BJP member slams Nepal

New Delhi, May 11: A BJP member in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, May 11 mounted a sharp attack on Nepal, saying that despite being "weak", it was seeking to "threaten" India due to backing by China.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Nishikant Dubey also made a strong pitch for erecting a fence along the Indo-Nepal border like the ones along the boundaries with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Noting that Nepal has recalled its envoy to India, he alleged that it was a "conspiracy" to send back the Indian envoy in Kathmandu.

He claimed that Nepal was tilting more towards China, which has been instrumental in spreading a "red corridor" from Pashupati to Tirupati in India. He alleged that despite being "weak", it was "threatening" India with the backing of China.

Dubey said the porous border has turned Nepal into a "nerve centre" of anti-India forces which was witnessed also during the IC 814 hijack incident. Besides, India faces the problem of counterfeit currency His remarks including dubbing Nepal as "weak" were protested by several Congress members led by Jyotiradiyta Scindia, who reminded the ruling party that one does not speak in such a language about a neighbouring country.

This led to counter protests by the BJP with Dubey alleging that the "wrong" policies pursued by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi towards Nepal created the problem.

Hitting back at Scindia, Dubey reminded him that Rajiv Gandhi had once effected blockade against Nepal creating problem for the Himalayan nation.

The attack came in the backdrop of a slide in Indo-Nepal ties in recent months. The visit of Nepal's President Bhidya Devi Bhandari to India was recently put off. Her government cancelled the trip amid the internal political turmoil in Nepal.

PTI