Nepal media critical of PM Modi’s bilateral political engagement

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advice to Nepal’s warring political parties on the Constitution-making process was criticised by the media on Thursday here which termed it as “breaching of diplomatic norms”.

Critical comments appeared in some of Nepal's national newspapers regarding Mr Modi’s advice to political parties on the long-delayed drafting of the country’s constitution.

During his bilateral engagements with Nepalese political leaders, Mr Modi had urged them to forge consensus to draft the constitution and asked them not to delay the process and meet the January 22 deadline.

“Mr Modi’s advice to forge consensus among parties to write a constitution seems to be directed against the ruling alliances which are making attempts to write the statute thro-ugh majority votes,” a newspaper said in an editorial. Mr Modi's call for promulgating the constitution within the January 22 deadline seems to be another pressure tactic, the daily said.