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Kathmandu Thursday November 23, 2000 Mangshir 08, 2057.
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Orchestrated move
No one should be unduly surprised by the
Indian accusation that Nepal has allowed itself to be used for dumping cheap Chinese goods
in the Indian market. The manner in which Indian industrialists are making a hue and cry
indicates that their real fear is competition with Chinese products, if New Delhi goes
ahead with the proposed trade ties with Beijing. The fact is that in 1999, India agreed
with China to open a trade route through Sikkim state. This apart, the present Indian game
plan appears to be aimed at derailing the planned alternative trade route between Nepal
and China’s Tibetan autonomous region. This new route will, no doubt, provide China
better access to the Nepali market and vice versa. It may not be out of place here to
recall that there had been similar official and unofficial Indian opposition prior to the
construction of the Kathmandu-Kodari road in the 1960s. It appears that reluctance to end
Nepal’s total dependence on it has not changed despite the new context.
The facts, as given out by the government,
are enough evidence to show that the allegations against Nepal and Nepalese businessmen
and traders are totally unfounded. Imports from China have in fact nose dived after the
introduction of L/C system in imports from China. Since the start of the current financial
year 2000/2001, imports from China has totaled just 477 million rupees. This volume is
easily consumed inside Nepal itself. Obviously, this country cannot re-export goods that
were never imported in the first place. The allegation is, therefore, merely a figment of
their over fertile imagination. What India needs to investigate is the inflow of Chinese
goods from China itself to four of the Indian states that border China as well as exports
from Myanmar. Yet, what is disturbing is that these allegations are coming at a time when
markets everywhere are opening up and consumers, wherever they be, are benefitting.
There is an unfortunate tendency in some
Indian media to deliberately twist matters in order to get the uppper hand. The open
border is an issue that must be settled for it has been rightly blamed for everything from
cross-border criminal activities to ISI and RAW activities, to trade and security
problems. If the open border is so bad in every way, why keep it open? India surely must
learn to shut its mouth about the open border, or shut the open border that no one wants
open.
The current India media tirade against Nepal
is basically aimed at the trade treaty under which goods from Nepal can be exported to
India without attracting duties. This may not have been to the liking of Indian
businessmen. Hence, an excuse was cooked up in order to curtail Nepalese export. Ever
since Nepal opposed the nuclear weapons testing by India and Pakistan as a threat to the
region, India has not been happy. Since then, India has begun to find excuses to curtail
imports from Nepal. The first step was the closure of its market to Kodak Nepal and this
move sealed the fate of all other similar direct foreign investment ventures. Thus, the
orchestrated protests from Indian industrialists is nothing, but an indication of New
Delhi’s mind. It remains to be seen how the present crop of Nepali Congress rulers
will deal with the issue, but it must deal with it in a manner that not only does justice
to Nepal’s genuine cause but also ensures that this country’s image is not
tarnished in any way.
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