How India's onion crunch is hampering bilateral ties with neighbours, Gulf

Nepalese bhattis (as their dhabas are called) now have a specially curated 'Modi menu' that has (mostly) onion-free vegetables

The onion saga
 
India’s onion shortage is affecting its bilateral relations — and not just with neighbours but even distant friends such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). New Delhi banned all export of onions from September 29. This has gradually led to an acute shortage of the vegetable all across south Asia and the middle east. Everyone buys — and likes — Indian onions. In Nepal, where Indian onions dominate the market, the export ban has signalled a geostrategic shift: Nepal is now buying onions from China, something the Communist Party of Nepal leader and Prime Minister KP