Nepal's Oli urges India to lift economic blockade

Kathmandu, Nov 16: Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has called on India to lift "unofficial blockade" in Nepal as soon as possible. In his televised address on Sunday to the nation, the premier, who assumed office as the head of the government on October 11, explicitly mentioned that Nepali people have been undergoing through a hardest time due to blockade imposed by India. "It is unthinkable that a sovereign nation faces such an inhumane and severe pain, misery and blockade in the 21st century for having a Constitution with progressive, pro-people and democratic contents through an elected Constituent Assembly with people's overwhelming participation and democratic franchise," Prime Minister Oli said, Xinhua reported. The Nepali prime minister's remark has come at a time when Nepali people have been reeling under acute shortage of fuel and basic commodities due to an Indian embargo after Nepal adopted democratic constitution on September 20. This was the first time Nepali prime minister categorically pointed out Indian economic blockade in the Himalayan nation though the Indian has been denying any embargo against Nepal.