India-Nepal joint committee fails to file report with Modi -The focus lies on Article VII that allows free movement of goods and people between Nepal and India

Vivek Chhetri   |   TT  |  Darjeeling   |  28.07.20  :  A committee formed jointly by India and Nepal to look at the entire gamut of relations between the two countries couldn’t submit its report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi even 23 months after its completion as no time was granted by his office, said a member of the panel.

The report by the Eminent Persons Group for Nepal-India Relations (EPG-NIR) is significant for the Darjeeling hills as the committee was also mandated to review the 1950 treaty between the neighbouring nations.

A major demand in the hills has been the review of the treaty and the scrapping of the Article VII that allows free movement of goods and people between Nepal and India.

Exactly 34 year ago in 1986, 13 people were killed in a police firing in Kalimpong when they were on their way to burn copies of the 1950 Indo-Nepal treaty. Since then, July 27 is marked as Gorkhaland Martyrs’ Day.

People of the hills say the Article VII dilutes the distinction between Indian Gorkhas and citizens of Nepal because of free movement and other reciprocal provisions.

Speaking to The Telegraph on Monday, Mahendra P. Lama, a member of the EPG, however, said the group had completed its report “ 23-24 months ago” back, but still, it couldn’t be submitted to Narendra Modi. “We are waiting for a date to submit the report to the Prime Minister. No time has been given as yet.”

The group which was co-chaired by former Uttarkhand chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari and former Nepal foreign minister Bhekh Bahadur Thapa had held nine meetings, six in Nepal and three in India, between 2016 and 2018.

The other Indian members were former ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad and professor B.C. Upreti. The group had total eight members — four each from Nepal and India.

Observers find it surprising that the group hasn’t been given time to submit the report even though the committee was agreed on by present prime ministers of both the countries, Modi and K.P. Oli.

Although Lama refused to provide details of the report, he said the group had studied all issues related “to environment, trade, investment, treaty, border and peoples’ movement”. Lama added: “I can’t say much but we have looked into the treaty part very intensively and extensively.”

With the Centre not finding time to receive the report, the same has not been submitted to Nepal either as it was largely agreed the findings of the group would first be handed over to the Indian prime minister.

Lama believes their “not so bulky” report should not prickle any country.

(Courtesy & source- https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/nepal-report-awaits-pm-narendra-modi/cid/1787554)