Editorial (Spotlight Weekly)

A recent statement by the Charge d'Affaires of the Indian Embassy Ashok Kumar that the Indian government would take immediate action against the Nepali insurgent leaders - the so called Maoist rebels - who are being given sanctuary and free movement in many Indian cities including the capital New Delhi for more than six years provided the senior Nepalese politicians who have been meeting them disclosed their whereabouts in India. Evidently, this is not off the cuff statement. Coming from the senior most diplomat in the Indian mission, the statement is well calculated and full of sinister implications. If it has tried to paint the top political leaders of Nepal as collaborators for hobnobbing with the Nepalese terrorists in India and not reporting to their government, it has also tried to overblow his government's propaganda that they are very keen to help Nepal nab the terrorists. In normal circumstances such pronouncements between friendly governments would carry a lot of weight and reassure the aggrieved party. But in the context of Nepal-India relations it will be difficult to find many takers of such statements in Nepal. Because, the statement sounds hollow since the diplomat implies his government has no knowledge of the hideouts of the terrorists. How could anybody swallow such a blatant lie! If the top leaders of the ruling party as well as the opposition in Nepal could easily locate the terrorists' den in India even to imagine that the powerful Indian intelligence is unable to trace them would be nothing but foolish. Since the Indian intelligence could not be so incompetent and inefficient, it may not be easy to gauge the real intention of the diplomat's statement. As usual, is he trying to take the Nepalese people for a ride? With India's firm commitment to fight global terrorism these kinds of flashy statements will only contribute to strengthen the misgivings on their protestations. Nepal has suffered a great deal by the double standard nakedly followed by India. But, terrorism is one factor where it might not be very easy for even India to hoodwink the international community. Moreover, since terrorism does not respect any international frontier, the danger Nepal is encountering today could turn against India tomorrow. For that matter even countries much further away would not be totally safe from their nefarious acts. As such, instead of resorting to vacant rhetorics, India must show enough seriousness and sincerity to root out terrorism from her small friendly country. Destabilization of politics in Nepal could never bode well for India. It is always advisable to have strong and stable neighbors. Pressurizing smaller neighbors in the pursuit of the fulfillment of grander designs and soaring ambitions will never yield expected results. Nepal is, indeed, being badly plagued by terrorism at the moment and would appreciate any cooperation from friends, far and near, to get over the trouble. But she would like to assure her friends that she too like India, is fully capable of fighting terrorism by herself, if necessary. But, it will only unmask the true faces of friends and foes. Consequently, we do hope that our good friends must try to generate trust and faith by their actions not words.

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For some time past, ever since Sher Bahadur Deuba split the Nepali Congress and supplanted Girija Prasad Koirala as its President, political elites in Kathmandu have been agog with rumors that Girija Koirala has lost his mental balance. It is also being very strongly conjectured that in the ensuing general elections (provided they are held) Deuba is planning to decimate him. And with the resources and the machineries at his command and the growing resentment and disillusionment amongst the Nepalese masses against Girija Koirala for plunging the country into this disastrous situation, no one would be surprised even if Koirala vanishes into thin air from the Nepalese political scene. Koirala, by his nonsensical outbursts against Nepalese monarchy is only fanning the fire of anger and hatred against him. Ever since Girija Koirala assumed the leadership of Nepalese administration more than twelve years ago, Nepal has been gradually sliding into economic ruin. His unparalleled corruption and anti-national behavior spelt only doom for the country. Now, what would the country do with a mentally disabled Girija Koirala? Since he seems to be urgently needing expert medical attention, his friends and admirers would do well to take him to an experienced psychiatrist. It also becomes the duty of the state to render him (a former prime minister) whatever help he needs. Any undue delay might only aggravate his problem.