EDITOR'S NOTE
The Bangladesh-India border skirmish in which
precious human lives on both sides have been lost has sent chilling waves in the hearts of
many Nepalese. That such close neighbors should have resorted to fire arms has not only
come as a big surprise but shocked many. What prompted such a small country as Bangladesh
stand up to a giant like India is simply baffling. That the Bangladeshi government was not
aware of the action taken by the Bangladeshi Rifles is a statement too difficult to be
swallowed. No ghost need come from hell to tell us that the Bangladeshis must have been
forced to a corner from where they had no other alternative to safeguard their national
interests. As we are well aware of the prowess of the mighty Indian publicity machinery,
it might be difficult for us to accept the Indian reporting even with a pinch of salt. And
we know others, too, might be suffering from the same constraints.
Since we cannot even imagine that Nepal-India
relations will ever permit such a situation to happen, the recent event in Bangladesh has
warned us not to stay complacent any more. India is not only big but a nuclear power. They
can afford to take liberties in their relationships with their smaller neighbors. As far
Nepal is concerned, she had had to face too many difficult situations in the last fifty
four years. Even now a few burning issues like the Kalapani, the Bhutanese refugees, the
non-implementation of the Mahakali treaty and above all the accusation of permitting ISI
activities in Nepal have generated big fissures in the bilateral relations and Nepal as
the smaller and vulnerable partner is paying through her nose. On top of that, the
political destabilization due to the unrestricted activities of the RAW (Research and
Analysis Wing of the Government of India) and the violent anti-government activities of
the Maoists have turned the country totally fragile. India is so much engrossed in
bringing Nepal under her security umbrella that she is totally overlooking the reality
that a strong and stable neighbor, even though small, is a good asset in times of need.
Moreover, she must not lose sight of the fact that inimical relations with all her
neighbors may prove counterproductive in achieving her aspirations.
The myth of age old friendly relationship
between Nepal and India has started to break steadily. Since Indian statesmen and
bureaucrats have not been able to shake off the colonial legacy, the patriotic Nepalese
are finding it hard to nourish the feeling India's size and might and as a close neighbor
deserves. If one were to analyze the reasons for such a predicament objectively, the
accusing finger is sure to lift towards India. If one did read the noted Indian columnist
Kuldip Nayar's write up in The Kathmandu Post of April 23, 2001 "New Delhi's finger
in Nepal's pieî, one may very well understand the above mentioned accusation. It may not
be irrelevant to quote a few lines from the said write up. ìNepal is poor and volatile.
India should be engaging itself to win over the people of such a country, not the petty
games it is playing at times to have a say in Nepal's internal politics".
It is very gratifying to note that the
situation in Bangladesh-India relations are becoming normal. We do wish Nepal may never
have to face similar situation. And it is in better interest of the super giant India not
to let the relations with any of her smaller neighbors sink so low.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
| Managing Editor |
: Keshab Poudel |
| Associate Editor |
: Bhagirath Yogi |
| Senior Reporter |
: Sanjaya Dhakal |
| Reporter |
: Akshay Sharma |
| Photographer |
: Nishchal Chapagain |
| Editorial Office |
: GPO Box 7256,Baluwatar,Kathmandu, Nepal. |
| Telephone |
: 977 1 423 127 |
| Fax |
: 977 1 417 845 |
| email |
: spotligh@mos.com.np |
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