 "After protests over Constitution, Nepal now hit by a fuel crisis")
Even as allegations flew, some Indian trucks carrying food and fuel on Wednesday trickled into Nepal, grappling with protests against its new constitution.
On Monday, Nepal had said it was facing an emergency situation due to a scarcity of fuels. The general view was that India was imposing an “unofficial economic blockade” to pressure Nepal into tweaking its newly adopted Constitution. Nepal Oil Corp said Indian Customs and Indian Oil Corp were not allowing a majority of trucks to enter Nepal.
India responded on Thursday, rejecting the “blockade” allegation as “totally false” and said it was Nepal’s responsibility to facilitate safe entry of trucks. “We can only take goods up to the border. Some 4,310 trucks are waiting at the borders but cannot proceed due to security issues,” Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the Indian external affairs ministry, was quoted as saying by PTI.
In an indication of the scale of the crisis, Nepal has had to enforce stringent vehicle curbs. On Friday (Asoj 15, 2072, by the Bikram Sambat calendar; an odd date), only the vehicles with odd number plates, such as 1233 and 1327, were allowed to ply on roads. But on Saturday (Asoj 16), these vehicles will stay home and those with even numbers will be allowed.
Nepal’s mountainous terrain on its north means it has fewer trading routes from China than from India, with which it shares borders on three sides. Also, the earthquake in April disrupted the few available crossings with China.
So, the land-locked country at present is more dependent on India for supply of goods. The crisis has been exacerbated by a disturbed passage of vehicles along most borders, causing a negative feeling among Nepalis. “India is doing this to bully us and help the Madhesis,” said a Kathmandu-based businessman.
Madhesis are immigrants living in Nepal’s Terai region, which constitutes a fifth of the country’s landmass but accounts for over half its population.
However, the view seems to be divided. Some Nepalis in border areas whom India is alleged to be favouring don’t see India pressuring Nepal. “I don’t know if there is any official or unofficial blockade. Trucks are coming; there are long queues at the border. The problem is on our side because of violence in areas like Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bhairhawa,” said a Birgunj-based trader involved in import of goods. “On Wednesday, there was easing in Bhairhawa; 100 trucks came in. That should improve the situation.”
Protests and the present crisis
On September 20, Nepal adopted a fully secular and democratic Constitution, after seven years of deliberations, despite protests by Madhesis, who claimed to have been discriminated against. The unrest that started a few days earlier has claimed at least 50 lives in as many days. Article 283 on citizenship in the country of 28 million says only the citizens by descent can hold constitutional posts like those of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Chief Ministers. The Madhesis mostly hold acquired or naturalised citizenships.
According to critics, some clauses also discriminate against the women who marry foreigners; their children are denied equal access to citizenship.
Who’s to blame?
Asked who was to blame for the crisis, a Terai-based industrialist told Business Standard: “Both sides are equally responsible. I don’t think the Madhesis have got a raw deal. And the government has done little to handle the issue tactfully.”
“But the situation at present is clearly beyond who is to blame,” said Dhiraj Agrawal, a Birgunj-based businessman. “What matters is that Nepal is suffering.”
On Monday, Nepal had said it was facing an emergency situation due to a scarcity of fuels. The general view was that India was imposing an “unofficial economic blockade” to pressure Nepal into tweaking its newly adopted Constitution. Nepal Oil Corp said Indian Customs and Indian Oil Corp were not allowing a majority of trucks to enter Nepal.
India responded on Thursday, rejecting the “blockade” allegation as “totally false” and said it was Nepal’s responsibility to facilitate safe entry of trucks. “We can only take goods up to the border. Some 4,310 trucks are waiting at the borders but cannot proceed due to security issues,” Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the Indian external affairs ministry, was quoted as saying by PTI.
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India’s role into its neighbour’s internal affairs has often been criticised. At present, whether or not it is exerting pressure on Nepal is a subject of debate. But there is no denying that Nepal is suffering because of a fuel shortage.
In an indication of the scale of the crisis, Nepal has had to enforce stringent vehicle curbs. On Friday (Asoj 15, 2072, by the Bikram Sambat calendar; an odd date), only the vehicles with odd number plates, such as 1233 and 1327, were allowed to ply on roads. But on Saturday (Asoj 16), these vehicles will stay home and those with even numbers will be allowed.
Nepal’s mountainous terrain on its north means it has fewer trading routes from China than from India, with which it shares borders on three sides. Also, the earthquake in April disrupted the few available crossings with China.
So, the land-locked country at present is more dependent on India for supply of goods. The crisis has been exacerbated by a disturbed passage of vehicles along most borders, causing a negative feeling among Nepalis. “India is doing this to bully us and help the Madhesis,” said a Kathmandu-based businessman.
Madhesis are immigrants living in Nepal’s Terai region, which constitutes a fifth of the country’s landmass but accounts for over half its population.
However, the view seems to be divided. Some Nepalis in border areas whom India is alleged to be favouring don’t see India pressuring Nepal. “I don’t know if there is any official or unofficial blockade. Trucks are coming; there are long queues at the border. The problem is on our side because of violence in areas like Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bhairhawa,” said a Birgunj-based trader involved in import of goods. “On Wednesday, there was easing in Bhairhawa; 100 trucks came in. That should improve the situation.”
Protests and the present crisis
On September 20, Nepal adopted a fully secular and democratic Constitution, after seven years of deliberations, despite protests by Madhesis, who claimed to have been discriminated against. The unrest that started a few days earlier has claimed at least 50 lives in as many days. Article 283 on citizenship in the country of 28 million says only the citizens by descent can hold constitutional posts like those of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Chief Ministers. The Madhesis mostly hold acquired or naturalised citizenships.
According to critics, some clauses also discriminate against the women who marry foreigners; their children are denied equal access to citizenship.
Who’s to blame?
Asked who was to blame for the crisis, a Terai-based industrialist told Business Standard: “Both sides are equally responsible. I don’t think the Madhesis have got a raw deal. And the government has done little to handle the issue tactfully.”
“But the situation at present is clearly beyond who is to blame,” said Dhiraj Agrawal, a Birgunj-based businessman. “What matters is that Nepal is suffering.”