Indian officials and media have welcomed the registration of the constitution amendment proposal in Parliament by the government of Nepal as “a positive development” towards addressing the demands of Madhes-based parties.

In a conversation with Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay, high-level officials at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs have termed the second constitution amendment proposal as “positive”. “We are aware about the latest political development in Nepal. It is a positive step in accommodating all sections of people in the constitutional process,” Upadhyay quoted Indian officials as telling him.

According to Upadhyay, the Indian officials have maintained that it is up to Nepal’s political parties and Parliament to take the decisions regarding the constitution amendment as it is an internal matter of Nepal. 

However, India has not given a formal and official statement on the registration of the constitution amendment proposal.

India is insisting on addressing the demands of Madhes-based parties before the implementation of the constitution. India conveyed the same message to the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his visit to India in September and October. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed the same message to Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba during their meeting in Delhi last month .

Welcoming the registration of the proposal at Parliament  by the 

Dahal-led government, General Secretary of Indian Nationalist Congress DP Tripathi said, “This was the promise made by Prachanda-led government, I welcome this development.”

Indian media has termed the constitution amendment as a positive move. In an editorial titled ‘Finally, a step towards change’, The Hindu has written that it is “a first step towards positive change has been made in addressing the federal concerns”. 

Another English daily The Hindustan Times has reported that the proposal has partially addressed the demands of Madhes.

Professor SD Muni, a Nepal-India expert, has also called the Dahal-led government’s move as positive one. “Prachanda government deserves compliments for constitutional amendments. Now, mobilise support. Difficult but not impossible to push it through,” he said.