Letters (Spotlight Weekly)

Analysis Of Relations

The cover story "Time For Soul Searching" (SPOTLIGHT, December 17) has provided enough hints how the bilateral relations can be smoothened. Nepal and India enjoy a lot of similarities but they also have a number of disagreements. Contacts at the political level could help enhance the relations for certain. There should be frequent visits between the officials and leaders of the two countries. The story has analyzed the existing relations with a balanced approach. There is a need for similar objective analysis on the subject.

Kushal Kharel
Hattisar

India: Emerging Wolf Not A Tiger

I was very frustrated to read the SPOTLIGHT's cover story on Nepal-India Relations (December 17). It is a very biased story and supports Indian point of view. How can you equate Indian bureaucracy with Nepal? It is not Nepalese bureaucracy that is responsible for harming the relations but Indian intelligence agencies and South Block mandarins who are. Your cover story further presses the King not India. It is again Indian colonial mindset that needs to be changed. As a genuine Nepali, how can we say that India is our friend and it is a South Asian tiger? Actually, India has been acting as a South Asian Wolf. From tiny Bhutan to Pakistan and Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, people everywhere see India as a wolf prowling on them. Indian security agencies are providing all kinds of logistical support to the Maoists and, on the other hand, military hardware to the Nepalese government provoking Nepalese to kill each other. Indian security agencies are giving safe shelter to top Maoist leaders in New Delhi and other Indian cities as Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal have already openly met them there. I am disappointed by the approach of the cover story of the Spotlight that India is Nepal's friend. I don't think India will ever support Nepal to achieve progress and prosperity. In the last five decades, India has been promoting destructive forces in Nepal and they helped kill tens of thousands of Nepalis. In his recent book, Bharat Sumsher, who led an insurrection in 1960s, has revealed how Indian government supported them during that time. The time has come to see whether we still continue to treat India as a friend or something else. Since machination of Indian government's security agencies are covertly working to destroy Nepal, I don't see any optimism on Indian mindset unlike what you have pointed in your recent story. It is unfortunate to say that from so-called supporters of Monarchy to so-called supporters of democracy, no one accuses India for its crime in Nepal. I think if SPOTLIGHT cannot write truth, it should refrain from writing at all. If you want to write something, you should write about the role of real culprit in Nepalese politics. I will agree with the editorial written by chief editor Madhav Kumar Rimal that Indian are hegemonic and they do not respect sovereignty and integrity of Nepal and other countries in the region.

Kumar Khadka
New Baneswor

Bilateral Concern

Nepal and India share cultural, natural and geographical similarities ("Time for Soul Searching" SPOTLIGHT December 17). The information provided in the cover story was relevant especially on the eve of the forthcoming visit by the King to India. The King can talk about problems the two countries are facing including that of the Maoists and border-related issues. Nepali society has unclear concept about Indian perception towards Nepal. Our political leaders often speak in different tones when they are in government and when they are in opposition. Like all Nepalese, I wish that the King's forthcoming visit will be successful.

Kumar Adhikari
Taruka Ghat, Nuwakot

Interesting Encounter

Congratulations for your encounter. It was very interesting. He hit the bull's eye. The pity in this country is that the journalists, politicians and civil service chaps think that soldiers are fools and they are no good at anything except obeying the commands. But these fools do not even know how to obey the commands of their own leaders. God only help them now. But it is not too late yet. Their burnt boats still have some good wood left that can take them to the shore if the wind is favorable and if these fools know how to surf.

Hikmat B. Bisht
Mahendranagar

Poor State

Apropos the article "State of Children" (SPOTLIGHT December 17), I would like to say that the article contained some significant data about the children. The report by the UNICEF is much applicable to the current situation in Nepal. There are so many NGOs and INGOs who claim to work for children in Nepal. They should think seriously about the children. Here, children are suffering from terrorism, AIDS and other problems. Likewise, they also suffer from problems related to education, health services and discrimination.

Narayan Khanal
RR Campus
BA Second Year