India's statement in the UN in Geneva on Wednesday in which it raised the issue of human rights violations in Nepal was part of an international process and does not mean bilateral relations between the two South Asian neighbours have been given international dimensions, the government said on Thursday.
"There is no international dimension. What India said at the UPR (Universal Periodic Review) is part of an internationally agreed process, as part of Nepal's membership of the UN, as part of our commitments in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)," Vikas Swarup, spokesman in the external affairs ministry, said in a media briefing.
"Various countries come as part of the UPRs and other countries make their suggestions and recommendations. So, our recommendations to Nepal was part of that particular process," he said.
India made the statement at the second Universal Periodic Review (UPR), part of the Interactive Dialogue at the 23rd Session of the UPR Working Group at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva on Wednesday.
India in its statement said the people of the Himalayan nation, after having endured a devastating earthquake in April this year, were facing another tough challenge during the ongoing political transition.
"Violence and instability in parts of Nepal has worsened in the run-up to and after the adoption of Nepal's constitution in September 2015," the Indian statement said.
"Over 45 people died, mostly civilians, and hundreds injured. Firings, which ceased just after the adoption of the constitution (of Nepal), have reoccurred. We are concerned over the lack of political progress."
The UPR is a unique mechanism of the UNHRC aimed at improving the human rights situation on the ground of each of the 193 UN member states.
Under this mechanism, the human rights situation of all UN member states is reviewed every four-and-half-years. Forty two states are reviewed each year during three Working Group sessions dedicated to 14 states each. These three sessions are usually held in January-February, May-June and October-November.
"We note the concerns expressed by UN human rights bodies, UN country team and Nepal's own human rights commission over continuing incidents of violence, extra-judicial killings and ethnic discrimination in the country," the Indian statement said.
"We urge the government of Nepal to investigate and take credible measures to prevent their recurrence. Problems facing Nepal are political in nature and cannot be resolved through force or a security-based approach."
Nepal's new constitution has evoked strong resentment from the southern Nepali Terai region where the Madhesi political parties as also indigenous groups have launched a violent protest alleging that their interests have been again ignored.
Swarup on Thursday said India made the statement in Geneva in the light of what was happening in Nepal.
In its statement, India also said it has, among other things, recommended to the Nepal government "to ensure effective functioning of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and full implementation of its recommendations, including prosecution of those responsible for violent insurgency".
"We have just said that ensure the effective functioning of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," the spokesman said when asked if India has questioned the commission as well when it was functioning effectively.
"That is the recommendation that we have made, that no point having a commission which is toothless, which does not actually result in truth and reconciliation. That is the only recommendation that we have made there," Swarup stated.
