During a meeting with Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday, Thapa brought up again the obstruction of supplies and sought an immediate response from the Indian government.
However, External Affairs Minister Swaraj claimed that there was no hindrance to supplies by the Indian government. Referring to the meeting between the two, Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the Indian External Affairs Ministry, tweeted, “External Affairs Minister assures DPM Thapa that there is no hindrance to supplies from India. But Nepal needs to normalize situation as soon as possible.” Swarup added that the External Affairs Minister repeated the need for an urgent political solution to the political problems faced by Nepal.
According to Nepal's embassy in New Delhi, both leaders agreed that the continued disruption of supplies was not in the interest of either country and stressed ways of finding a solution. The meeting was also attended by Nepal's ambassador to India, Deep Kumar Upadhyay.
But sources privy to the talks held between the two ministers informed that Swaraj expressed India's displeasure in strong words against remarks by Nepal's senior ministers and political leaders, about India's role in recent days.
After the meeting with the minister, DPM Thapa tweeted, "had fruitful and cordial meeting with Indian Minister Swaraj".
During his visit, Thapa had meetings with some Indian political and religious leaders. Though an unofficial visit, it was considered to be important at a time when people across the country have been facing a serious crisis due to the economic blockade against Nepal. Fuels, medicines and other essential goods that used to come only from the Indian market are in acute shortage since over two months now.
The minister is scheduled to return home by Wednesday evening.
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