Misunderstandings in Indo-Nepal ties will be cleared soon: Rae

Misunderstandings in Indo-Nepal relations due to the border blockade resulting from protests by Madhesis will be cleared soon, the Indian envoy here has said while underlining that a peaceful and prosperous Nepal is in India's interest.
India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae, while speaking at a function organised here to observe Guru Nanak's birth anniversary, said all the misunderstandings created in bilateral relations will be cleared soon.
He said that with the arrival of new year, the "problems" in Indo-Nepal relations due to the border blockade resulting from protests by Madheisis will end and the "friendship between the two countries will be further strengthened".

"India always wants to see welfare of Nepalese people, and we want a peaceful and prosperous Nepal which will also be in the interest of India," he said.
The Indo-Nepal relations will be better in the days ahead, he said adding that festivals like Guru Nanak Jayanti will help further strengthen people to people relations between the two countries."
Nepal is facing acute shortage of cooking gas, petroleum products, medicines and other essentials due to the months- long blockade imposed on the southern border of the country as a result of the protests spearheaded by Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin.

Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians, demand demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation.

So far, more than 50 people have died in the agitation.
More than 2,500 people had gathered at a 40-year-old Gurudwara in Kathmandu situated in the bank of Bagmati river.
Guru Nanak's birth anniversary is observed on November 25 every year but it was celebrated with the function today.
Sacrificing for the welfare of society is the main teaching of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, Rae said during the function in Kupandole here.
"During the great earthquake of April and May in Nepal groups from Gurudwaras of Punjab and Haryana came to Nepal to feed langar to the affected people," he said.

Community kitchens or 'langars' were organised at the Gurdwara.
Guru Nanak had visited Kathmandu towards the middle of the 16th century during the reign of Malla King.
Guru Nanak Jayanti also known as Gurpurab and Prakash Utsav marks the birthday of the first Sikh Guru Guru Nanak. It is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism and is celebrated by Hindus also with equal fervour.