Indian foreign secretary and special envoy of Indian Prime minister S Jaishankar, who landed on 18 September for two days visit, returned to New Delhi after intensive talks with leaders of Nepal’s various political parties.  However, he failed to bridge the growing gap between Madhesh based parties and big three on constitution.

“India has been strongly supportive of constitution making in Nepal. We would like its completion to be an occasion for joy and satisfaction, not agitation and violence,” said foreign J Shankar in his press statement issued before leaving to India.  

Despite his marathon efforts, big three and Madhesh based parties continue to take hard stand on the constitution. Madhesh based parties rejected the call of three big to join the constitution writing process on the ground that the new constitution is against the spirit of Madheshis, Dalits and Janjatis.

Although nothing has said on his intense discussion, it is widely reported in Nepalese media that leaders of three big declined Jaishankar’s proposal to make all out efforts to accommodate Madheshis.

“I visited Kathmandu for two days as the special envoy of the Prime Minister of India. I was received by President of Nepal Ram BaranYadav . I also called on the Prime Minister of Nepal SushilKoirala and met the key political leaders including  K.P. Sharma Oli, Prachandaji, Sher Bahadur Deuba and the leaders of the Madhesh based political parties,” said Indian foreign secretary Shankar.

We hope that Nepal's political leaders will display the necessary flexibility and maturity at this crucial time to ensure a durable and resilient Constitution that has broad-based acceptance.