Nepal's Constitution bill registering an important step: India

Nepal has also witnessed anti-government protests against the Constitution amendment bill.

New Delhi, Dec 3 Terming the registering of the Constitution amendment bill in Nepal's Parliament as an "important step", India today said it will continue to extend all support to the country for its peace and stability and hoped that ongoing efforts would be concluded successfully.

"Our consistent position has been that peace, stability and progress of Nepal is in the interest of both India and Nepal," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He said India has therefore been supportive of initiatives of the Nepalese government to meet the aspirations of all sections of its society through dialogue and constitutional processes.

"As part of the ongoing efforts, the registering of a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Nepali Parliament on 29 November 2016 is an important step," Swarup said. "We hope that all sides will remain closely engaged and the ongoing efforts would be concluded successfully," he said.

Swarup reiterated that as a "close and friendly" neighbour of Nepal, India will continue to extend all support for Nepal's peace, stability and accelerated economic development in accordance with the priorities of the people and government of that country.

Seeking to end the year-long political crisis over the new statute, Nepal government earlier this week registered the Constitution amendment bill in Parliament to address the grievances of the agitating Madhesi parties and other ethnic groups.

However, Nepal's Madhesi Front, an alliance of parties representing Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, has refused to back the Constitution amendment bill, saying it was not acceptable in its current discriminatory form.

Nepal has also witnessed anti-government protests against the Constitution amendment bill.

PTI