No blockade imposed by India on Nepal, clarifies MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday clarified that India has not imposed any blockade on supplies to Nepal and referred the crisis in the neighbouring country as 'political' in nature.

"This kind of question has come repeatedly in my press briefings. Is India imposing some kind of blockade on Nepal? We have clarified repeatedly that there has been no blockade by India whatsoever. In fact, this question should be put to the government of Nepal and not to the Government of India. There is no blockade by India, I want to say again," MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said while addressing the media here.

"The issues which Nepal is facing are political in nature. They are internal to Nepal and the Nepalese leadership has to resolve them through dialogue with the agitating parties," he added.

Swarup also said that the supply situation in Nepal can only improve if political challenges are addressed.

"If the political challenges faced by Nepal are addressed, we can hope it would assuage the concerns which the protesters have, leading to return of peace and normalcy in the affected areas of Terai and border crossings currently occupied by protesters, thereby improve the supply situation in the country," he said.

Nepal crisis began in September 2015, which is considered an economic and humanitarian crisis which has severely affected Nepal and its economy.

The government of Nepal has accused India of imposing an undeclared blockade. India has however, denied the allegations, stating the supply shortages have been imposed by Madheshi protesters within Nepal, and India has no role in it.