Problems between Nepal and India can be solved through dialogues: PM Oli

Kathmandu, Sept. 7

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the problems between Nepal and India can be solved easily if dialogue is held with a broad, tolerant and fair mindset.

“There are a few problems – not many – between Nepal and India,” he said releasing a book of former administrator Surya Nath Upadhyay's 'International Waterflow Law: Approach to Nepal-India Cooperation' organised by Jalshrot Bikas Sanstha on Saturday at the Prime Minister's Residence in Baluwatar. “The effort is to solve the remaining problems between the two neighbours.”

He said he had proposed for a group of eminent persons which was agreed between the prime ministers of the two countries.

"The chance to submit the EPG (Eminent Persons Group) report has not yet come up. The Nepali side is always ready to accept the report and now I feel that time has come for Indian side too to accept it. It will be easy to discuss the issues between the two countries after that," said Prime Minister Oli said.

"India is a neighbour and friend with long cultural ties. We should talk openly with our neighbours. You can't blame geopolitics for not being able to express the issues openly in a fair manner. We must not do anything, shut our mouths or shake our heads to gain and maintain power,” he added.

Arguing that the term geopolitics should not be used to cover up any selfish actions or to show cowardice, Prime Minister Oli maintained that it is not Nepali culture to stay in a foreign country and make negative comments about the head of the state.

"In the past, foreign relations were based on the might of a nation and those who would exhibit might would prevail. But after the Second World War, any country should present its national interests logically and justly, according to many international treaties and agreements. When working on common resources, one should not work unilaterally. It should be done based on agreement and discussion of both parties," PM Oli said.

Stating that the government is putting its effort to maintain good governance by keeping the country and people at the centre, he said that there should not be chaos in the name of democracy.

Stating that Upadhyaya has made an intellectual contribution by preparing a book based on the principles of the United Nations and the study of practices in different countries, Prime Minister Oli said that just nationalism with international recognition has been revealed in the book and further debates can be made based on this.

While reviewing the book, constitutional scholar, Dr. Bipin Adhikari, emphasised that Nepal should be able to hold dialogues with the neighbouring countries in order to use the water resources judiciously.

Upadhyaya is former Chief Commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), former secretary of Water Resources, and held many positions in other organisations including Nepal Arbitration Council. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 September 2024.