Wednesday, July 5, 2006

We at this newspaper admit the hard reality that we have had failed so far in convincing certain countries belonging to the Western world that India, Nepal's immediate "traditional neighbor" have had a hidden agenda on Nepal and that the Indian authorities seated in the premises of the South Block wished to see Nepal as a protectorate-much to the tune and political wavelength of what Bhutan is at the moment- in order to exploit and twist the arms of this India-hit country as and when they considered opportune.

The fact is that the Western democracies stationed in Kathmandu for a variety of reasons preferred not to listen to our genuine concerns and always gave a plus point to India . Whether they did by design or by default is an altogether different matter.

Now that the Western world could see for themselves the beginning of the last Jana Andolan-2 and the end of the same must have had opened their eyes as to what India meant in Nepali politics, including those of the Maoists as well.

The fact is that now the European nations based in Kathmandu must admit the reality what they for themselves saw and remained silent as a witness to the fat that it was an all-pervasive Indian maneuvering that gave the final shape to the recently concluded April Revolution. No role for them.

It is not that we have our reservations to the significant contributions made by our own national heroes in the dawn of a new system wherein the people will henceforth have full sovereign rights (perhaps duties too will be attached with it). However, where we beg to differ with our heroes and builders of New Nepal is the manner they sought the direct and indirect support of India and her leaders to chart a new fate for Nepal .

The fact is that the European members remained mere spectators whose job was limited merely in issuing statements and press releases in order to show their presence. India alone did the main job.

India was with the King and let's presume it is still with him. India was with the political leaders housed in the agitating seven. And finally, India very cleverly sided with the Maoists and prepared an atmosphere for all the agitating parties to come together and bring down the monarch. It was for the first time that the Nepalese leaders were seen acting together for a benign cause which perhaps will cease to exist when it came to the questions of Indian presence in Kalapani, in the questions of the abrogation of the controversial 1950 treaty with India and the Laxman Pur Dam, and Nepal's land encroachment episodes in series and a host of other issues that have been put under the carpet for understandable reasons. Why there has not been any national consensus on such burning issues of national concerns and which forces were not allowing our leaders to formulate a coherent national policy must now be located and dealt with accordingly?

The fact is that even after the success of the Jan Andolan-2, India appears visibly disturbed with the Nepali stance on extending invitation to the United Nations System in order to sort out the rest of the issues with the Maoists.

Or else why this Sitaram Yechury every now and then lands in Kathmandu and offers sermons to the Nepali leaders through the use of Nepali media? Who is this Yechury? What is his official status in the scheme of the Indian government under the proxy-prime minister Dr. Singh? Is he a special emissary of the Indian government who has been told to broker peace in between the State and the Maoists? . And above all, who invites him and for what purpose? This enigma must be unraveled at the earliest so that the mystery behind Yechury does not harm Nepal 's national interest, if any.

If he not an Indian emissary and if he is not a personality holding any legitimate post in India then why one should listen to his teachings? Why the Nepalese should abide by his scriptures which could have a multiplier impact on the independence and sovereignty of a state that never was a colony alike India . And finally why he comes to Kathmandu and is accorded a State sort of welcome is a matter to be investigated by the concerned authorities.

That Yechry is an Indian and that he is an Indian so prudence would demand that he would for sure be guided by his own national interests. And that he is truly an Indian national becomes true from his fresh utterances on matters pertaining to Nepal 's desire in bringing in the UN involvement in Nepal as so forcefully demanded in the initial days by staunch nationalist Comrade Prachanda. Yechry's reservations on the UN facilitation falls in tune and line with what his own government possessed over the same. Has he come to threat the Nepalese leaders not to invite the UN or else face the music?

And why we the Nepalese should listen to his voices verbatim? If he confines himself in settling the disputes in between the State and the Maoists and that too unconditionally is fine. If he comes every now and then here to force his own Indian agenda would be an unwanted interference. Comrade Madhav Nepal , Shri Koirala and very freshly Comrade Prachanda are on record to have said, "we the Nepalese were ourselves competent enough in settling our disputes with the Maoists and vice versa". If it is so, which should indeed be so, then why not we all say thanks to Yechury for all that he did in the recent past.

It is time that we the Nepalese also tell Yechury to use his undefined good offices to convince his own government not to weaken this state for extracting political benefits. If he really loves Nepal and wants to be loved for all time to come then he should also understand the Nepali ailments that have been caused by Indian political maneuverings in the past.

Let's presume that Comrade Prachanda will take care of India when he and his party come to power and settle all the points that he and his party have well documented in their initial forty point demands that they pushed to the perusal of then then Prime Minister Sher bahadur Deuba prior to entering into the jungles.

It is time Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai to remain alert from the Indian designs. We pin all our hopes on you two gentlemen.