As students protest in Kathmandu against the Oli government demanding an end to corruption and slamming its “inefficiency” in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, India has sent across a strong message that the onus is on the Nepal government to create a “positive and conducive atmosphere” for talks to resolve the border row over the Kalapani-Lipulekh region, official sources said on Monday.
They said the release of the new map by the Oli government was an attempt to politicise the boundary issue with India and the move reflected that Kathmandu was not serious in resolving the decades-old issue through dialogue.
“The Nepalese side didn’t respond to the Indian offer of a dialogue between the foreign secretaries of the two countries… The onus is now on them to create a positive and conducive atmosphere for talks,” sources added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of protesting students highlighted corruption of the Oli government and demanded strong action in such cases. They accused the government of lacking efficiency in dealing with the situation created by coronavirus and said there was “lack of support and initiatives” to local businesses who had suffered badly and were reeling under the impact of the Covid-19.
The youth also said that the government had not taken any measures to tackle unemployment and dignity of common man was falling. About 500 students took part in the protest at Baneshwor in Kathmandu. Various groups of youngsters have continued to demonstrate in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal demanding that the government be more accountable about measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are also demanding dignity and relief measures for dailywage workers, returnee migrants, the poor and marginalized communities and a commitment to transparency and accountability by sharing all Covid-management details including budget allocation and expenditure. They are asking the government to be more transparent in expenses incurred in attempts to control the pandemic.
With agency inputs
