Kathmandu, March 23
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Bhim Rawal has made a claim that many will find hard to believe.
Rawal, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, said even India is happy with the 10-point understanding that Nepal and China have reached during Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s ongoing China visit.
India should have no objection when Nepal reaches agreements with China in the capacity of an independent and sovereign nation, Rawal said while speaking at a face-to-face that Reporters’ Club had organised. “We become happy when India signs deals with other countries and we expect the same from India when we do the same,” Rawal said, adding: Indian peoples and India get benefits when their neighbours become richer. India is happy with this deal (that Nepal has reached with China).
Nepal is free to import petroleum products from any country, adding that a deal could not materialise during PM Oli’s China trip because of ‘technical reasons.’ Rawal, also vice-president of the ruling CPN-UML, said: Both Nepal and China agree on the need to sign an oil (import) deal. But an agreement failed to materialise at this juncture because the two sides are yet to sort out matters like the prices of petroleum products, transportation, tax and other technical matters.
Rawal said a transit deal with China cannot be against India. He asked all concerned not to cast doubts regarding the implementation of the deal with China, pointing that implementation has begin with the deal’s signing. Rawal called on all to work together for the deal’s implementation.
On the occasion, Rawal said this government is ready to implement the new constitution and hold polls. We are ready to move ahead by taking the Nepali Congress into confidence, pointing that there’s no need to change government leadership.
