September 19, 2021, marked a pivotal moment in India-Nepal relations when ex-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli cast a grave accusation against then-envoy and current Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. On Nepal's Seventh Constitution Day, Oli presented his party, Nepal Communist Party, with political documents asserting that Jaishankar threatened consequences for enacting the constitution without amendments. Jaishankar has now candidly addressed these allegations.
Dismissing the claims on our affiliate website 'The Lallantop's show 'Jamghat', Jaishankar was questioned, 'In September 2021... KP Sharma told his party's standing committee that Jaishankar warned him and other parties of dire outcomes if the constitution were implemented in its current form. Did you issue such a warning?'
Jaishankar replied, 'Look, in politics, people say many things when it serves their political interests. We have always advocated that you come to an agreement collectively... cease violence. People in politics often spice up their statements for personal gain, it happens.'
'Newspapers tend to....'
At that time, an Indian Express report claimed India sought seven amendments to the 2015 Nepalese constitution. Despite outright denial of this report by the Ministry of External Affairs, on February 6, 2016, Nepal indeed implemented changes to its constitution, aligning with India's preferences, although on a limited scale.
However, Jaishankar refuted the notion that Nepal amended its constitution under pressure from India.
He stated, 'No, that's not the case. Sometimes newspapers have a habit... they claim to know more about you than you do. Such statements are within the rights of those newspapers, but I just want to say that we advise our neighbors to seek stability and progress. We're ready to help, but we do not want instability or violence... no significant country wants tension at its borders.'
