'India does not interfere in Nepal'

Amid rising anti-India sentiment in Nepal, external affairs minister SM Krishna on Thursday rubbished allegations that the southern neighbour is interfering in the Himalayan nation's internal affairs.

Updated on: Apr 22, 2011, 24:03:36 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Amid rising anti-India sentiment in Nepal, external affairs minister SM Krishna on Thursday rubbished allegations that the southern neighbour is interfering in the Himalayan nation's internal affairs.

"India doesn't believe in interfering with the internal affairs of Nepal. We recognise Nepal as a sovereign country with which we have terms of equality," said Krishna while interacting with Indian journalists here.

Krishna's visit to Nepal comes at a time when anti-India activities are on the rise and only five weeks left for completion of the peace process and drafting of a new constitution.

Without taking any names, Krishna blamed "interested parties" for trying to carry on an anti-Indian campaign in Nepal.

In recent months, Nepal's ruling Maoists have stepped up anti-India activities including targeting Indian companies, defacing the tricolour and showing black flags to the Indian envoy.

"We would like to disabuse the minds of those who are trying to create situations where there is a feeling that India is interfering in internal affairs of Nepal," said Krishna.

"India's position is crystal clear. We do not interfere in internal affairs of any country, let alone Nepal."

During his interactions with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and other senior dignitaries and political leaders, Krishna raised issues that reflected growing anti-India activity in Nepal.

The Nepali side assured that no anti-India activity would be allowed on its territory and adequate security would be provided to Indian diplomats and personnel working on Indian projects.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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