The Indian Embassy said Thursday the burning of effigies of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Ratna Park was “unfortunate”, if it was true.

In a press statement Thursday, the Embassy said, if the report is true then “it is a most unfortunate incident which is highly objectionable in character and aimed at undermining the close, cordial and friendly relations between India and Nepal.”

“The Embassy of India hopes that appropriate action would be taken against those responsible for such an outrageous action, showing disrespect to the leader of a friendly neighbouring country,” said the statement.

The statement follows the burning of effigies of Indian PM Vajpayee by the protesting students on Thursday. The students earlier said the Indian PM interfered in Nepal’s internal politics “by arresting a CPN-UML leader Ishwor Pokhrel in New Delhi and asking him questions related to Nepal’s internal affairs.”