| rajendra |
Posted
on 02-Jan-01 03:18 PM
Here's the newsitem on the Nepali response.
---
Nepal protests to India over politician's remarks
By Gopal Sharma
KATHMANDU, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Nepal lodged a strong protest with India on Sunday over the remarks of an Indian politician who said New Delhi should have accepted Kathmandu's offer to accede to it in the 1950s.
"Nepal has lodged a strong protest with India through diplomatic channels," Nepal Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters.
Last week, there were anti-Indian riots in Nepal over alleged remarks by Indian movie star Hrithik Roshan that he did not like Nepal or Nepalis. Four people died and scores were injured in three days of violence.
Roshan has denied making anti-Nepali remarks.
Malkani, a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which heads India's federal coalition, told Reuters that he stood by his remarks published on a website on Saturday.
"I stand by what I said. But if I have inadvertently hurt any friends in Nepal, then I am extremely sorry. At this stage, the chapter is closed," Malkani said.
India quickly sought to distance itself from the remarks of Malkani to prevent further damage to already fragile Indo-Nepal ties.
"The remarks reported to have been made by K.R. Malkani do not, in any way, reflect the views of the Government of India. It is important at this juncture we avoid any misunderstanding and misperception...," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman R. S. Jassal told a news conference.
In a statement on Sunday, the BJP disassociated itself from Malkani's comments, saying they were unfortunate and did not reflect the party's views.
There have already been retaliatory protests in India against the anti-Indian violence in Nepal.
On Saturday, demonstrators in the central city of Indore disrupted the screening of a movie that starred Nepal-born star Manisha Koirala. In the hill state of Uttaranchal, right-wing Indian student protests blocked a bridge between India and Nepal for two hours on Saturday.
In his interview on the web site, Malkani said he was very sure that Pakistan had a role in fanning the riots in Nepal. India has said that anti-Indian forces were behind orchestrating the riots, but has not elaborated.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee rang up his Nepali counterpart Girija Prasad Koirala last week, asking him to take firm steps to protect Indian interests in Nepal.
(additional reporting by Kamil Zaheer in NEW DELHI)
|
| Biswo |
Posted
on 02-Jan-01 03:52 PM
Saying that Nepalese nationalism is mainly fueled by Pakistani
assistance is proof of myopic sight of Indian leadership . Any
measure ,from now on, to improve Indo-Nepalese relations should
predicate on the assumption that all Nepalese are fed up with
Indian attitude, the attitude of individuals like Malkani that
has characterised overall Indian face that talks with Nepal.The
drama of repudiating the statements of him is only diplomatic
front!
For us Nepalese,to maintain the national amity and unity at every
juncture is crucial,so that we can beard the aspiration of
bigoted leaders from south.
The force of nationalism cannot be fostered by instigating
communal feeling inside Nepal.Callow nationalism only prejudices
national interest.
Malkani is not problem for us,as I never heard his name before.
For us,BJP or Congress are not problem, the problem is what
they are doing to us.Their unfair tactics had already cost us
a lot in natural resources treaties.
|
