Nepal PM asks India to remove blockade

Invoking the Panchsheel principles, Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli Sunday called on India to “immediately lift the undeclared blockade” imposed on Nepal that would help boost bilateral ties amid the recent political crisis over the country’s new Constitution.

“Nepal wants to maintain relations with its neighbours on the basis of the principles of Panchsheel, Mr Oli said.

The Panchsheel doctrine is a set of principles to govern relations between states. Their first formal codification in treaty form was an agreement between China and India in 1954.

Mr Oli also asked neighbouring countries “to honour Nepal’s territorial integrity, national sovereignty and independence”.

Addressing the nation for the first time after assuming office last month, Mr Oli said Nepal’s new Constitution was excellent in terms of process and content.

“The ongoing blockade is worse than the war-time situation,” he said asking India to swiftly lift the blockade. Hospitals have run out of medicines and blood bags for emergency.