Joint Press Release: Nepali associations in the United States of America on promulgation of Nepal’s new constitution and India’s undeclared embargo

Joint Press Release:

Nepali associations in the United States of America on promulgation of Nepal’s new constitution and India’s undeclared embargo

Nepal has entered a new era with the promulgation of a new constitution on September 20, 2015. The constitution was overwhelmingly passed by the members of the Constituent Assembly (CA), a body directly elected by the people as well as by proportional representations from all ethnic and political groups.

The Indian government and their media allies have distorted the truth by telling the world that only fifty percent of Nepalis have supported the constitution despite the fact that the constitution was promulgated with an overwhelming majority of ninety percent of the CA members.

The new constitution may not have satisfied every group at every level in Nepal; the constitution is a dynamic living document and it can be amended peacefully by a democratic process as needed. The US constitution was amended 27 times and the Indian constitutions 94 times, both constitutions were promulgated by the majority of two-third of their CA members. The constitution adopted by Nepal’s Assembly is a sacred document for all the sovereign citizens of Nepal. It should be honored without any reservations by all democratic and sovereign nations. 

Passing of a new Constitution should have been a historical moment for Nepal, yet it was shadowed by the last minute attempt by India to stop the constitution process, which was further dampened by the 7-point demand to amend newly passed constitution and by a trade embargo imposed by India. This action is against the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the rights of a Land Locked Country (LLC).

While, the Indian Government has denied making any demand to amend the constitution and has categorically disowned the trade embargo, its actions at the border suggest otherwise. 

India’s attempt to impose its will to delay the promulgation of the Nepali Constitution, as well as, trying to punish Nepal with the trade embargo for not following its orders has not only crossed all lines of decency and norms between two nations, it has also violated the UN charter on trade.

Therefore, on behalf of all Nepalis and friends of Nepal, we, the representatives of the following Nepali Organizations in the United States would like to appeal to the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to recognize and honor the constitution of Nepal, a Sovereign Nation, by not interfering in its internal matters, and by allowing free flow of goods from India and other trading partners to Nepal.  

We would also like to appeal to the Government of Nepal, as well as, to agitating political parties to resolve all disputes and disagreements quickly and peacefully.

Respectfully,
Bimal Nepal           President, Nepalese Association in Southeast America (NASeA), GA
Roger Adhikari       President, Association of Nepalis in the Americas (ANA), Washington DC
Tej Rai                  President, Nepal Association of Northern California (NANC), Northern CA
Sushil Sharma       President, Association of Nepalese in Midwest America (ANMA), IL
Sharad Acharya     President, Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal (RMFN), Colorado
Keshab Poudel       President, Non-Residential Nepali USA, (NRNUSA) Tennessee
Padam Bishwokarma    President, International Nepali literary Society (INLS), VA
Kul M. Acharya           President, Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America (BANA), Maryland
Bikash Devkota           President, United FNA-FANS, Florida
Thakur Karki              President, Nepal Center of North Carolina (NCNC), North California
Bhuvan Acharya         President, Nepali Association of Texas (NST), Texas
Meena Shakya            President, INLS, Florida chapter, Florida
Damu Dongol             President, Nepalese Association of Georgia (NAG)