India welcomes Nepal Cabinet decisions

Kathmandu December 22- India on Monday welcomed the decisions taken by the government of Nepal to address demands regarding the constitution raised by agitating Madhes-based parties.
The government on Sunday had decided to form a high-level political mechanism to redraw the borders of federal provinces as part of its bid to end the prolonged Madhes crisis.

Issuing a statement on Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Government of India welcomes these developments as positive steps that help create the basis for a resolution of the current impasse in Nepal.”

The Cabinet-formed mechanism has been mandated with the task of submitting a report within three months of its formation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa on Monday spoke with India’s Minister for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and communicated the Cabinet decisions.

Sunday’s Cabinet decisions include amendments to the constitution on participation in the state organs on the basis of proportionate inclusiveness and delineation of electoral constituencies on the basis of population. The government has also decided to address the concerns about demarcation of provinces through an appropriate arrangement in the constitution on the basis of political consensus. On citizenship and other issues, the government has said the issues will be resolved through negotiations and consensus.