A landlocked country that heavily depends on border trade with India for supplies, is facing severe shortages in essential supplies including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas.
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Public anger is mounting over New Delhi’s perceived meddling in Nepal’s internal affairs.
Protestors belonging to ethnic and religious groups, dissatisfied with Nepal’s new constitution, raise slogans during a protest in Janakpur, Nepal, Tuesday, September 29, 2015.
Indeed, this latest skirmish only underscored the growing divide within Nepali society that has implications for India: the Hindi-speaking Madhesis, who inhabit the flat southern region of the country bordering India, and constitute 31 per cent of the whole population, have been agitating for a proportionate share in political participation and governance to be enshrined in the country’s newly adopted Constitution.
“India is saying those people (protesters) are in no man’s land, they are blocking the roads so (Indian trucks) are not being able to supply, that’s not true”, Oli told AFP in an interview.
India has not imposed any border blockade but all is happening due to the strike in Nepal, Ambassador Rae reiterated even on Wednesday.
“We don’t want this type of friendship”.
“I hope India understands bilateral agreements reached between Nepal and India and it should not undermined global norms and rights of a landlocked country like Nepal”, he said.
His comments signify a stronger stand against India which has traditionally exerted significant political influence in Nepal.
About 100 cargo trucks entered the Nepali side from Sunauli border in Bhairahawa.
The Nepal government has sought clarification from cable operators within 24 hours for blacking out Indian TV channels and asked them to resume transmission of the channels.
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Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who resigned from the Maoist party last weekend over the promulgation of the new Constitution, was chased away by Madhesi youths in Janakpur after he refused to burn a copy of the Constitution.
