Sunsari, November29

Minister for Home Affairs Shakti Basnet today said that the ongoing Tarai agitation was against the country’s interests.

Speaking to mediapersons after attending an eastern regional security meeting today in Sunsari, Basnet said the government was committed to restore law and order in the Tarai districts by strictly implementing the law.

“We are all set to operate vehicles along the highways during daytime despite the demonstration in the plains. We would like to ensure security for all,” he claimed.

He argued that the government would confidently confront the adverse situation caused by the blockade at the border. He said, “We won’t surrender and we won’t ink any anti-nationalist agreement.”

Basnet said that the voice against the firing by India’s Seema Surakshya Bal on Nepali territory would be raised in the international forum. “We can’t tolerate such incidents any more. Hence, the government is preparing to draw serious attention of the international community,” he claimed. He said nobody who acts against the country will ever find relief.

Secretary at the Ministry of home affairs Narayan Malego, Inspector General of Nepal Police Upendra Kanta Aryal, APF Inspector General Kosh Raj Onta, eastern regional administrator Rajendra Prasad Nepal, eastern battalion chief Major General Hari Bahadur Basnet, eastern regional DIG Madhav Raj Joshi and APF DIG Nirakar Bikram Shah, among others were present at the meeting.

However, mediapersons were not allowed in. According to sources, the stakeholders discussed strengthening security along the highways, besides curbing criminal activities.

Chief District Officers of five eastern districts Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari and Siraha briefed Basnet about the security situation in their districts.