Nepal PM pledges inclusive talks on new constitution

Nepal’s new prime minister said yesterday during a visit to New Delhi he was trying to “bring everyone on board” with a divisive new national constitution that has caused tensions with his country’s closest ally India.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said his government wanted the constitution to work for all sections of Nepali society, after months of deadly protests last year by the Madhesi minority over fears it would leave them politically marginalised.
“You are aware that my government has made serious efforts to bring everyone on board as we enter the phase of implementation of the constitution in the interest of all segments of Nepalese society,” Prachanda said after talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Nepal’s previous administration had accused India of imposing an “unofficial blockade” on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural, linguistic and family links with Indians across the border.
But Prachanda’s trip to New Delhi – his first foreign visit since taking office – is seen as an attempt to heal ties with India.
Landlocked Nepal depends heavily on its southern neighbour for fuel and also needs
access to India’s ports for trade.
Modi said Nepal should “successfully implement the constitution through inclusive dialogue, accommodating the aspirations of all sections of a diverse society.”
Nepal began work on a new constitution after a decade-long civil war ended in 2006.
MPs finally agreed on the charter’s terms last year, spurred by the April 2015
earthquake.
It was the first to be drawn up by elected representatives and was meant to bolster the country’s transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability.
Instead it caused deep resentment among the Madhesis that has yet to be fully resolved.
Parliament in January amended the constitution to increase Madhesis’ presence in government bodies, but they say the amendments do not address their main demands.
India yesterday extended a fresh $750mn credit line to Nepal for post-earthquake
reconstruction.
This was among three agreements signed following delegation-level talks chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart, Puhspa Kamal Dahal Prachanda in New Delhi.
“Fresh impetus to Nepal’s development. Leaders witness signing of agreements on roads and reconstruction projects,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
The $750mn credit line is over and above the $1bn aid that India announced following the devastating earthquake in the Himalayan nation last April that claimed over 8,000 lives.
The two sides also signed a memorandum of agreement (MoU) for project management consultancy services for upgrading and improving the road infrastructure in Nepal’s Terai area.
Another agreement was signed on the first amendatory dollar credit line for post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal.
Prachanda arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on four-day visit to India after a new Maoist-led government assumed power last month.
Earlier yesterday, Prachanda was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Ahead of his talks with Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.