Kathmandu: Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai
today protested against a 19th century treaty between Nepal
and India, describing it as an unequal pact, even as 16 people
were arrested for demonstrating outside the Indian embassy
here in protest of the agreement signed in 1816.
CPN-Maoist vice chairman Bhattarai said the Sugauli
treaty signed between Nepal and the British-India government
was a blow to Nepalese nationalism.
"It was a treacherous treaty imposed upon Nepalese people
by the foreign powers which is also unequal," Bhattarai said
at a symposium on the 194th anniversary of the signing of the
treaty.
Nepal had signed the treaty with East India Company
government on December 2, 1816 after she lost Nalapani war to
British India government. Under the treaty parts of Nepal`s
territory were merged into British India.
Meanwhile, 16 people protesting outside the Indian
embassy were arrested, after they blocked the gate and shouted
slogans demanding the repeal of the Sugauli treaty.
A group of protestors led by United Nepal National Front
had staged the demonstration and the protestors also tried
trying to hand over a memorandum to the Indian Embassy.
UNNF President Fanindra Nepal, who led the protests and
over a dozen other people were detained by the police.
PTI
