Home Minister Shakti Basnet is part of the delegation that will accompany Prime Minister KP Oli to New Delhi. The Maoist leader, who is a senior member of the Cabinet, talked to Onlinekhabar about PM Oli’s visit, and its agenda.
How is the ministry preparing the visit?
First of all, let me get one thing cleared, this is the Prime Minister’s visit. That is why there will be a delegation that will accompany him. All issues that are on our priority are on the agenda. This means that all ministries will be involved in some way.
The Finance Minister went to India a few weeks ago to prepare for the Prime Minister’s visit. If energy is high on the agenda, why is the Energy Minister not going?
I told you earlier that this the Prime Minister’s visit. It was the Prime Minister who decided the composition of the delegation. Second, some ministries will be represented at the secretary level.
Nepal and India share an open border, and there are certain security related issues that will definitely crop up. We will talk about dealing with security threats and measures we need to adopt.
India has been concerned about the security of development projects that Indian companies are working on. Also, there have been various incidents involving India’s Seema Suraksha Bal. Will these issues be on the agenda?
These are issues that we are constantly discussing with India. Like I said earlier, this is the Prime Minister’s visit, and the focus will be on crucial issues that are high on our national priority. We would like to strengthen and expand our ties with India. There will be discussions on different issues. I can’t say what type of an agreement we may reach during the course of the discussions. There is no point in announcing what will happen and what will not. We will be prepared to discuss security as well as other issues as a whole.
Will the border dispute be discussed?
We have not reached a decision on that. We will do that after a discussion (within the ruling alliance). An agreement cannot be reached just because one party wants it. During the discussions, we will try to reach a conclusion of issues that would be in favour of our national interest.
Second, we have not said we will not talk about it (the border issue). Anything could be discussed openly.
There are those who say that the visit is taking place without due preparation. What do you say to that?
That is not true. The government is clear on what it must do. The government has no doubts about what is in our interest, and what is not.
The delegation looks like an all-party one. Is it so because if something important comes up a decision could be taken in Delhi itself?
That is understood. But during this age of communication, it is not difficult to talk across borders. If something needs to be decided, we could do so by discussing with the members of the delegation.
Did you discuss the agenda of the visit within your party?
Yes, I did. The party and the government are on the same page when it comes to not signing any agreement that would be against our national interests. The government chief is aware and knowledgeable.
Will the blockade be discussed?
Improving bilateral relations also means creating a situation in which another blockade does not happen. The government will clearly state its agenda keeping the national interest in mind.
Will you ask the Indian government why the blockade was imposed?
These are all matters of discussion. What is important is what we do next. We have already prepared a meaningful road map for us to move forward.
