Kathmandu: Nepal’s CPN-UML party said on Thursday that the Himalayan nation surrounded by land on all sides can achieve economic prosperity only by maintaining close friendly relations with India. The CPN-UML party said that no activity against India will be allowed from Nepali soil. This comment of a senior leader of the party led by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli came on the eve of the trust vote in Parliament. It is believed that after the trust vote, Oli can once again become the Prime Minister of the politically unstable country.
Want to take Nepal-India relations to new heights
Foreign Affairs Department chief and CPN-UML Standing Committee member Dr Rajan Bhattarai told PTI-Bhasha in an interview, “CPN-UML does not believe that Nepal can progress or the interests of the Nepali people can be promoted by adopting an anti-India policy.” He said that party president Oli wants to take Nepal-India relations to new heights in accordance with the needs of the 21st century.
We can find a solution through dialogue
Bhattarai said, “We believe that we can attract more foreign investment, promote trade and achieve economic prosperity only by maintaining close friendly relations with India.” He said, “We consider India an important neighbor and we will not allow any activity against India from our soil.” He said, “Our party has a clear view of not allowing any activity against another neighbor by taking the side of one neighbor.” He said, “We can solve all our problems by sitting together and talking in a friendly manner.”
It will be interesting to see
In the year 2020, relations between the two countries became tense after Kathmandu published a new political map. This map showed three Indian territories – Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh – as part of Nepal. The then Prime Minister Oli had tried to use this issue to stop the growing domestic pressure and save his leadership from challenge. Oli is known for his pro-China stance and it will be interesting to see how he maintains equal relations with the two neighbours if he becomes the prime minister after ousting Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” following a floor test in the House on Friday.
