Kathmandu, October 30

Taking note of Nepal’s recent deal with China on import of petroleum products, India today expressed doubt whether the agreement would help address the issues of Madhesi parties, who have been protesting at the Raxual-Birgunj checkpoint.

Responding to a query regarding how India had taken the petro-import agreement sealed in Beijing on Wednesday, Spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry of India Vikas Swarup said India was aware of the agreement.

Over 70 per cent of Nepal’s oil import passes through the Raxual-Birgunj route, presently obstructed due to protests by a section of the people of Nepal because of their own reasons,” Swarup said at a press briefing in New Delhi. “Now, it’s a matter of watching how this agreement can help clear the Raxual-Birgunj route,” he added.

Nepal Oil Corporation and Chinese state owned PetroChina, on Wednesday, struck a deal for supply of at least one-third of Nepal’s domestic fuel needs from China.

The MEA spokesperson also said India was ready to help reroute the LPG bullets trapped on the Raxual-Birgunj route via other routes that are in operation.

“We are ready to facilitate rerouting of the LPG bullets from those crossing points that are open as long as the Raxual-Birgunj route remains disrupted,” he added.

He said because of the obstruction, Indian Oil Corporation was able to send only 30 per cent of Nepal’s total fuel demand.

Claiming that the problems seen on the Raxual-Birgunj border was the result of Nepal’s internal political matters, he suggested that Nepal should resolve its internal problem on its own.