India forced to change its policy: Nepal PM

India was forced to change its policy towards Nepal under international criticism of a crippling blockade led by Madhesis due to which their months-long violent agitation fizzled out and lost relevance, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has said.

Presenting a 12-page political document during the ongoing CPN-UML party politburo meeting, party chairman Mr Oli said that India changed its policy of supporting the Madhesi movement following international criticism during the “unofficial” blockade imposed by it on Nepal resulting in disruption of supplies of essential goods.

The international community was critical of India’s approach to Nepal and exerted pressure on it, Oli said in his document.

“India, then, changed its policy as it could not sustain backing the Madhesis further,” he said.

The Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin, launched a violent agitation in September last year when the new Constitution was announced, saying the statute failed to address their concerns.

The Madhesi parties had led the six months-long agitation, mainly to protest against the seven-province federal model enshrined in the Constitution.

Nearly 60 people lost their lives during the agitation that also disrupted the supplies of petroleum products and cooking gas among other essentials to Nepal, leading to severe hardships to the people.

The major political parties had amended some provisions of the Constitution to address the demands of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front.