Miscellaneous
Immediate intervention urged
Accountability Watch Committee, an advocacy group working for human rights, has urged the UN Special Rapporteurs for an immediate intervention to address the current humanitarian crisis in NepalAccountability Watch Committee, an advocacy group working for human rights, has urged the UN Special Rapporteurs for an immediate intervention to address the current humanitarian crisis in Nepal caused by the blockade imposed by India.
In separate letters sent to the Special Rapporteurs Kishore Singh on the right to health and Dainius Pūras (education) on Monday, the committee has asked them to consider making an immediate trip to Nepal to assess the situation on the group.
The committee has listed out impact of the blockade on health, education, industries and reconstruction works.
“We urge the Special Rapporteurs to take the initiative to make an initial appeal to the Government of India, given the urgency of the situation in Nepal in light of the upcoming winter and the escalating crisis of essential supplies including fuel,” read the letter. The committee has argued that India has continued the blockade in violation of the trade rights of a landlocked country.
UK officials say Nepal failed in diplomacy
Nabin Pokharel (London)
British officials have hinted that the crisis in Nepal could further deepen, as the country continues to reel under acute shortage of fuel and essentials in the wake of blockade by its southern neighbour, because Kathmandu has failed in its diplomacy, according to a Nepali parliamentarian who is in London to attend a programme.
In a meeting with lawmaker Udaya Shumsher Rana, who is also the chairman of Nepali Congress’s youth wing Nepal Tarun Dal, British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Hugo Swire and James Duddridge, an Under-Secretary at the FCO, said that it was not appropriate for senior Nepali leaders to show aggression towards India.
Rana is in London to attend the International Leaders Programme.
“Leaders should try, and improve relations with the neighbour instead of showing aggression,” Rana quoted the British officials as saying. “They also expressed serious concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis.”
“Britain has taken contradictory position by first welcoming the constitution and then stating that the constitution was not inclusive during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UK visit,” Rana told the Post.
“President and House Speaker of Nepal are women. Thirty-three percent of seats in the parliament and 40 percent of seats under proportional electoral system have been reserved for women. On which grounds can the constitution be described as not being inclusive?” Rana wondered.