MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to reports of stricter customs inspections by Nepali authorities along the Nepal-India border, which have sparked protests among local residents who rely on cross-border markets for daily necessities.
The checks follow a rule that imposes customs duty on goods worth more than NPR 100 brought from India.
Reacting to the situation, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said:
“We are aware of reports about implementation of the existing rule by the Nepali authorities, under which customs duties are imposed on passengers crossing the border if they are carrying goods purchased in India worth more than NPR 100.
“We understand that the government of Nepal took this step primarily with the aim of curbing informal trade and smuggling. We have also seen a statement from a senior Nepali official that common people carrying household goods for personal use will not be stopped.”
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What is the new rule?
The rule, which was introduced around mid-April on the occasion of Baisak 1, 2083, the Nepalese New Year, has greatly affected daily life in the Terai region bordering India.
The regulation provides for customs clearance of goods worth more than Rs 100 brought from India.
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Why anger?
Residents who previously brought small amounts of food, clothing and household goods for personal use say the new regulation has made this difficult.
This move sparked widespread anger, as videos were circulated on social media showing people expressing their anger over the checks. Goods such as rice and sugar are now under scrutiny, affecting those who routinely cross borders to buy essential items.
Madhesi youth staged a protest on Saturday, protesting against the government’s decision to impose customs duty on goods worth more than 100 Nepalese rupees brought from India. Several lawmakers from border regions also called for easing restrictions.
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Protesters gathered at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu, carrying placards and raising slogans such as “Abolish tariffs,” “Respect the Madhesi people,” and “Don’t kill the poor.”
“Imposing taxes on small items brought across the border by people living in the border region has not only hampered the free movement of people across the border but also damaged our centuries-old relations with the southern neighbour,” Kaushal Kumar Singh, president of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Confederation of Nepal, told PTI.
