Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that he would not compromise on issues concerning national security for the sake of maintaining cordial relationship with the neighbours.

Speaking at the National Security Seminar jointly organised by the Defence Ministry and the National Security Council in the Capital on Thursday, Oli said that maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries was an important aspect of national security but “issues related to nationality should not be put in jeopardy for its sake”.

“Neither has this government thought ill of anyone nor have we spoken against any country. But we will not let this country be used against others,” the prime minister said at the programme.

Expressing his disappointment at the absence of some of the senior party leaders, Oli asserted that issues of national security were not related to any particular person or party, but the country as a whole. “We could compete on other issues, not on national security.”

Despite being invited to the programme, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal failed to show up. Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal leaders, from among the ruling coalition, were also not present.

Taking aim at the Tarai protests, PM Oli claimed that the new constitution had not discriminated against any person or community. Stating that the government was ready to redraw the federal boundaries as per the demand of the Madhes-based parties, he, however, said that such demarcation “should be justifiable to all”.

Also speaking at the function, former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai seconded that all the parties should come together while formulating policies on national security. “Frequent changes in government leadership could also have an adverse effect on issues concerning national security,” said Bhattarai. He stressed the need for restructuring the country’s security agencies to strengthen national security.