Thursday, July 9th, 2026

SAARC has lost relevance: BJP leader Vijay Jolly



KATHMANDU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr. Vijay Jolly has said that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has lost its relevance in the current geopolitical context.

Speaking at a press conference held in Kathmandu on Wednesday during his visit to Nepal, Jolly stated that while SAARC was once an effective regional platform, it is no longer functioning meaningfully.

Jolly emphasized that Nepal-India relations are unbreakable and should be continuously strengthened.

Beyond the traditional “roti-beti” (bread-and-daughter) ties, he highlighted deep military cooperation and shared democratic values between the two countries. He noted that India has consistently supported Nepal’s multi-party democratic system.

On domestic matters, Jolly remarked that Nepal should move forward by respecting public sentiment on issues such as secularism. He added that only the Nepali people and political parties have the sovereign right to make decisions on internal affairs.

Publish Date : 21 May 2025 15:06 PM

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