India-Nepal should be based on trust, says Nepal Foreign Affairs Minister

Nepal Foreign Affairs Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat on Thursday said that they only want relation based on "trust" with India.

"We just want to have relationship based on trust. There is no shopping list. There are several areas of co-operation between the two countries. We have several projects. We only want to see results on the ground," Mahat told ANI.

He further said that they want to sort out issues diplomatically and not by having debate in public.

Commenting on the Constitution of Nepal, Mahat accepted there are certain issues and dissatisfaction, which need to be resolved, but added that it was their internal matter and would be resolved internally.

"As far as Constitution of Nepal is concerned, it is very inclusive constitution. But there is always scope for improvement. There are some grievances, there is some dissatisfaction. Internally we are capable of reaching to a conclusion and provide satisfaction to all sections of Nepal," he said.

Earlier today, maintaining that India has never been prescriptive in the Constitution making process of Nepal, Ministry of External (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the Constitution making process is an internal matter of Kathmandu, adding it is for their people to discuss what is in their best interest.

Swarup made the statement during a press briefing on being asked if India will raise the issue of Madhes representation in Nepal's Constitution during discussions with visiting Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

"As far as the constitution making process that you have said, this is an internal matter of Nepal. We have never been prescriptive in this regard. It is for the people of Nepal to discuss what is in their best interest," Swarup said.

Swarup said that primarily reason for Dahal's visit is for India to meet and greet him and to understand from him firsthand what are the priorities of the new Nepal government in terms of development and reconstruction.

He pointed out that India has already offered Nepal considerable assistance of one billion dollars in earthquake assistance of which very little has been utilized.