Shamsuddin Ahmed
Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid’s 2-day sojourn to Nepal has ended in barely 8 hours. He flew to Kathmandu on Tuesday morning and left for home in the afternoon, unhappy and dazed.
Khurshid was supposed to sign an agreement with his Nepalese counterpart providing for handing over a project to India to upgrade the immigration system at the Tribhuvan Airport, and also setting up two immigration check-posts by India within Nepal territory at Lumbini and Pashupatinagar.
The secretary level meeting early last month had agreed in principle and everything was prepared for signing the agreement for which Salman Khurshid went to Kathmandu.
However, a day before the Indian Foreign Minister’s arrival (Monday), the Supreme Court of Nepal in a landmark rule issued a stay order on signing the agreement and asked the government to explain in 15 days as to why it should not be ordered for permanent halt in signing such an agreement.
During the home secretary level talks in Kathmandu on June 1, the Nepalese side yielded under Delhi’s pressure for agreeing to open joint intelligence and information exchange centre and allow India to upgrade immigration system at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).The Nepali delegation to the talks also swallowed Delhi’s another proposal that India will open immigration check-posts at Lumbhini and Pashupatinagar of Ilam. But sharply reacted Sriprasad Pandit, former Registrar of the Supreme Court. He filed a writ on July 5 seeking intervention in what he called ‘anti-national’ move of the government. Considering sensitivity of the issue, the court took up the petition promptly and issued the rule.
The petitioner maintained that the proposed agreement would go against the interest of the country. He argued that setting up of Indian immigration checkpoints on Nepali soil would harm sovereignty and integrity of the country. He contended that full access to Nepal’s immigration system, it was certain that India would create havoc with all foreigners landing at the Katmandu airport. The petitioner urged the court also to issue a mandamus order to implement other points in the bilateral agreement only after their endorsement by parliament in accordance with the interim constitution. The 28-point draft agreement was finalized at the secretary level meeting of the two countries held on June 1in Kathmandu.
Source: Weekly Holiday
