Kathmandu, Jan 24: The ties between India and Nepal worsened following the Madhesi agitation where New Delhi chose to support the anti-government agitation and allegedly imposed blockades on Indo-Nepal border. This provided China the opportunity to take a leading role in assisting Nepal at a time when the country shifted from a system of monarchy to constitutional form of democracy. Also Read - Just a Day After Lifting Lockdown, This Country Reported 2020 New Covid-19 Cases

Targeting India in a veiled manner, Nepal’s deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa said, “China has never interfered into our internal matters, and our soil never been allowed to use against interest of China.” (ALSO READ: Madhesis reject Nepal constitutional amendment as incomplete) Also Read - Brucellosis Outbreak in China Affects Over 3000 People: Know All About This Highly Contagious Disease

“China has helped Nepal in our socio-economic transformation,” he added, referring to the fuel supplies made by Beijing in the Himalayan nation, when the borders were allegedly sealed on the eastern frontier by New Delhi. Also Read - Schools Reopening From Monday | What Back to Classes Might Look Like Amid Pandemic

The Madhesi agitation intensified in the past week when the ethnic group rejected the measures taken by Nepal government to address their issues, calling it ‘futile’ and ‘way below their demand’.

The protest by the Madhesis were initiated in July 2015, days before Nepal enacted its new constitution. Although, there were couple of meetings between Sushma Swaraj and Kamal Thapa to reinitiate the enhanced ties between India and Nepal, the talks failed to achieve concrete results.