Concerned over the growing unease in India's ties with Nepal over the issue of that country's Constitution, Congress today made a strong pitch for Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepping in to urgently resolve the problems with the "important" neighbour.
The opposition party also wanted the Modi dispensation to take "urgent steps" to end the "virtual cessation" of dialogue with Pakistan.
Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said while the Prime Minister's visits to other countries are important, the ties with neighbours are more important.
Conceding that ties with Nepal have seen strains reflected "partially on Indian diplomacy", he regretted that the growing unease was being witnessed despite two visits by the Prime Minister himself to the Himalayan nation.
Besides, there have been several visits by the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Secretary to Kathmandu, he said underlining the need to delicately handle the sensitive issue.
Noting that ties with Nepal were "time-tested and steadfast", he wanted the Prime Minister to resolve the situation with finesse and subtleties associated with international relations. He wanted the Modi government to realise that ties with Nepal were of vital stratgic importance for both the countries.
Insisting that Nepal and India have been "extensions of each other", he said it was the duty of government to reach out and resolve the cause of conflict.
He said that the incidents of violence over the last few days in Nepal were very unfortunate. They have led to blockades and blacking out of Indian channels in Nepal.
"Spillover of angst and dissatisfaction over the blockades is good for neither country," Singhvi said.
At the same time, he said that the new Constitution adopted by Nepal has led to concerns amonf Madhesis and Janjatis who are protesting. On the other hand, the government and Nepalis from the valley are interpreting Indian appeals for fair play as interference in its internal affairs.
"We have to unfortunately say that it also reflects a partial failure of what should have been good Indian diplomacy in this regard," Singhvi said.
"It is time that immediate, urgent and comprehensive action was taken in respect of these two time-tested and steadfast friends", he added.
