Slide in Indo-Nepal ties a bad dream, need to restore trust: Deep Upadhayay

New Delhi: The recent slide in Indo-Nepal ties was on Tuesday described as a "bad dream" by the outgoing Nepalese Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhayay, who emphasised that the two countries had to work towards "repairing and mending" the relationship.

Suddenly recalled by his government amid reports that he was "colluding" with India to topple the government of Prime Minister K P Oli, Upadhayay denied the allegations and described his recall as a "political decision" attributable to "destiny".

Upadhayay, a senior leader of Nepali Congress, who leaves for Kathamandu on Sunday after a brief tenure of over a year, said the visit of Nepal's President Bhidya Devi Bhandari to India should not have been put off. She was due to visit this week but her government cancelled the trip amid the internal political turmoil in Nepal.

Speaking about the future of the bilateral ties, the Nepalese envoy said India should understand Nepal's problems and issues. He said he would not like to apportion the blame for the current strains in the ties but asserted that it takes "two hands to clap".

Upadhayay, for whom Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar hosted a lunch today, said there was anxiety on the Indian side regarding the current state of the relationship. Restoration of mutual trust was discussed at the lunch.

"The past incidents should be forgotten as bad dreams and both sides should work towards repairing and mending the ties," Upadhayay said.

Describing Indo-Nepal ties as "unparalleled", Upadhyay said Nepal's relationship with any other country including China cannot be compared to what it has with India.

"India should have no doubt regarding strong cultural and social relationship with Nepal," he said.

Asked about reports in Nepal quoting unnamed officials that India was behind the current political instability in the Himalayan country, the Nepalese envoy said such reports should be ignored.

"Blaming (external factors) is reflection of weakness. Whatever is happening in Nepal has to be managed by it alone. India should also not be that sensitive to what is not said officially," he asserted.

Upadhyay, who has been accused in Nepal of visiting the Terai region, bordering India, with Indian Ambassador in Kathmandu Ranjit Rae recently, also denied having visited the place with Rae.

He also feels that once he is back in Nepal, he will be able to work more to strengthen the bilateral ties as here he was bound by "diplomatic protocols".

He also asserted that though his was a political appointment by the previous government in Nepal, he had tried to work as a "neutral" person towards strengthening the bilateral ties.