An Indian Army team led by its Chief, General Dalbir Singh, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter’s official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu on Saturday.

Welcoming him (the Indian Army Chief Singh), he (PM Dahal) mentioned that Nepal-India relations had improved by a series of events like his (Dahal’s) India visit, participation during BRICS-BIMTEC Outreach Summit held in Goa and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s recent visit to Nepal.

PM Dahal’s assertion is his personal view and it does not necessarily reflect the views held by many Nepalese, specifically after India declared an unofficial economic blockade since Nepal adopted her new constitution on September 20, 2015.

The exchanges of high level visits from both the sides may have helped thaw the frosty relations that surfaced last year. But most Nepalese still think that the undeclared blockade was an uncalled move from its closest neighbour.

Pranab Mukherjee’s recent state-visit to Nepal has however helped cement the age-old ties between the two countries.

This visit can be taken as a measure taken by the Indian establishment to repair the relations that became sour following the promulgation of the new constitution in Nepal for which India has lodged her reservation.

As close neighbours, Nepal and India share many things, including language, culture, religion and an open border, which are the basic foundation of bilateral relations.

Whatever misunderstanding there may be between the two countries they should be settled diplomatically, not through any other coercive means like what happened last year.

Pragya Ananda, Kathmandu

Federalism

According to Hisila Yami, a leader of the Naya Shakti Nepal, efforts have been made to make Nepal a monolithic country: one religion, one language and one culture.

People talk about the richness of the country in terms of resources and diverse language, culture, religion and creeds.

The Nepali people fought the Rana regime, Panchayet rule and in the later part of the movement, against the unitary system in the second Jana Andolan that heralded the federal republican set up.

Prior to the elections of the first Constituent Assembly, political parties and their leaders had promises Nepal would become a “Ram-Rajya” (an ideal nation to live in) as peace would be restored and the country would march towards prosperity under the new federal republican constitution that would guarantee rights of all citizens.

After the birth of the new constitution on September 20, 2015 the same leaders are spreading rumors that the federal structure will guarantee full democracy and usher in development process once the new constitution comes into force.

Karuna Ratna Yami, Kathmandu