Send back Indian envoy: Two Nepal lawmakers demand in Parliament

Kathmandu: Blaming India for the over 100-day blockade of the key border trade points and interfering in Nepal's internal affairs, two Leftist lawmakers on Tuesday obstructed Parliament session demanding that Indian envoy should be sent back.

The parliamentarians -- Prem Suwal and Anuradha Thapa Magar -- from Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP) raised slogans against ambassador Ranjit Rae, demanding that he should be sent back to India and the blockade of trade points be immediately lifted.

"Who is India to interfere in Nepal's Constitution? No one can disintegrate the nation. Send the Indian ambassador back to India," the lawmakers said.

Accusing India of interfering in Nepal's sovereignty, they asked the Nepalese government to take the decision immediately "as the nation is in critical juncture owing to the blockade and intervention by the southern neighbour".

They also held protest against the alleged shooting of four Nepalese civilians by India's Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel.

"The envoy lied when personnel of Seema Surakshya Bal opened fire at Nepalis in Sunsari, tried to assure foreign diplomats that India has not imposed any sort of blockade," Suwal was quoted as saying by local media.

"We have demanded to send him back against India's atrocity over an independent and sovereign nation," Seuwal said.

The House was later adjourned till December 6 after members of Madhes-based political parties agitating against the new Constitution also raised slogans, demanding that their demands be addressed.

The Madhesi lawmakers started chanting slogans and picketed the rostrum shortly after Speaker Onsari Gharti allowed Nepali Congress lawmaker Farmullah Mansoor to speak during the session.

Relations between India an Nepal have nosedived in recent months as Indian-origin Madhesis protesting against the new Constitution have blocked key border trade points with India, causing severe shortages of fuel and other essentials in the country.

India maintains that it has imposed no such blockade, and the restrictions are a result of security concerns as Madhesis are protesting the new Constitution in the Terai region of Nepal bordering India.

Meanwhile, ruling CPN-UML and main opposition Nepali Congress have held separate intra-party consultations to address the demands of agitating Joint Democratic Madhesi Front this evening.

The Nepali Congress central office bearers meeting was convened at party President Sushil Koirala's residence in Maharajgunj while top leaders of CPN-UML held discussion at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar.

Both the parties are preparing to sit for a joint meeting upon completion of their internal discussions.

The Madhesi front has demanded a common opinion from NC, UML and UCPN (Maoist) regarding their demands before they could sit for dialogue with the major parties to resolve the issue tomorrow.