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  • In November 2015, Nepalese police shot an Indian man during protests at the India/Nepal

  • border. These protests were sparked by Nepal’s new constitution, and since August have led

  • to the deaths of more than 40 people. The constitution has also been named as the reason

  • for a potentially deadly blockade of fuel, which was reportedly enacted by India. So,

  • what exactly is going on? Is India sending Nepal into a fuel crisis?

  • Well, Nepal is a landlocked state, bordered on one side by India and on the other side

  • by a relatively remote part of China. India is responsible for more than half of Nepal’s

  • trade, and all of its fuel. But since September, fuel has not been getting in.

  • The whole situation is a little unexpected. Following Nepal’s devastating earthquake

  • in 2015, they received major support from India, and grew closer as allies. But by August,

  • their relationship began to falter. Nepal’s contentious new constitution was being fast-tracked,

  • to the dismay of both the Indian government, as well as an ethnic group, known as the Madhesh

  • people. Madheshis are culturally close to India, and while they represent about a third

  • of Nepal’s population, the new constitution would underrepresent them in parliament. Before

  • it was passed, India sent in a list of amendments which would have given those minority ethnic

  • groups greater power. India warned that the marginalization of those groups would lead

  • to violence in Nepal. But the amendments were not taken into account, and the constitution

  • went through by a narrow margin, with 66 members of the Constitutional Assembly refusing to

  • vote in protest.

  • In response, Indian officials reportedly ordered border guards to search all trucks entering

  • Nepal, blocking the flow of fuel. India’s Oil Corporation has refused to refuel Nepalese

  • trucks, and all fuel trucks trying to get into Nepal are lined up on India’s side.

  • However, India has directly denied accusation of establishing an economic blockade against

  • Nepal, saying that fuel is not getting in because the protests are blocking or scaring

  • drivers. Of course, India’s reluctance to admit to a blockade is not surprising. India

  • and Nepal have peace and trade treaties, which a fuel embargo would undoubtedly violate.

  • So far, the lack of fuel has been disastrous. Schools have been shut down without enough

  • gas to power the school buses. Private cars have been prevented from filling up to leave

  • just enough for emergency vehicles. Ironically, even India’s embassy in Nepal has run out

  • of fuel, and has been taking donations.

  • Regardless of how this turns out, Nepal has already turned to China for support, and India’s

  • supposed actions will undoubtedly sour their future relationship. In light of Nepal’s

  • recent devastation, the lack of fuel has completely changed day-to-day life for the time being.

  • Nepal’s disputed constitution is a small part of the country’s ongoing struggle for

  • democracy. Learn about the history of Nepal’s failed attempts to democratize in our video.

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In November 2015, Nepalese police shot an Indian man during protests at the India/Nepal

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