India denies handing any amendments to Nepal constitution

New Delhi: India on Wednesday denied a media report that said the government had handed over to Nepal a list of seven amendments to the Himalayan nation’s new constitution.

In a statement, terming as “incorrect” a report in an English daily, the external affairs ministry said the government of India “has not handed over any list of specific Constitutional amendments or changes to the Government of Nepal.

“Without being prescriptive on specific clauses, and as already stated earlier, we continue to urge that issues on which there are differences should be resolved through dialogue in an atmosphere free from violence, and institutionalised in a manner that would enable broad-based ownership and acceptance.”

India has voiced concern over the continuous violence in Nepal by the plains people, or the Madhesis and Janjatis, who are protesting against the new constitution, which they say is heavily tilted in favour of the hills people and denies the Terai people equal representation.

India does not want the violence to spill over to the country and has urged that the concerns of the Madhesis and Janjatis be accommodated.

IANS