Thapa arrived in New Delhi on Friday, announced the Ministry of External Affairs.
Advertisement
Nepal’s deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa today described relations with India as “excellent” and suggested that the neighbours had left behind the acrimony that just a month back saw Kathmandu call back its ambassador and accuse New Delhi of trying to stage a coup.
Thapa, here on a three-day visit – his fifth in the last eight months – sought to make clear that the new constitution was dynamic and amenable to change if it was so desired. According to these groups, the new Constitution tilts the balance in favour of the hill tribes. “We don’t want minorities to remain dissatisfied in our country”, said Thapa.
But Kathmandu-Delhi animosity has once again spilled over after the withdrawal of Nepal’s ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay and the abrupt cancellation of President Bidya Bhandari’s India visit.
Asked about accusations that India attempted to topple Prime Minister KP Oli’s government in Nepal, Thapa said facts were misrepresented.
“Prime Minister Oli’s words were misunderstood”, Thapa said.
“Our Constitution is not flawless but it’s a living, dynamic and amendable document… how flexible our new Constitution is can be judged by the first amendment that has taken place within four months of the promulgation of the Constitution”, he said.
“The misunderstandings of the recent past have been resolved and we are back on track…as many as 13 bilateral meetings lined up during June-July are proof that relations are good”, Thapa earlier told media persons here at an interaction co-organised by the South Asian Women in Media and the South Asian Free Media Association.
“Similarly, our northern neighbour (China) has also emerged as a global economic power”. Mr Thapa met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj this evening and discussed issues of mutual interest.
Advertisement
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said bilateral mechanisms including political exchanges, connectivity and trade were reviewed in the meeting.
