New Delhi: Days have passed and tension between India and Nepal seems to reach no conclusion, over 4,000 trucks from India are cemented at the border with Nepal facing deepening fuel crisis as protests over the country’s new Constitution have strangled essential supplies.
Refuting Nepal’s allegation that it has imposed a barrier, India has called it a ‘false allegation’ saying that it is the responsibility of the Nepal government to facilitate the entry of trucks.
As long as 10 km long lanes of trucks are standing still on the Indian side of the border for over five days. According to government the trucks are unable to proceed due to the disturbed security situation in the southern Terai region of Nepal.
“We can only take goods up to the border and beyond the border, it is the responsibility of the Nepalese side to ensure that there is adequate safety and security for the trucks to enter that side,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday.
On the other side of the table, Nepalese leaders have accused India of violating international laws by halting cross-border trade.
“We are not getting fuel, cooking gas and vegetables from India and we don’t want such kind of friendship,” KP Oli, chief of the ruling UML party, said.
On the issue Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh ensured that India and Nepal are friends.
“India and Nepal are friends and will remain friends,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, urging the government and protesters to initiate dialogue.
At least 40 people have been killed in the last one month in clashes between the police and protesters