The order issued by Nepal's new Prime Minister, Balen Shah, has sparked unrest both on the Indian border and within Nepal. Nepalese parties have protested the ban on Indian-registered vehicles.

An order from Nepal's new Prime Minister, Balen Shah, has sparked a new storm in the neighboring country. The Nepal Police have increased surveillance at customs checkpoints bordering India. The Balen government has instructed officials to compulsorily collect customs duty on goods imported from India valued at over 100 rupees.

In fact, people living in border areas visit Indian markets to buy food, clothing, and other household items, resulting in losses for local Nepali traders and revenue. This move by Nepal has raised concerns in Indian markets near the border.

Strictness on vehicles registered in India

Additionally, restrictions have been imposed on the movement of Indian-registered vehicles in the Madhesh province bordering India. Officials claim that Indian-registered vehicles are being used without permission, but the issue appears to be escalating into a political controversy. Political parties in Nepal have launched protests, arguing that the stricter regulations threaten to damage long-standing social and economic ties with India.

What are the Nepali parties saying?

Major political parties, including the Nepali Communist Party, CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and Janata Samajwadi Party, issued a joint statement on April 12th opposing the ban on vehicles registered in India. They demanded that such vehicles be allowed to travel freely within 30 kilometers of the border, as before.

What the officer said

Nepalese officials say the move is aimed at enforcing the law. The Kathmandu Times quoted Sarlahi Chief District Officer Ramuraj Kadaria as saying, "Driving without paying customs duty is illegal and we are simply enforcing the law." Officials say that despite the rules, they are not being followed.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Kathmandu Times that people used to pay a one-day tax and use the vehicle for months. That won't be the case anymore. While there are no statistics on these vehicles, security agencies estimate that more than 10,000 Indian-registered vehicles are operating in the eight districts of Madhesh province. People living in border areas often purchase vehicles with Indian license plates to avoid high customs duties.

PC: ABPNews