Responding to questions raised by parliamentarians in the Upper House on humanitarian situation prevailing in Nepal as a result of India imposed economic blockade, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj claimed that the policy adopted by her government in Nepal was no different than that of previous governments in her country.

She also claimed (responding to question raised by Mani Shankar Aiyer of Congress-I) that Congress government headed by Rajiv Gandhi in 1989 had imposed blockade on Nepal which ended in 1990  referring to expired trade and transit treaty between the two countries.

(And thus the country began to take a slide sisnce then, Nepali observers claim).  

She referred to the 1989 blockade when parliamentarians alleged that no point in the past, had Indo-Nepal relations deteriorated to this extent.

Sushma thus accepted that the present act of the Indian government to impose blockade on Nepal, is continuation of India’s hegemonic policy on Nepal.

“We are not interfering in the internal affairs of our neighbors. Why would we impose a blockade on any nation which is our trusted friend? Why would we impose economic hardships on them? We respect their sovereignty. We are not prescriptive in our approach to Nepal but advise them as a friend and well-wisher,” Sushma said media reports claim.

While she was being grilled by the lawmakers Sushma was seen giggling in the video posted in Youtube by India’s Rajya Sabha.

@telegraph