‘India is still sceptical about Nepal Constitution’

India remains “sceptical” about Nepal’s new Constitution, the media here commented on Sunday, a day after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart K.P. Oli in New Delhi.

The news about Mr Oli’s visit to India, his first foreign trip as Premier, was prominently reported by the Nepalese media which however noted that India is still sceptical about the implementation of the new Constitution that led to turbulence in bilateral ties.

India on Saturday conveyed to Nepal that success of its new Constitution will depend on resolution of contentious issues through “consensus and dialogue” in a time-bound manner as Mr Oli and Mr Modi held extensive talks with focus on repairing ties soured in the wake of the agitation by the Madhesis who are mostly of Indian origin.

With a banner headline, “India just extends support (to the Constitution)” Nepali language daily Nagarik said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi terms the new Constitution of Nepal as a significant achievement”.

“India cautiously welcomes the new Constitution, though she had earlier just ‘noticed’ the adoption of the document,” it said.

“The support extended by India to the Nepalese Constitution was just a formality, and India is still sceptical about the implementation of the document,” it said. “Modi government lifted the economic blockade just a few days ago after Prime Minister Oli took the stance that he would not visit India without lifting the blockade,” it said referring to the five-month agitation by the Madhesi community demanding better representation and political rights in the newly-promulgated Constitution.

“The Indian side still doesn’t seem to be satisfied with the new Constitution” the ‘’Annapurna Post said in its frontpage news analysis. “During the joint press conference in New Delhi, Modi has urged Nepal government to address the remaining issues of the Constitution through consensus and dialogue, which clearly shows India’s dissatisfaction over the Constitution,” the daily said.