India has no role in any destabilisation in Nepal: Government

NEW DELHI: India today dismissed reports that it was involved in any attempts to destabilise Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, whose government is facing a no-confidence motion in Parliament.

Highly-placed sources in the government said that Oli's problems are of his own making and India does not believe in interfering in the internal affairs of another country.

The government has been reduced to a minority because of withdrawal of support from political parties including the CPN(M) headed by Prachand.

"India did nothing to destabilise Nepal. It is all internal problems of Nepal," the sources said adding it was all because of governance issues the government was facing a tough time.

The government's perspective was put out by the sources in the wake of reports from Kathmandu yesterday that Oli making a veiled attack on India suggesting it was involved in ousting him from office.

They said New Delhi was only concerned about the interests of Madheshis, who are people of Indian origin mainly living in the Terai region of Nepal bordering India.

Any fair and reasonable democratic Constitution, the interests of every community should be protected and that is what the Modi doctrine also favours.

They said Indian government had no role in the economic blockade of Nepal which prevented supplies reaching the neighbour because of unrest along the border with India.

The present prime minister's problems mainly arose out of internal dynamics of Nepal politics for which India cannot be held responsible, they said.

The sources said actually China's involvement in the internal affairs of Nepal was a matter of concern. China was involved in propping up the Oli government for which it has sent three people to persuade every political party and MP to ensure that the government does not fall, at least till the visit of President Xi Jinping expected shortly.

"There is a groundswell of public opinion against Oli and the government is unpopular," the sources said adding that he was surviving on stoking feelings of Nepali patriotism and anti-India sentiments.