LONDON: Relations between Nepal and India sunk to the lowest abbe, following the Indian blockage of all but two roads from India to the Himalayan kingdom on March 23 (WSN March 31).
A Royal Nepalese Embassy press release here accused India of adopting a “arrogant selfish and bulling attitude towards its small neighbor.”
Nepal has being facing shortages of petroleum products which are rationed as well as other essential food products. The capital,
Katmandu was rocked by anti-government and anti-Indian demonstrations on April 3rd and 4th.
In an interview Nepalese foreign minister Shilendra Kumar Upadhyaya said his country wanted to end its special relationship with India which had become one of economic dependence.
“It is in our interest to let independence grow, to see that our dependence on one country does not grow” he said referring to ties with India.
Relations between Nepalese King Birendra and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi are frosty.
Nepalse home minister recently said it will have a fresh food at the issue of citizenship of 6.48 million Nepalese of Indian origin living there.
India criticized the statement and said it would retaliate against the 5 million Nepalese in India. It also said it would not allow Nepalese citizens to purchase properties in India.
India’s growing military might and its expansionist overtures have been a cause of concern to its neighbors.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1989
