Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal – United Marxists and Leninists (CPN-UML), on Sunday recalled the 2015 blockade imposed by India during his first term in office and reiterated that he was forced to step down due to his stand against the blockade.
He stated that the blockade served as a crucial lesson for Nepal, highlighting the need to reduce its overreliance on a single neighbor.
We have two immediate neighbors [India and China]. While with one [China], we lacked functional roadways, we were entirely dependent on the other [India], he noted. “The blockade prompted us to correct our course. The Trade and Transit Agreement is a direct result of this realization. Additionally, we have opened several border points along our northern border, marking a historic shift in our geopolitical landscape.”
Speaking at the event “Role of Former Security Personnel in National Security and Development,” organized by the Nepal Rastriya Bhutpurna Sainik tatha Prahari Sangathan, Oli reiterated that his resignation from government was a consequence of his stance during the blockade. “It is not a big deal to be in government. We are back in power, as I predicted we would be through legitimate means,” he stated.
“We believe that safeguarding our national interests is fundamental to our identity, and we are committed to upholding this principle without compromise,” he stated.
He further emphasized that attempts to undermine national unity are unacceptable. “There have been efforts to attack our cohesion, trying to divide society along caste, class, and religious lines,” he added.
Although he did not specify any particular group, he cautioned that the efforts to divide Nepalis are perilous. “We can resist this, but such actions are detrimental to our society,” he asserted.
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