Cleared 'existing' misunderstandings with India: Nepal Dy PM

Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa today said he had a "fruitful" discussion with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to end the blockade of border trade points by Indian-origin Madhesis and the talks helped in clearing existing "misunderstandings" between the two nations.
"I held talks with Swaraj and other senior officials in Delhi and the talks were fruitful," Thapa told reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport here after his return from his second visit to India in less than two months.
Thapa, also the chief of pro-Hindu Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, said he held "open and extensive" discussion with Swaraj and other senior government officials during the visit.

He expressed hope that "there will soon be improvement" in the nearly three-month-old protests by Indian-origin Madhesi people in the southern plains and their blockade of border trade points with India.
"I am hopeful that the present condition will improve soon," Thapa said.
Talks with Indian officials helped in "clearing the existing misunderstanding between the two countries," he said.

"The visit has helped in improving relations between the two countries."
The Indian-origin Madhesi people have been protesting as they believe the provisions in the new Constitution is discriminatory to their rights and does not provide enough representation to them.
Thapa said he held talks on bilateral issues, political crisis in Nepal and the problems facing the Nepalese people due to the blockade of Indo-Nepal border trade points and obstructions in supply of fuel and other essential goods.

The protests have led to a huge shortage of essential commodities thereby creating a crisis. Nepal has accused India of imposing an illegal "economic blockade", which India has denied and asked the landlocked country to ensure a broad acceptance of the Constitution by all sections of the society.
This was Thapa's second visit to India after taking over as Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister in October. He had earlier visited New Delhi soon after taking charge.