India concerned over Nepal's lack of political progress

New Delhi/Geneva: India has expressed concern over the lack of political progress in Nepal but promised to continue to extend all assistance to the Himalayan nation for its peace, stability and socio-economic development.

India made the statement at the second Universal Periodic Review (UPR), part of the Interactive Dialogue at the 23rd Session of the UPR Working Group at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva on Wednesday.

Welcoming the delegation from Nepal led by Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, India in its statement said the people of the South Asian nation, after having endured a devastating earthquake in April this year, were facing another tough challenge during the ongoing political transition.

"Violence and instability in parts of Nepal has worsened in the run-up to and after the adoption of Nepal's constitution in September 2015," the Indian statement said.

"Over 45 persons died, mostly civilians, and hundreds injured. Firings, which ceased just after the adoption of the constitution (of Nepal), have reoccurred. We are concerned over the lack of political progress."

The UPR is a unique mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) aimed at improving the human rights situation on the ground of each of the 193 UN member states.

Under this mechanism, the human rights situation of all UN member states is reviewed every four-and-half-years. Forty two states are reviewed each year during three Working Group sessions dedicated to 14 states each. These three sessions are usually held in January-February, May-June and October-November.

"We note the concerns expressed by UN human rights bodies, UN country team and Nepal's own human rights commission over continuing incidents of violence, extra-judicial killings and ethnic discrimination in the country," the Indian statement said.

"We urge the government of Nepal to investigate and take credible measures to prevent their recurrence. Problems facing Nepal are political in nature and cannot be resolved through force or a security-based approach.

India said, as a close and friendly neighbour, it has consistently appealed to the Nepal government to address all challenges in a spirit of dialogue and reconciliation.

Referring to Thapa's statement that Nepal was currently at a very delicate situation resulting from the obstruction of essential supplies at the border points with India, New Delhi stated: "Obstruction referred in the honourable minister's statement is on Nepalese side caused by Nepalese protesters."

The Indian statement said, "with deep rooted historic and cultural ties, will continue to extend all assistance to Nepal for peace, stability and socio-economic development of the country".