Dahal tells Jaishankar ‘visit ill-timed’
KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, who arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day visit to Nepal as special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has urged top political leaders here to bring agitating Madhes-based parties on board the constitution-making process.
In his separate meetings with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, UML Chairman K P Oli, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Jaishankar conveyed India's message to accommodate aspirations of all regions and sections of the Nepali society in the new constitution.
Jaishankar also held separate meetings with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at Shital Niwas, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) chief Bijaya Gachchhadar, and top leaders of agitating Madhes-based parties at the Indian embassy.
Jaishankar's central message, according to leaders, was that since Nepal and India share open border and elections in Bihar are set to begin shortly, the ongoing protests in Tarai-Madhes may pose security threats to India.
Civic leaders for addressing Madhes issues before elections
Prime Minister Koirala during his meeting with Jaishankar said the constitution endorsed through overwhelming votes in the CA on Wednesday is a document of compromise among political parties with different ideologies and beliefs. He also said that the government is making efforts to bring even those agitating parties on board the constitution- making process through dialogue, said a statement issued by Prime Minister's Personal Secretariat.
According to UML chief whip Agni Kharel, who was present during the meeting between Oli and Jaishankar, Chairman Oli said that genuine demands of the agitating parties could be addressed even after the promulgation of the new constitution. "This is the most popular, progressive, inclusive and democratic constitution. We have given special considerations to ensuring proportionate participation and inclusiveness of people from different ethnic backgrounds," Kharel quoted Oli as telling to Jaishankar.
Jaishankar had reached Oli's residence in Balkot shortly after landing in Kathmandu. During the two-hour meeting with UML top leaders, Jaishankar had held one-on-one talk with Oli for an hour. On the occasion, Oli also said that political parties in Nepal are putting in best efforts to bring agitating political parties on board the constitution-making process. "Nepal is a sovereign country. It is independent to decide when to promulgate new constitution and what content to be incorporated in it," Kharel further said.
In the meeting with Maoist Chairman Dahal, Indian Foreign Secretary Jaishankar had conveyed India's concern about the ongoing movement of Tharu and Madhesis in the southern plains and security problem it might pose across the border. Dahal's personal secretary Chuda Mani Khadka said Chairman Dahal assured that political parties in Nepal are trying their best to address political demands of the agitating parties. "We are ready to address their demands through amendment in the new statute," Khadka quoted Dahal as telling to Jaishankar.
On the occasion, Dahal maintained that India as a good neighbor should be concerned about security not just of bordering areas but of entire Nepal. "Your visit is ill-timed. This should have occurred either 15 days ago or after 15 days," Khadka further quoted Dahal as telling to Jaishankar.
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Indian Foreign Secretary Jaishankar in Kathmandu
Photos courtesy: Oli's Twitter
