Huge relief for Nepal

The Himalayan Times

30 October 2015

Huge relief for Nepal

It was exciting to read the news report “Nepal, China seal deal for import of fuel” (THT, 29 Oct. Page 1) considering the difficult life faced by the general people for the last almost two months caused by Madhes based fringe parties’ protests on Nepal India borders. More than 40 people including security personnel have already lost their lives during the agitation.

In this backdrop, India imposed an undeclared blocked by telling the big three political parties to address the grievances of Madhesis. It has been almost two months since then the government has been trying to settle the problem without any fruitful results. Now, the new government led by K.P.Oli is at the helm. He had assured the general people at the onset of his premiership that the existing fuel crisis would be immediately solved. No major changes have been noticed so far to ease the existing fuel crisis.

However, the effort to import petroleum goods from China has gained momentum and the first lot of Chinese petrol is likely to enter Nepal by next week as reported in “Chinese petrol likely to arrive by next week” (THT, 29 Oct. Page 1). Still, the trade embargo imposed by the Indian government should be diplomatically resolved soon keeping in view the import of other essential goods and petroleum goods to meet our needs. For this, the government and the big three also need to be serious in resolving the political and constitutional issues with the Madhesis.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj