For the first time in the history of the two countries, India took a strong stand against Nepal during a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday, saying it was concerned about violence, instability and ethnic discrimination across the border. India also said that Nepal was showing a distinct lack of political progress, The Indian Express reported.

The two nations have been locked in a battle over protests by the Madhesis, an Indian-origin community that has been demonstrating against Nepal’s new constitution. This has caused major blockades along the border, hitting the supply of essential goods to the landlocked country. On Wednesday, India said the obstruction was caused by Nepalese protesters, not Indian ones as Nepal has alleged. Nepal had earlier complained to the UN that India was backing the Madhesis and blocking its supplies.