Kathmandu, Jan. 6:The relations between Nepal and India are solid, sound and cannot be affected by whatever has happened lately, said Indian Ambassador K. V. Rajan today amid the speculation that the recent hijack of the Indian Airlines plane might have caused sourness between the two countries.
The incident might have some momentary impact but it is not going to be a lasting one, Rajan told journalists at a Face to Face programme organised by Reporters, Club Nepal. “Our age old ties are so deep and so close that any incident like this would not have a lasting effect.”
Referring to the December 24 hijacking, the Indian envoy denied his country had said one of the hijackers was a Nepalese. “It is irresponsible,” he said of the reporting by an Indian TV channel (Zee News) exaggerating that one of the Nepalese was involved in the hijacking.
Rajan’s statement contrasts Zee News’s unfounded claim that one of the hijackers was a Nepalese, an allegation also endorsed by Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh who flew with three prisoners to Kandahar on December 31, bowing to the hijackers’ demand to release militants in exchange of over 150 hostages.
“It is a matter of very great regret that an innocent person was named in such a fashion,” the Indian envoy said of Gajendra Tamrakar who had been implicated as one of the hijackers by Indian satellite channels, including state-owned Doordarshan News. “I think one should deeply feel sorry for the wrongdoing that has hurt the individual concerned and his family,” Rajan said even if the Indian satellite channels are yet to acknowledge the wrongdoing. It is an issue, about which the media should wonder over themselves, said Rajan. “The reporting has nothing to do with the view of the Indian government.”
Asked if the Indian Airlines flights remain suspended due to certain conditions put forth by India in the wake of the hijack, Rajan said there were no such conditions. “The flights must have been postponed to rearrange the security related matters. That usually happens with any airlines after such incident,” he said. “I think the IA flight, presently being suspended, would be resumed in the future,” he stated.
India is not blaming Nepal on hijacking issue. However, there is the need to address the security lapses if any. For this, both sides can sit and discuss as to why things went wrong so that such incidents can be prevented to occur in the future, said the Indian envoy.
“It is true that India is deploying security commandos at airports in Nepal to tackle possible hijacking incidents?” asked one of the journalists. Rajan responded it was not true. “What is true is that there is a plan to keep commandos on board the aircrafts with a view to thwart possible hijacking attempts,” he added.
Inquired about the content of the letter reportedly sent to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai by his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Indian envoy said he cannot comment on the communications between the two PMs. Rajan said the visit of Nepalese PM is important to consolidate ties between the two neighbouring countries and added that the visit was overdue.
Asked to reply on the report that Maoist activists were getting their training in India, Rajan said he had no knowledge of any Maoists from Nepal being trained in India. “However, it cannot be ruled out that they might be taking advantage of the open border between Nepal and India,” he added. He informed that Nepal-India joint team would work on border management to prevent misuse of the open border. Both sides will discuss the issue in the near future.
About the dealing of counterfeit Indian currency by a Pakistani Embassy staff member, the Indian envoy said it is the design to undermine the economic ties between Nepal and India which also helps to provide resources to the terrorists.