Great dream of developing Nepal shattered by blockade: PM Oli

Kathmandu: Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Sunday said his "great dream" of developing the landlocked nation has been shattered by the blockade at the border trade points with India and the devastating April 29 earthquake.

"The massive earthquake and blockade in the Indo-Nepal border has obstructed my great dream of developing the nation," the 63-year-old premier said.

The loss as a result of the incidents was not only physical and economic, but would have a deep social effect as well, which would take a long time to heal, he said while receiving Nepal Academy's annual progress report from academicians at his official residence in Baluwatar.

Physical infrastructure development, capacity building and its linkages to the people would prove significant to transforming the society, said Oli, who is also the chief patron of the academy.

Last month, Oli had said that the blockade of key border points with India is 'more inhuman than a war' as he criticised New Delhi for raking up alleged rights abuse in Nepal at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

"Foodstuff and protection come into priority under the humanitarian aspect even during a war. Neighbouring country has further troubled our country by blocking checkpoints while it is still paralysed by the April 25 devastating earthquake," he had said.

The 7.9-magnitude that jolted Nepal on April 29 caused massive destruction, uprooting trees, demolishing buildings and claiming nearly 9,000 lives.

Nepal had begun to piece together its affected businesses when it was yet again struck by an agitation launched by Indian-origin Madhesis over the new Constitution.

The Madhesis, inhabitants of the Terai region who are demanding a better representation of their community in the Parliament and are against the division of their homeland in the seven-province federal structure, have led a blockade at the border points with India, bringing export and import of several essential goods to a grinding halt.