CPN-Maoist vice chairman Bhattarai said the Sugauli treaty signed between Nepal and the British-India government was a blow to Nepalese nationalism.

“It was a treacherous treaty imposed upon Nepalese people by the foreign powers which is also unequal,” Bhattarai said at a symposium on the 194th anniversary of the signing of the treaty.

Nepal had signed the treaty with East India Company government on December 2, 1816 after she lost Nalapani war to British India government. Under the treaty parts of Nepal’s territory were merged into British India.

Meanwhile, 16 people protesting outside the Indian embassy were arrested, after they blocked the gate and shouted slogans demanding the repeal of the Sugauli treaty.

A group of protestors led by United Nepal National Front had staged the demonstration and the protestors also tried to hand over a memorandum to the Indian Embassy.

UNNF President Fanindra Nepal, who led the protests and over a dozen other people were detained by the police.

Bhattarai also said there was need to check the “growing foreign intervention” in Nepal as “many unequal treaties have been signed after the Sugauli treaty”.

Attacking the government on the issue of the revival of the Pancheshwor power project treaty with India, Bhattarai said: “Whenever there is weak government in Nepal, foreign powers try to impose agreements in their favour”.

The Pancheshwor Treaty was agreed between Nepal and India in 1996 for the construction of 3,200 MW electricity plant and providing irrigation benefits to both Nepal and India.

Nepal and India have recently agreed to move it forward by setting up a Pancheshwor Project Directorate in Nepal.