Nepal PM links India visit to end of blockade

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Oli on Tuesday said it would not be appropriate to visit India until the “border blockade” ends, linking his maiden foreign trip next month to the normalisation of situation at the border.

“It would not be appropriate for me to visit India unless the situation returns to normal,” Mr Oli told a select group of journalists at his office here when asked whether he will visit India if the current “border blockade” continues. Mr Oli alleged that India had imposed an “unofficial border blockade” and said that the country will soon lift it.

The Prime Minister said the government is keeping a close eye on separatist movements in Terai. Mr Oli is expected to travel to New Delhi early next month on his first foreign visit as Prime Minister.

Earlier, there had also been speculation that the Communist leader could visit China ahead of India.

During his telephonic conversation with Mr Oli a couple of months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited him to visit India at an appropriate time.

No Nepalese Prime Minister has visited India after Prime Minister Modi’s two trips to Nepal last year.

The Nepal government has alleged that the “border embargo” had been imposed by the Indian government, a claim which India has denied.