India condemns Nepal deputy PM's remarks as 'malicious'

Kathmandu: India on Sunday strongly condemned Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister's allegations that it is trying to disintegrate Nepal and annex the Terai region, saying such "baseless and malicious" comments vitiate the age-old historical and familial ties between the two countries.

The Indian Embassy here in a statement reiterated that "India's only objective is peace, stability and prosperity in Nepal. India hopes that internal issues facing the country will be resolved through political dialogue and reconciliation. India will support all efforts in this regard."

Condemning Deputy Prime Minister CP Mainali's statement, it said, "The Embassy strongly condemns such baseless and malicious comments, which divert attention from the real issues facing the country and vitiate the age-old historical, familial and civilisational ties between India and Nepal.

Veteran Communist leader Mainali during a media interaction here yesterday said that the blockade of key border trade points with India which is led by Indian-origin Madhesis was part of "Indian conspiracy to annex the Terai region by disintegrating it from the rest of the country" with the 'one Madhes, one Pradesh' (province) demand.

Mainali, who is also the Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare, claimed that India is executing a plan to disintegrate the Terai region through blockade.

Madhesis, Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region, are protesting division of their ancestral homeland in the new Constitution.

The agitation close to the main trading point near Raxaul has halted supply of essential goods, causing acute shortage of fuel in Nepal.

Over 40 people have died in the violent agitation that has also overwhelmed Indo-Nepal ties as transit of goods and fuel to the Himalayan nation from India via the major border trading points has been badly affected.