Nepal conveys objection over Shah's statement on expanding footprint

Expressing concern over the objectionable remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on plans to expand BJP in Nepal, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Tuesday, in response to tweet declining Deb’s comment, conveyed a formal objection, writes ETV Bharat's senior correspondent Chandrakala Choudhury.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Nepal, controversial remarks by Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb saying that Union Home Minister Amit Shah plans to expand BJP footprint in neighbouring countries including Nepal, has triggered yet another protest by the Himalayan nation with India.

Expressing concern over the objectionable remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on plans to expand BJP in Nepal, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Tuesday, in response to tweet declining Deb’s comment, conveyed a formal objection. “Noted. The formal objection has been conveyed”, the minister tweeted.

Nepal conveys objection over Shah's statement on expanding footprint

During a recent party meeting, Tripura’s Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah desires to expand footprint in neighboring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Minister Deb claimed that Amit Shah at a party meets during his visit to Tripura said that he had plans to expand BJP in neighboring countries, other than winning seats in most of the states in India.

Deb said, “We were talking in the state guest house when Ajay Jamwal (North-East Zonal Secretary of BJP) said that BJP has formed its government in several states of India, and in reply Shah said. “Now Sri Lanka and Nepal are left. We have to win there as well.”

This has sparked controversy and according to Kathmandu Post, Nepali Ambassador to India Nilamber Acharya had a telephonic call with Arindam Bagchi, Joint Secretary in charge of Nepal and Bhutan at Ministry of External Affairs, to express displeasure at the statement a seek clarification.

Former ambassador Jitendra Tripathi said, “My take on this is that any party can announce that they are going to have a footprint in any other state or country, but it is just wishful thinking. The ground reality is that, whether that particular country or its people will accept the foreign party (BJP ) to operate because for Nepal, BJP will be a foreign party. So it all depends solely on Nepali people to decide.”

“The remark by Amit Shah is very immature, secondly even if this immature comment had been made by the Home Minister, the Nepali government should have said that it is up to the party and the constitution whether they will allow the foreign-based party to expand its footprint. So from both side, it has been overreacted”, the ambassador points out.

In the context of the present political crisis in Nepal, Tripathi underlines that this move is immature because it is just ‘adding fuel to the fire’. It is ‘uncalled for’ and the announcement made by Amit Shah on expanding BJP in Nepal, should not have been done in the very first place.

According to reports, it is learnt that the Indian side has assured that they will clarify the matter during the regular virtual media briefing to be held on Thursday.

It is been months now that the Himalayan nation has been reeling under huge political turmoil after Oli, in a surprise move dissolved the Parliament.

Prime Minister Oli had decided to dissolve the Parliament on December 20 last year, calling for fresh elections for April and May this year. This step was approved by President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

This move by Oli has dragged the Himalayan nation towards political instability and it can be viewed that the future of Nepal’s democracy is at high stake.

India had described Oli’s sudden move to dissolve the Parliament and call for fresh elections as an ‘internal matter’ that is for the country to decide as per its democratic process.