New Delhi: India on Thursday proposed to send an all-party delegation to Nepal with which relations are at an all-time low even as it asserted that it had imposed no blockade and was in fact trying to re-route supplies via available routes and by air.
"India's only interest is in a peaceful, united and stable Nepal and our approach to the present crisis is completely consistent with these objectives," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said while making a statement in Rajya Sabha on "Situation in Nepal and the state of Indo-Nepal relations".
She said the present state of confrontation in Nepal needs to be addressed credibly and effectively by political parties and people there.
"There has been the broadest goodwill for Nepal in India and full political consensus on our policy.. In that tradition, I would urge the House to consider the merits of a visit to Nepal by an all-party delegation. The government will be guided by the sentiments of the House," she said.
Talking about disruptions in supplies from India to Nepal because of which the relations have hit an all-time low, Swaraj said "contrary to some canards on this issue, there is no blockade by India" and any obstructions caused are by the Nepalese people which is beyond the control of India.
She said India is assisting in re-routing stranded POL (Petrol, Oil and Lubricant) tankers and vehicles carrying medical supplies through other available crossing points, as also airlift.
"But, there are logistical constraints and the best remedy remains a political solution leading to the end of the agitation," she said.
Swaraj made the statement on a Calling Attention motion moved by Pavan Varma (JD-U), who said the matter was serious and of concern to the country.
After members felt that less time was allotted to the debate, the Minister suggested that it should be converted into a short-duration discussion. The Chair agreed to it after taking into account the sense of the House.
Swaraj said India had given advice to Nepalese political leadership about tangible solutions to end the looming crisis.
"Regrettably, these cautions passed unheeded," she said. The External Affairs Minister said India has always stood for a peaceful conclusion to Nepal's on-going political transition after decades of instability and violence and has at the request of Nepali political parties actively facilitated that process for early promulgation of a broad-based, inclusive and durable Constitution.
She asserted that the Prime Minister's call for consensus and broad-based ownership, conveyed during his two visits to Nepal, in August and November 2014, was strongly and consistently conveyed by India, both before and after the draft Constitution was put out for public consultations from June to August 2015.
"Our advice was reiterated on several occasions...I personally re-emphasised our advice during my visit to Nepal in June 2015, and Prime Minister re-stated it during his telephone conversation with PM Sushil Koirala in August 2015.
"Our Ambassador in Kathmandu was also in regular touch with Nepali political parties in this matter. Therefore, any suggestion that our position lacked clarity or that there was lack of engagement simply has no basis," she said.
The Minister added that India's Foreign Secretary also travelled to Nepal on September 18 and 19 as Prime Minister's special envoy and advised Nepalese political leadership with tangible solutions to end the looming crisis.
