By IANS
New York : India is satisfied with the UN distancing itself from its official’s remark in Kathmandu that India had links with the ethnic armed groups in Nepal’s Terai plains, which prompted New Delhi to lodge a protest with the world organisation.
A spokesperson for the India Mission in UN told IANS that the clarification issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has, in fact, lauded India for playing a vital and long-standing role in helping the people of Nepal.
India had protested to the UN against the remark of Matthew Kahane, UN’s Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, who said Jan 24, “Some of these groups that are making life difficult in Terai may have some kind of links in North India.”
Ban has now clarified, “His comments were not intended to suggest that the government of India has influence over Nepalese groups that have recently been limiting the steady flow of essential goods into the Terai region of Nepal, such as food.”
Ban added in his statement, “India is an important partner in the region and we appreciate very much the unfailing and long-standing assistance and support that India has provided to the UN and, more importantly, to the people of Nepal.”
Kahane’s comment was tacitly refuted by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, who said that Nepal could solve the protest movements in its plains on its own without India’s intervention.