India to resolve its own internal problems rather than interfering into Nepal’s internal affairs.

“Let us solve the problems of Nepal by ourselves. Don’t interfere into our internal affairs,” said Nepal at a press meet at Ghorahi, Dang, on Saturday, pointing to the involvement of Indian people in the Tarai protest. (PR)

‘No statute change from no-man’s-land’

Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula has urged the Madhes-based parties to come to the Legislature-Parliament to resolve the problems of new constitution as demanded by the agitating parties.

“Constitution won’t be amended by protesting on the no-man’s-land. Come to Parliament to solve the problems,” Sitaula told a press meet here on Saturday.

The NC leader said that India’s ‘unofficial’ blockade has severely affected the economy of Nepal. By interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country,

India has tarnished its reputation as a good neighbour, Sitaula added.

The NC general secretary said that the party would take initiatives to end the blockade in its own way and also support the government’s endeavours on the matter. “Nepali people haven’t committed any mistake by promulgating their constitution, but it is still unclear why a neighbour is troubling Nepali people,” he said.

In another context, Sitaula said the NC would support and oppose the KP Sharma Oli-led government on merit basis.