India not allowing SAARC Summit to take place: K P Oli

K P Oli had inked the landmark Nepal-China Transit and Transportation Agreement after Nepal-India border remained blocked for almost six months.

Kathmandu, Feb 16: Nepal has not taken any steps to stop India's move to "weaken" SAARC process, former prime minister K P Oli said today as he stepped up his anti-India rhetoric.

Oli in his political document presented during the CPN-UML's politburo meeting, which concluded here today, claimed that India is giving more importance to sub-regional groupings such as BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative).

"India is giving more importance to sub-regional groupings such as BIMSTEC and BBIN but it is effortful in not allowing SAARC Summit to take place," Oli said. "Nepal has not taken any measure to stop India's move to weaken SAARC process," he said in his 10-page political document.

"SAARC is weak due to Indo-Pak standoff and India's policy towards Bangladesh," according to the paper. It also criticised the government for allowing foreign security personnel inside Tribhuvan International Airport. Oli, who became Prime Minister in October 2015 following promulgation of the new constitution, resigned from the post in August last year blaming India for his fall.

He had inked the landmark Nepal-China Transit and Transportation Agreement after Nepal-India border remained blocked for almost six months.

PTI