India Loses Nepal:

Nov 17/2015 : Nepal was, through ages, a dependable ally for India. Proximity, a common religion, similarities in culture, and mutually beneficial engagements between people as also the Royal family and the Indian government saw the relations in top form. However, times have changed. What was once a happy-go-lucky relationship has of late been passing through a difficult patch, marked surprisingly by animosity, hatred and mutual suspicion. India cannot escape the blame for this, though the other side was found wanting too in recent times.

It is a sign of the times that an event addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Damodardass Modi in London the other day had an embarrassment in store for India. A group of Nepalese raised anti-India slogans from close range. This incident was followed with a statement by Nepal’s prime minister KP Oli from Kathmandu, Sunday, casting aspersions on India and asking it to end the “undeclared” traffic blockade along the over 1700 kms long open border. Notably, the India-UK joint statement issued during Modi’s engagement with his British counterpart in London has reference to the Nepal situation as well. It stressed the importance of a lasting and inclusive constitutional settlement in Nepal. This may also not be taken kindly by Nepal in the same fashion that India does not tolerate statements of third parties in the matter of Kashmir. The India-UK joint statement was regarding the new federal republican Constitution that Nepal has adopted on September 20, leading to protests from the people from the plains, mainly of Indian-origin settlers in Terai region, as also indigenous people, led by the Madhesis. They have apprehensions their citizenship rights have not been protected under the new Constitution.

Nepal has strong suspicion that the protests have Indian backing, and the resultant “undeclared” road blockade along the border has been or chestrated by India or its agents. The sufferers are the people across Nepal, who used to meet much of their fuel and essentialcommodity requirements, including medicines, from India. As the crisis worsened,help came predictably from China, which sent in oil supplies initially and now it has signed an MoU to supply cooking gas. China scored a point or two when India was found wanting.

Amid the troubles arising out of the shortage of essentials, it is natural that public mood in Nepal changed against India. In fact, this was in the making. The relations between Nepal and India suffered tectonic shocks after the exit of King Birendra, who all along had maintained good ties with India. The first strains were evident when his brother, King Gyanendra took power. By the time democratically elected governments came into being, the relationship developed more strains so much so, there was less of bonhomie between the Manmohan Singh-led UPA governments and the Nepalese governments. Probably, the ultra left Maoist led Prachhanda government set the anti-India ball rolling after democracy started taking initial roots. At that time, the public pressure in Nepal did not allow their government to bend backwards towards China. The same Nepalese citizen has now turned anti-India.

This, obviously, highlights the utter failure of Damodardass’ neighbourhood diplomacy. If India cannot keep the neighbours as friends, one can well imagine what the future will hold for this country. The damage caused to Nepal will cost India dearly.