Distrustful in Kathmandu

Nepalese nationalism, in its narrow version, includes an overdose of anti-Indianism.

Nepalese nationalism, in its narrow version, includes an overdose of anti-Indianism. The last two years, however, were arguably the best time in terms of changed perceptions towards the south in Nepal. Delhi8217;s role in bringing the pro-democracy parties and Maoists together against the 8216;absolute monarchy8217; in November 2005 and their joint struggle against the palace8217;s direct rule forcing King Gyanendra to hand over power to the political parties, also helped in the rapid transformation of India8217;s image from 8216;Big Bully8217; to an inspiration for the restoration of democracy.

As the seven parties and the Maoists established their monopoly control over power and the political process in the country, they targeted the king for everything that was going wrong in the country. Despite their anti-American and anti-Indian world view, the Maoists completely toned down their anti-Indian stance while continuing with their barbed attack against the US which continues to have the Nepalese Maoists in its terrorist list. The mainstream Nepalese media hardly gave any space to write-ups critical of India all these months. But things seem to have changed.

The perceived failure of India8217;s Nepal policy has caused the return of anti-Indianism in Nepal. In fact, one thing that made Shiv Shankar Menon express satisfaction when he visited Kathmandu soon after his take-over was the demise of anti-Indianism. Is its return the result of undue expectations of Nepalese leaders from Delhi? Or because Delhi8217;s approach on Nepal was flawed?

Altogether 22 districts in Nepal8217;s plains along the India border constitute the Madhesh or Terai. A demand for an autonomous province with the right to self-determination by emerging political groups and India8217;s assertion that 8216;Terai8217;s demands8217; should be addressed, have drawn a sharp response from different political quarters. Even Prime Minister G.P. Koirala who had earlier said publicly that he would sort out the 8220;Terai problem within a minute with India8217;s cooperation8221; is believed to have suspected the 8216;Indian hand8217; while discussing the issue with Maoist leaders Prachanda and another senior Communist leader Madhav Nepal.

Shyam Bahadur KC, a noted columnist and journalist for more than four decades, lamented the ruling alliance as 8216;puppets8217; of the Delhi durbar in a recent article he wrote in a national daily. Pegged on a recent visit of RAW chief A.K. Chaturvedi to Nepal, KC also criticised the Nepalese media for having ignored Indian activities to the detriment of the Nepalese interest. And that is not an isolated instance.

There are, of course, people like Damannath Dhungana, a prominent civil society leader and a former speaker of Parliament who concede that India8217;s interest in Nepal is definitely larger than any other country and those who wish for a durable peace and stability in Nepal must accept this reality.

But the growing distrust in Nepal towards the south is also apparently linked with the failure of the Nepalese parties to deliver, especially to conduct elections to the constituent assembly 8212; something that was the priority agenda of the political forces Delhi had brought together. Delhi, no doubt, kept emphasising that elections to the constituent assembly must take place on time, but kept silent when the Maoists and the other parties had failed to create a situation conducive enough for elections. While the European Union and the US kept insisting that the security situation in Nepal must improve for a free and fair election, India, through its silence, gave an impression that it wanted an election, no matter what.

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But with the Terai problem not yet sorted out, and the law and order situation at its lowest ebb, it is not yet clear whether G.P. Koirala can hold a perfectly free and fair election and also treat the April deadline as sacrosanct. An election without an improved law and order situation will have much less legitimacy within the country and outside. It could also be a betrayal of the Nepalese people whose movement two years ago was avowedly dedicated to establishing a full-fledged democracy.

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