Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the blockade will be lifted in a few days and that his upcoming visit to India will not take place until border restrictions are eased. 

Speaking to a select group of journalists in Baluwatar, three days after the House voted to amend the constitution, in an effort to address Madhes-based parties’ concerns, PM Oli expressed hope that crisis caused by border restrictions will end soon.

 “This is undeclared blockade and will open unofficially,” said Oli during an hour-long interaction with the journalists. “All border point obstructions will ease within two or three days. I will not go to India until the border reopens,” he added without offering any specifics.

He also spent considerable amount of time defending 

the constitution and the drafting process.  

PM Oli, who appeared cognizant of being held up to ridicule for his grand plans at a time when the government has not been able to provide basic commodities, defended his pronouncements—such as generating energy through wind, supplying cooking gas to every household through pipeline and starting a metro electric rail. 

When asked whether he found the timing wrong when he made such announcements when the government was struggling to provide basic services, Oli argued that “unless these things are 

articulated loud and clear, the process of realising them won’t start”.

PM Oli claimed that the constitution was promulgated on September 20 despite a conspiracy to stop it. Claims that the constitution was rushed are baseless, he added. 

“Had the statute promulgation been deferred by a week in the name of forging consensus, it would not have been promulgated even today. Such was the conspiracy,” said Oli. “The constitution was not brought overnight. Due process was followed by incorporating public opinion on the draft prepared by the Constituent Assembly.”

He also insisted that the disgruntled Madhes-centric parties have been satisfied by the constitution amendment. “They, however, are unwilling to accept it openly because they fear that their agenda could be hijacked by other groups.”

Oli also said that the government has been expediting its work despite difficult circumstances. 

“The government is focused towards easing the livelihood, providing relief to earthquake survivors and 

removing the difficulties faced by the public, among others,” said PM Oli. “I am not wasting time.”

He also commented that his vision to develop the country was mocked at. 

“I have been established as a laughing stock when I declared my ambitious plans,” said PM Oli.