Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Dateline

Niraj Aryal

The reports that suggest the CPN-Maoist Chief entering into the Indian Embassy premises along with his deputy initiated meaningful gossips all over the country and abroad as well. This "special" visit to the Indian Embassy-theMecca of Nepali politics- by the otherwise nationalists’ faction in the Nepali politics zeroed-in the much publicized division in the Maoists camp between Prachanda and Bhattarai Panel late last year as to their proximity to the Indian position in the Nepali matters. To remember Baburam Bhattarai due to his closeness to some controversial Indian leaders was previously suspended from the party position by the Maoist supreme commander Prachanda himself. This had confirmed the division in the party ranks, giving Prachanda by and large a nationalist image, whereas Bhattarai was labeled a close aide to the Indian dominion in Nepal by implication. Later Comrade Prachanda himself succumbing to the Indian pressure was forced to provide Bhattarai back his lost stature in the party ranks.

To add with, Prachanda’s arrival in Kathmandu from his decade long hibernation from Jungles in Nepal or from the Indian Capital-Delhi, confirmed his agreement to the competitive politics in the country and in parallel also makes the analysts to conclude his nod to the Indian hegemony in Nepal. Analysts claim that, Prachanda’s previous nationalistic image is being tarnished as the leader himself is intensely feeling the importance of survival tactic in Nepali politics that is to succumbing to the Indian demands. The visit to the Indian establishment last week in Kathmandu verifies the same fact though in an oblique manner.

During his talk to the Indiandoot, it is learnt firstly Prachanda’s requested the envoy to confirm their share in the result of the peace talks and secondly, he requested to initiate the release of the captured fellow colleagues by the Indian establishment in their territory.

“This is just the beginning of the beginning but sufficiently suggests the future Maoists' politics as and when they officially come to the power corridor”, say a Maoist victim on condition of anonymity.

This is not all, to the surprise of all Prachanda’s call to the Indian ambassador also confirmed his participation in the leadership summit that is going to be held in New Delhi which is officially organized by The Hindustan Times. This summit has allowed Prachanda to share a common platform with leaders of democratic leanings, but to the surprise of many, he is the only one among all participants to hold a not-so-good tag that is yet to be lifted by some countries including the one which is hosting the said leadership summit conference.

If Girja Babu and Madhav Nepal can toe the Indian line then what is the harm if Comrade Prachanda does the same? Nothing to panic, this is how the Nepali politics has been treading since 1950.