Should move ahead consensually on security and economic issues: Indian Envoy
TARA BAHADUR KATUWAL, KATHMANDU: Indian ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae has stressed on the need for Nepal and India to move ahead jointly on security and economic issues. While stressing that bilateral relationship between both nations has been different than both countries bilateral relationships, he said the foundation of the relationship is very strong.
Addressing an one-day workshop on “Nepal India Relationship: Prospects and Challenges” organized by the Reporters Club Nepal a day after India celebrated its 65th Republic Day on January 26th, Rae expressed hope that the bilateral relationship between both nations will gain further movement after Nepal concludes its ongoing constitution writing process.
He pointed out tourism, agriculture and hydropower as key areas, which can help Nepal in achieving its development goals and said that both nations could collaborate in this regard, at the seminar presided by Reporters Club Nepal’s Chairman Rishi Dhamala.
Rae said that both nations should hold openly discuss issues of concern with each other instead of averting dialogue on them and claimed that all contended issues can be resolved through talks and further strengthen mutual bilateral ties.
“ Both nations share close ties. And even close relationships have ups and downs. Such contentions should be dealt through the means of dialogue. There are no issues that cannot be resolved through dialogue,” Rae said.
He said that peace, security and economic development of both countries are mutually shared issues and said that problems in either of the nations will affect the other. So, he stressed on the need to resolve those issues through dialogue.
“No country can move ahead alone. Therefore nations should stress on moving ahead jointly by figuring out issues of mutual concern and benefits. This trend helps in further strengthening relationship,” he said.
Rae said that challenges in bilateral relationship of both nations can be resolved and be even made mutually beneficial.
Speaking at the same program, Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that Nepal-India relationship is directly connected with the lives of Nepali people and said that Nepal’s political parties should move ahead by making common understanding on it. He said that inability of political parties to reach a common understanding on diplomatic issues with India has deprived Nepal to benefit from its relationship with India. He opined that Nepal could resolve its power outage problem by utilizing its hydropower resources, if political parties reach common understanding.
Speaking on the same occasion, CPN UML leader K P Sharma Oli stressed that both nations should work for the welfare of the other instead of acting otherwise.
Stating that problems in Indo Nepal relationship were gradually minimizing, Oli said that in the days ahead both nations will prosper through each other’s development.
UCPN Maoist leader Ram Karki said that bilateral relationship between the nation has failed to focus on people-to-people relationship and claimed that the relationship could be further strengthened if the lacking was addressed.
He opined that diplomatic relationship at the political level is not only sufficient to address and said the relationship should not be reviewed as per international perspective. He said that Nepal and its neighboring countries, especially China and India will equally benefit from Nepal’s prosperity.
CPN Maoist Vice President C P Gajurel said that his party is not anti-Indian while opining that his party is favor of reviewing existing relationship on the basis of international diplomatic principles and moving ahead for each others’ prosperity.
We are not in favor of protesting against India, we are just in favor of building a mutually beneficial relationship with India on the basis of equality.
Other speakers at the occasion, MJF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav, RPP leader Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani among others stressed on building mutually beneficial relationship.
While concluding the program, Rishi Dhamala said that common understanding between political party leaders at the program will be instrumental in further strengthening bilateral relationship between India and Nepal in the days ahead.