What Indian Papers say about India's Blockade against Nepal?

We are regularly updating on the Indian Paper's reactions on India's blockade against Nepal. We have updated our blog regularly in the past on #IndiaBlockadesNepal and on #BackOffIndia. You can read our previous blog post HERE:http://nepalikabitagajal.blogspot.com/2015/09/update-on-indiablockadesnepal-29092015.html

India has consistently and officially denied that there are any blockades from Indian side. Indian administration has put all the blame on the Nepalese agitators and on the failure of Nepalese government to address the problems by dialogues.

But, as the days were passing, the matter came under more scrutiny of Indian press and many have slammed the Modi's chest thumping policy in Nepal. They have slammed the muscular approach and interference of Modi in Nepal.

We have some of the news items and screenshot on what Indian commentators are telling on Nepal.

The Senior BBC Journalist and the Author Subir Bhaumik has written in The Hindu that India needs no Monroe Doctrine. It has criticised the foreign policy of Indian Government. It has blamed the Modi Government that it is trying to create unnecessary sphere of influence in the neighbourhood by push and shove.

You can read the article here: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/india-needs-no-monroe-doctrine/article7716226.ece


Times of India has reported here http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nepal-turns-to-UN-over-Indias-blockade-of-trade-point/articleshow/49210855.cms that Nepal has raised the issue of blockade by India in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). As per the News, Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister requested the countries to respect transit rights of landlocked countries like Nepal while commenting on the Unofficial and Undeclared blockade imposed by India on Nepal to push Nepal to accept Seven points Constitutional Amendments in newly passed Constitution.

Times of India has also published an Opinion where it has said that "India is the biggest Loser in the divided Nepal" http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-the-big-loser-in-divided-Nepal/articleshow/49190134.cms This sense must have prevailed in TOI as Nepal is closer to opening borders with China which were blocked due to recent earthquakes. The reports in various Media yesterday said that the borders with China should be operational within two weeks. This must have given a dash of pessimism in Indian critics that Nepal may be slipping from India's hand and not everything is going on as per their scripts.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Concern-over-growing-anti-India-sentiment-in-Nepal/articleshow/49190105.cms In this link, Times of India has firther reported that India is concerned with growing anti-India sentiments in Nepal. This was conveyed by India's Ambassador to Nepal in a press meet. However, this was going to happen as India has imposed blockade in Nepal and Nepalese people are not happy with India's interference in Nepal. First of all, India needs to learn to respect Nepal and other neighbours and should not meddle in the internal affairs of Nepal. That will help to create goodwill against India #IndiaBlockadesNepal will only create the more hatred of Nepalese against India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Madhesi-border-blockade-sparks-anti-India-feelings-in-Nepal/articleshow/49161720.cms This link in TOI states that there is a growing anti-India sentiment in Nepal. This is due to #IndiaBlockadesNepal.

In this Associated Press (AP) Report filed in TOI in a way confirms that India has imposed an unofficial/undeclared Blockade in Nepal. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Nepalis-adapt-to-fuel-shortage-by-carpooling-riding-bikes/articleshow/49204208.cms

The report states that after India's unofficial #IndiaBlockadesNepal, Nepali people have found the way of carpooling, sharing and giving lift to each other to save the fuel. Nepal is facing fuel shortage due to blockade imposed by Indian Government which is reportedly not happy that Nepal's sovereign parliament made first ever Constitution without consulting India.

Keshav Pradhan in TOI has another report http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/A-fragile-friendship-Hindu-links-are-not-enough-to-keep-India-Nepal-together/articleshow/49202229.cms The report clearly states that though Nepal and India have majority Hindu population, this is not enough to keep a good relationship between these nations. Pradhan is write in his conclusion. What Nepalese demand from India is respect. Nepalese have always asked India to stay away from Nepal's domestic and internal affairs. The current #IndiaBlockadesNepal will only aggravate the relationship between these two countries and there will be more anti-India sentiments in Nepal. Due to #IndiaBlockadesNepal, Nepal must look for diversifying its trade with outside world and must especially be maintaining closer ties with China.

Nepal's digital Media Setopati.com has published a News http://setopati.com/raajneeti/34691/ which says quoting Nepal's Ambassador to India that Indian PM Narendra Modi is very hurt due to the current situation. In the context of #IndiaBlockadesNepal, this is laughable.

Meanwhile, The Hindu Calcutta Edition has a very interesting report here: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/article7717213.ece As per the report, one of the senior Nepalese diplomats at Calcutta Consul of Nepal has warned India that it will be Nepal's compulsion to move towards China if India keeps on meddling in Nepal's internal affairs and if India does not stop #IndiaBlockadesNepal.

The Hindu, Calcutta Edition has also another report which states on the prpblems faced by importers of Nepal. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/impasse-a-nightmare-for-cargo-handlers/article7717215.ece As per the reports, thousands of containers are lying stranded in Calcutta Customs and importers are losing the huge amount. Of course, this situation is being created by Madhesh agitation and the problem is further aggravated by current #IndiaBlockadesNepal.

And finally there is a news, though from Nepali Media Setopati.com that India has instructed its officers/authorities to act to open the borders connecting Nepal. http://setopati.com/raajneeti/34685/ Earlier, the reports were such that India had denied any blockade on goods entering Nepal but now, it is very curious to read such news that India has instructed to open border. Therefore, Nepalese twitter sphere is asking this question: How India can open the border/remove the blockade which it never imposed? This corroborates the position taken by Nepal that India had imposed blockade/embargo on goods going to Nepal to have an upper hand to meddle in Nepal's internal affairs.

Update on #IndiablockadesNepal

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Posted on 26-09-2015 at 20.30 Hrs (Nepal Standard Time)

Setopati.com has further reported that due to shortage of fuels in Nepal resulted by embargo placed by India, Nepal has requested the flights coming to Nepal to arrange its own fuels. The news can be read HERE: http://setopati.com/samaj/34412/

The news says that Nepal has requested short haul flights to come with enough fuels to fly from Kathmandu but in case of long range flights, Nepal will be providing fuels to them. However, Nepal may not be able to provide the fuel for a long haul flights for a long time if India continues the blockade.

Due to unofficial and undeclared blockade by India on Nepal, there is a huge outrage and anti-India sentiments in Nepal. In the twitter, #IndiablockadesNepal is trending.

Posted on 26-09-2015 at 19.45 Hrs (Nepal Standard Time)

Due to unofficial and undeclared blockade by India on Nepal, there is a huge outrage and anti-India sentiments in Nepal. In the twitter, #IndiablockadesNepal is trending.

As the blockade has only started, the difficulties in people are yet to be seen. However, as a precautionary measure, Nepal's Home Ministry has asked people to use vehicles on alternate days depending whether the Number plat is even or odd.

As per the news on Setopati.com and on many other portals, the Spokesperson of Home Ministry has issued the release. News can be read here: http://setopati.com/samaj/34411/ Setopati writes that the request has been made by Government spokesperson on general public after "the beginning of shortage of fuels". The fuel shortage has resulted from the blockade imposed by India on Nepal after the former has not allowed the release of vehicles to enter Nepal on the ground of Security Concerns.

It must be noted that India had never raised the security concerns on the goods and vehicles when Nepal was suffering from Maoist's Civil Warn which took the lives of 18,000 people. In the past, even during the Madhesh Aandolan of 2063, India never raised such issues and never obstructed the movement of goods. However, at this point of time, India has raised the security concerns of vehicles and goods only after Nepal went ahead to pass its Constitution by asserting the sovereignty of Nepal. Many analysts say that It has made India angrier as it feels that Nepal is slipping away from its hand and is siding with China. However, Nepal dismisses such concerns of India and has asked India to stay away from big bully exercises and shed its misconceptions in Nepal. The message from Nepal is clear to India, if India understands at this moment, not to interfere in Nepal's domestic and internal affairs.

Posted on 26-09-2015 at 19.15 Hrs (Nepal Standard Time)

Due to unofficial and undeclared blockade by India on Nepal, there is a huge outrage and anti-India sentiments in Nepal. After the successful visit by Prime Minister Modi earlier, the relationships were on high but it has suddenly slumped.

Nepalese people consider that it is the big brother attitude of India that has put the relationships between the two countries at risk. India has opted to put the embargo, however without saying so, after Nepal did not pay much attention to India's concerns while passing Constitution. Analysts say India is irked from Nepal for not following its advice while passing Constitution by almost 90% majority. Nepalese parties (3 main parties which were instrumental to pass the Constitution)have defended their decision to pass the constitution by majority votes as total consensus on every constitutional issues were not possible.

Many people in Nepal think that India wants to keep Nepal under its control and does not like it when Nepal asserts its sovereignty. One of the demands put by India (presented as the demand of Madheshi Parties) is that naturalized Citizens of Nepal (who will be mostly migrated from India) should be allowed to hold higher posts like of President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice etc. These demands put forth by India (but denied later after the outrage in the Media) gives force to such views in Nepal that India is never comfortable when Nepal asserts its sovereignty without consulting India in every minor points.

Posted on 26-09-2015 at 18.00 Hrs (Nepal Standard Time)

Nepal Government has concluded that India is blocking movements of goods and fuels inside Nepal on the garb of violence and agitation in Nepali Side. Though India has not officially announced the blockade, and has denied any such news, the conduct of Indian Side shows that it is going ahead with blockade against Nepal. This is the conclusion of Nepal Government after India has refused to allow movements of goods from border points which are least affected or not affected by violence. Nepal's borders like Kakarbhitta in Eastern Nepal, Biratnagar in Morang district and Sunauli in Bhairahawa are not affected at all by the violence and agitation but even there, there is no movement of vehicles coming from India. Therefore, Nepal Government has concluded that it is an "undeclared blockade" by India to Nepal to make Nepal accept the demands of India to make changes in Nepal's Constitution.