BEIJING – Indian Foreign Policy gets yet another blow as after Bangladeshnow Nepal has also unveiled its pro China agenda.
Nepal’s new Prime Minister K P Oli has said he wants to deepen ties withChina to explore more options.
Oli, widely regarded as pro-China, also said he wants to “update” relationswith India “in keeping with the times” and favours a review of all specialprovisions of the Indo-Nepal relations, including the long-establishedpractice of Nepalese soldiers serving India’s armed forces.
“We have great connectivity with India and an open border. All that’s fineand we’ll increase connectivity even further, but we can’t forget that wehave two neighbours. We don’t want to depend on one country or have oneoption,” he told Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post in an interview.
About how he plans to work out relations with India, Oli said, “we’vealways had excellent relations with India. There were some elements in theIndian establishment that caused some misunderstanding, but Indian leadershave assured us that there will be no interference in the future and wewill respect each other’s sovereign rights”.
Oli, 65, who had also served as the country’s prime minister from October11, 2015 to August 3, 2016, was forced to resign following the politicalcrisis in the Himalayan nation over the Madhesi issue.
Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin had been demanding amendment of the newConstitution to address their concerns over representation in Parliament.
Before Oli’s inauguration as the prime minister for the second time,External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had visited Nepal and met him and other Leftleaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Oli.
About Nepalese serving in the Indian Army, Oli said, “This should beinternally and mutually discussed and corrected, if necessary. We live in anew world, and Nepal is starting a new journey, we have to update whateveris considered outdated and bring it in line with the modern era.”
Oli also said he would revive the China-backed USD 2.5 billion hydropowerproject which was scrapped by the previous government.