Editorial (Spotlight Weekly)

By the time this note comes out, H.M. King Gyanendra would have finished his six day state visit to India. Even though it is not the first state visit by the King of Nepal to its friendly neighbor in the South, it is definitely the first by King Gyanendra and due to various factors, very historic too. During his sojourn in the Indian capital King Gyanendra has gone all the way to demonstrate Nepal’s goodwill and friendship for the people and government of India. Even though it might not be possible to detect any kind of lacuna in the official reception or hospitality of their royal guests by the Indian leadership, certain sectors did not mince their words in expressing their feelings. They want a departure in the relationship from the traditional pattern. These intellectual voices of Indian realists want nuclear India to flex its muscles and use force and intimidation to instill respect in India’s neighbors. Many hard liner Indians believe that India has attained a stage which can warrant them to overlook the sensitivities of her smaller neighbors. Moreover, the brown sahibs and memsahibs of the South block still believe that they “Can ignore even the constitutional provisions and stick to their own thinking as they are unable to change their mindset” — Kuldip Nayar. He has further stated elsewhere “The bureaucracy unable to give up the colonial way of working is the biggest impediment” While King Gyanendra was still savoring the Indian hospitality in Delhi, an Indian electronic media telecast an interview of an Indian diplomat and the Indian army chief, which could be called nothing but uncalled for interference in Nepal’s internal affairs. Consequently, if India’s policy towards her smaller neighbor like Nepal becomes an enigma to many uninitiated in Nepal-India relations, they should not be surprised. Since Nepal, because of her so many vulnerabilities, has never veered from its course of good and friendly relations with India, “it is New Delhi which has to change its ways to win friends” (in her neighborhood) — Nayar. Anyway, King Gyanendra has laid down all his cards (face open) on the table in this his maiden state visit to India to win India's goodwill and friendship. Now, it is upto india to reciprocrate his feelings. Even though the bitter experiences of the past fifty-five years forbid us to take anything for granted, still, we would always like to give them the benefit of doubt and hope some kind of miracle to happen. The ball is in India's cour. She has to prove her bona fide by naffing the Nepalese Maoist leaders loitering in the Indian cipital and other cities and hand them over to Nepal. Simple rhetorics will not impress us any more. As the common proverb goes “the proof of the pudding lies in eating.”

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The Nepali Congress has split into two factions. Even the self-styled saint leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai proved to be helpless. His inability to avert the split has ultimately proven that he has either outlived his utility or the second generation Nepali Congress cadre has, after all, realized his real worth and identity and relegated him to the place he deserves to be. It, however, does not detract from the fact that Nepali Congress is heading towards its political death. Ever since its inception in a foreign country nearly six decades ago, it has never worked in the interest of the country and the people and it has always looked up to its non-indigenous mentors for guidance and help. If Girija Prasad Koirala, who heads one faction of the split organization, is an established quisling of the nation, Sher Bahadur Deuba, the incumbent Prime minister of the country, who heads the other faction has earned enough notoriety as the most stinking politician Nepali Congress. What is most surprising is why anybody second general who has even an iota of pride, dignity and nationalism, should follow and support them. Is not it a high time for all patriotic Nepalese to see for themselves the true face of the Nepali Congress leadership? What could be a bigger misfortune for Nepal than be ruled by a political party whose roots are elsewhere and whose senior leaders owe their loyalty to foreigners? Since we need an impartial caretaker government to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner, we need a government of honest and patriotic Nepalese who cannot be swayed in any manner by any inimical force.

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Even though a million armed soldiers are poised at the Pakistan-India border, eye ball to eye ball, it seems the possibility of a full scale war between the arch-rivals of the Asian subcontinent, has receded to the background for the moment. Whatever be the reason for the easing of the tension, not only the people of the region, but people around the world must be heaving a sigh of relief. Many think that the nuclear weapons stockpiled with both the antagonists have proved to be the deterrent. But no one should stay complacent with the situation and all the powers that be, who are responsible for safeguarding peace in the world must start working seriously on rooting out the real cause of trouble. And as far Pak-India rivalry is concerned, the cause is only Kashmir. Since, it has been well established that numerical superiority cannot browbeat any nation, howsoever small, into submission, instead of Pak-baiting India should, in right earnest, start dialogue on Kashmir. Bilaterally, they will never arrive at any understanding. So, it has become imperative that some kind of mediation be brought to solve this vexing problem. Give the Kashmiris their birthright. That is the only just solution.