As Nepal reels under severe shortage of medicines and other essential goods due to blockade of key trade points, India today said it was ready to facilitate rerouting of vehicles carrying drugs to the landlocked country and even airlifting medical supplies.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup reiterated that there has been "no blockade" by India and the problem was political in nature which has to be resolved by the Nepalese leadership through dialogue.
He said India has conveyed to Nepal that it was "ready to facilitate rerouting of vehicles carrying medicines. We are also ready to facilitate airlift. Nepalese importers of medicines are also advised to use those border crossings where there is no protest and disruptions in supply".
Nepal is facing acute shortage of fuel, medicine and other essential supplies due to the blockade amid protests by Indian-origin Madhesi people who are opposed to splitting the country into seven provinces in the new Constitution.
Hospitals in the country have run out of medicines and they are facing acute shortage of other essential medical supplies.
"There has been no blockade by India, whatsoever. This question should really be put to Government of Nepal and not to the government of India. There is no blockade by India and I want to repeat it for umpteen times.
"Issues facing Nepal are political in nature. They are internal to Nepal and Nepalese leadership has to resolve them through dialogue with the agitating parties," he said replying to a question on the blockade along the Terai region bordering India.
He hoped that addressing concerns of the protesters will help in restoring peace in the affected areas.
"If the political challenges facing Nepal are addressed, we can hope it would assuage the concerns of the protesters leading to peace and normalcy in the affected areas of the Terai including the border crossings currently occupied by Nepalese protesters," said Swarup.
The MEA Spokesperson said the shortages in Nepal were due to the blockade of major border crossing points of Birgunj-Raxaul border trading point which handles two-thirds of trade between the two countries.
Till last evening, nearly 6,000 trucks are waiting to cross into Nepal at various border crossings including 4,700 at Raxaul, he said adding out of the 10 border points, capable of handling commercial cargo, seven including Sunauli and Panitanki have been operational
"I can confirm to you that between 400 and 800 cargo trucks have been passing daily over the last four days through the India Nepal border. Petrol and lubricants supplies continue to move to the extent possible," he said.
Nepal has bee accusing India of imposing the blockade. India has been firmly denying having any role in imposing the blockade, saying truck drivers are concerned for their safety after violent protests against Nepal's new Constitution in which over 40 people were killed.
