UML chief KP Oli, addressing the party’s national cadres’ conference in the capital on Tuesday, said he was surprised to see India not welcoming Nepal’s constitution despite being the nearest and dearest neighbor. He further urged that as the largest democracy in the world it was inappropriate for India to enforce economic blockade or get enmeshed in Nepal’s minor issues. “As India is known as the largest democracy in the world and as our closest neighbor that shares open border with us, it will be better for India not to get dragged into such minor issues,” said Oli. While instructing party leaders and cadres to clear confusions being spread among Madhesi people on citizenship provisions and distribution of electoral constituencies, Oli said anyone holding a naturalized citizenship must be barred from getting elected to top public posts. He clarified that the new constitution does not bar a Madhesi person from acquiring citizenship by descent. “We have seen people coming from abroad and assuming the post of minister and MPs in Nepal, but why should they be chief minister or prime minister?” he said. Oli stressed the immediate need for bringing peace to the Tarai districts, forming national consensus government and expediting the process of reconstruction.
