The Indian army chief General S.
Padmanabhan is in Nepal on a four day visit at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart
General Prajwalla Shamsher JB Rana. Even though such visits by the army chiefs have become
traditional and demonstrate friendly relations, the Indian general's visit to Nepal when
the Maoist insurgents have been able to generate serious misunderstanding in Nepalese
minds by their unrestricted movement in India, has assumed special significance. We have,
time and again, tried to draw the attention of the Indian establishment to this fact.
Unfortunately, the Indian establishment does not seem to be impressed. Very recently, one
Nepalese Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma talked to BBC from the Indian soil. How can a
proclaimed terrorist have such free movement without being apprehended is indeed very
puzzling. We do hope the Indian army chief will be well briefed about the deaths and
destruction perpetrated by the Maoists causing great distress and misery to the poor
people of Nepal. Since General Padmanabhan has been conferred the rank of a General of the
Nepalese army (honorary, of course) he must feel certain responsibility even though moral,
to restore peace in the wretched country. The Indian army, at least, cannot overlook even
for a second that hundreds of thousands of Nepalese Gurkhas have fought shoulder to
shoulder with their Indian counterparts in defending an alien land and thousands have lain
their lives. Even now, over a lakh of Nepalese are enlisted in the Indian army and serving
them most loyally. Consequently, we do hope the Indian army can become more sensitive to
the plight of their smaller benefactor and impress upon the Indian establishment not to
act hypocritical. It is indeed a sad reflection on the existing bilateral relations that
Nepal had to go thousands of miles away looking for help to get over her troubles. When
they are making such a big hue and cry at terrorism in their own country how can the
Indians become so callous as regards her smaller neighbor and a traditionally friendly
country? They must be well aware that the whole world is watching and noticing everything.
And they must not also overlook that Nepal has only friends and no enemies. Sooner or
later we are sure to get over our present troubles. The behavior of the Indian
establishment is sure to influence the course of Nepal-India relationship in future. Since
the Indian army chief is on a friendly visit to our country, we do hope, when he goes back
he will prove by his actions that it was indeed a friendly visit.
The extremely poor turn out at the six
opposition party meet in collaboration with the Nepali Congress dissidents at the open air
theater in Tundikhel a few days back is a clear indication that Nepalis, in general and
Kathmanduites, in particular, are totally disillusioned with their corrupt self-oriented
and anti-national behavior and do not want to be taken for a ride again. Eye witness
reports placed the total attendance to be between eight to ten thousand and the majority
of them were carrying party placards. The slighting rebuff and repudiation shown by the
people must serve them as a warning and if they still do not mend their manners next time
they might face something more horrid. It is because of their selfish and rapacious
behavior that the country has been embroiled in disastrous civil war. Unconfirmed rumors
are afloat that the top Maoist leaders are still hand in gloves with the Maoists. In such
a situation how can the poor people trust these unscrupulous politicians? The UML leaders,
who have been out of power for a long time are losing their patience and want to grab
power by hook or by crook. But they should not forget that the tide has reversed and
unless they are able to win back public faith and confidence even partially, they stand no
chance. As it is, Deuba government is the lesser evil and people of Nepal only go for a
change for the better. As such, since there is no possibility for them to come to power at
this juncture they must stop queering the pitch by making baseless propaganda that Nepal
is becoming the playground of power politics. Nepalese people will not swallow such
imaginary outbursts. If the opposition or dissident Nepali Congress leader has any
nationalism left in him, he must have the guts of asking his immediate so called friendly
neighbor to stop harboring the Nepalese Maoists and bedeviling their smaller neighbor. |
