India snubs Nepal's rhetoric on truck blockade

Rebuffing Nepal's claim of India blocking the movement of trucks to the Himalayan nation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said there is no question of any kind of blockade, as 733 trucks have gone to Nepal, while 2,500 are waiting to go in provided the political situation in the Himalayan nation becomes more conducive.

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Thursday said, "The problem really is on the Nepalese side of the border. If the blockade from that side is removed and if the protesters end their demonstrations, our truckers are waiting to go inside and deliver the supply that Nepal needs. As and when these disruptions have slightly eased, we have tried to send supplies through."

Of the nine crossing points that are capable of crossing commercial cargo, five-six have been in constantly in use throughout, which dispels any kind of theory that there was blockade, he said.

Divulging detail of the trucks moving in Nepal, he said, "In the 24-hour period, 733 commercial vehicles moved through seven crossing points that are open. However, there are thousands of vehicles waiting at crossing points, particularly at the Raxaul-Birgunj crossing, where hundreds of Nepalese protesters have gathered."

"By 12 noon, 2,500 trucks are still queued up, mainly at Raxaul, where the number is between 1,500-2,000, and Sanauli where number is approximately 750," he added.

Today is the 21st day of the border obstruction and 62nd day of unrest in the Terai region of Nepal. There were demonstrations on Wednesday at several places, including Birgunj, Janakpur, Gaur, Malangawa and Jaleshwar and the protest at the inland container depot in Birgunj that handles inland cargo continues.