Kathmandu against Delhi: End embargo
by Christopher Sharma
New Delhi disapproves Nepal’s new Constitution and blocks fuel supplies. The decision follows requests from madhese and Tharu minorities. Dozens of villages without supplies and half the cars in the country blocked. Energy Minister flying to India. Students bring the issue to the United Nations.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - As a form of retaliation for the adoption of the first Constitution of Nepal approved September 16, that has failed to "satisfy" New Delhi, India has decided to impose an embargo against unofficial goods exported to Nepal.

The cutting off of gas, oil and gasoline is causing great inconvenience in the Asian nation, with dozens of villages without supplies and the blocking of the movement of cars throughout. Leaders of Kathmandu complain of a violation of international law, which stipulate that a country without access to the sea (such as Nepal) has easy access and transit to those countries bathed by international waters. Energy Minister Sunil Bahadur Thapa, will fly today to India to find out  "the real reason for the block and an immediate resolution”.

Difficulties continue for Nepal’s population after the approval of the nation’s first democratic constitution. After weeks of internal protests and violent clashes, now the fundamental law is provoking discussions and repercussions abroad.

The reason, according to the journalist Ameet Dhakal, is that "Kathmandu has refused to accept India’s suggestions, thus New Delhi is implementing an undeclared embargo ". According to Indian media in fact, the EU authorities are not satisfied with the rules contained in the Nepalese Constitution, which ignore the demands of the minority tharu and madhese [the only ones, along with the Hindu nationalist party that has not approved the text in the Constituent Assembly, ed ].

Pradip Gyanwali, secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), said: "India has exceeded the limits of compliance with international laws and values. Nepal is a small country and is bordered on three sides by India and the fourth with the Himalayan region. Given the weakness of our geological territory, India should not impose sanctions. " Prachanda, chairman of the UCPN (M) [Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the third party in the country - Ed], continues: "We can not tolerate these sanctions from a neighboring country. They will not do any good for India"

Officials of the Nepal Oil Corporation reported that the Indian Oil Corporation - a major supplier of fuel - is shrinking exports of gas, usually paid to maximum levels even on holidays. But since last week no oil container has been allowed to cross the border. For their part, the authorities in Delhi justify the initiative for safety reasons, given the tension in the southern Terai region, the scene of protests since it the draft of the Constitution was approved and which are still ongoing, even after the official promulgation by the president of Nepal.

Deep Kumar Upadhya, Nepali ambassador to India, said: "The approach of India afflict the dynamics of the population of both countries. It is neither a failure on my part nor of India, but of the political leadership. "

Conversations between the parties, in search of a solution, will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations, General Assembly which this year was also attended by Pope Francis. Meanwhile, 13 student organizations of the All Nepal National Free Student Unions (ANNFSU) met yesterday in the capital of Nepal and decided to bring the matter to the attention of the United Nations.