Nepal to seek recall of Indian diplomat for ‘inciting unrest’

“The Nepal government will be asking to recall Mehta in deference to the demand of the leaders of three major political parties,” Shrestha said.

Kantipur daily quoted a few leaders from the Madhesi parties that Mehta had asked the Madhesi leaders present at a party in Birgunj on Thursday that they should bring about a “storm” in the plains for its identity as what was proposed in the recent agreement for Madhes was not enough. “This is a gross interference in Nepal’s internal affairs and such acts should not be tolerated,” leaders from the Nepali Congress,Maoists and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) told Shrestha during a meeting here.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon write to the Government of India to recall Mehta,” Shrestha said.

The Indian Embassy,however,refuted the media report and the criticism by political parties.

“Reports attributing remarks to the Consulate General were misleading,” an embassy release said. “India remains committed to supporting the constitution-making process for the establishment of a stable,democratic and prosperous Nepal and will cooperate in the manner determined exclusively by the people and leadership of Nepal.”

“Such attributions sought to detract from the friendly relations between India and Nepal,” the release added.

Meanwhile,Nepal’s Foreign Secretary D P Bhauarai summoned Indian ambassador Jayant Prasad to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lodged a protest over Mehta’s conduct.