<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->When will UPA see red in Nepal?
Dina Nath Mishra (Pioneer)
Since its inception, the UPA Government under influence of the Left, particularly the CPM, has orphaned a country like Nepal despite its significant geo-strategic and geo-cultural importance for India.
India's foreign policy towards Nepal must bear the stamp of paramount strategic determinants for four reasons: First, Nepal's Maoists are blood brothers of Indian Maoists who are waging war against the Indian State in 160 districts spread over 11 States of the Indian union.
Second, King Gyanendra speeded up Nepal's status of a failed State when he did away with the elected Government. China, Pakistan and many other powers started fishing into the troubled waters. The Chinese started sending truckloads of arms and ammunition to Kathmandu. They have everything to gain whatever may be the outcome of the present turmoil.
If the ongoing civil war in Nepal brings the Maoists to power in Kathmandu, its strategic depth reaches up to the Indian borders.
Third, Maoists are on the verge of seizing power through their 15,000 trained and armed guerrillas. The Royal Nepal Army has done everything to defeat violent upsurge but has failed. The present strife includes looting of banks, extortions, forced conscription of Nepali boys and girls and brainwashing them with rhetoric.
Last, thousands of Nepali refugees are pouring into India through Uttaranchal, UP and Bihar. Soon there may develop a situation that the Government may have to start refugee camps as it did prior to the Bangladesh war.
The UPA Government's response has been influenced by Left Front parties. The Maoists leaders of Nepal have been frequenting New Delhi, meeting CPM leaders and covertly negotiating with MEA.
Maoists have advanced their strategic move of vanquishing Nepal's Royal Power. At this juncture, the Indian Government has sent Dr Karan Singh to talk to King Gyanendra at Kathmandu as they have good personal relations.
The brief to Dr Singh indicates that India wants to force certain formulations, which King Gyanendra may not accept easily. One theory suggests, King Gyanendra wants to deal with the Maoists and the political parties separately.
The CPM, on the other hand, advises its Maoists brothers in Nepal to shun violence and take part in peaceful negotiation process.
If that happens, Maoists are sure to squeeze out the democratic leaders and become sole controllers of the Himalayan Kingdom in the times to come.
Left Front's perception of the situation in Nepal has caused immense harm to Indian interests. It is during this period that the problems of Nepal acquired menacing proportions. King Gyanendra wanted to come to New Delhi for consultations with leaders in the Government but India did everything it could to repulse his repeated efforts on one or the other pretext.
The underlining message was clear. India wanted to export democracy to Nepal at any cost. King Gyanendra wanted to deal with Maoists with a firm hand. Let us consider what it would mean to India if Maoists capture power in Kathmandu.
Can a Maoist takeover of Nepal ensure peace, democracy or stability?
The democratic set-up in Nepal under political parties or alliances could not effectively neutralise the growing menace of Maoists for over a decade. How can a weak political Government neutralise that menace? Would the Maoist Government in Kathmandu be India-friendly or China-friendly? Would it not be more difficult to fight Maoists in India if their blood brothers are in power in Nepal? Can a Maoist Government in Kathmandu provide a buffer between India and China?
Indian business establishments and other institutions are being attacked. This, too, has compelled India to send Dr Singh to Nepal. The situation is tricky.
The Kathmandu valley along with its universities and other academic centres, has fuelled the hate-India campaign for decades. Even Indian tourists feel the heat. This has to be considered before taking a step like military intervention. The Nepali establishment and palace power is generally hostile to India. India's stature has drastically gone up in all important capitals of the world but not in Kathmandu.
Just a decade back, it was unthinkable that Nepal would go the Maoist way. Despite the stubbornness of the King during NDA regime, the ties between the two countries normalised gradually after the Kathmandu-bound Indian Airlines flight was hijacked and the Nepali establishment took tough stand to curb ISI on its land. But the UPA has adopted policies detrimental to India's geo-strategic interest and has allowed Nepal to slip into the Maoist grip. Let's hope that Dr Singh is allowed to play a constructive role for both nations and not for Maoists in Nepal and Left Front in India.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dina Nath Mishra (Pioneer)
Since its inception, the UPA Government under influence of the Left, particularly the CPM, has orphaned a country like Nepal despite its significant geo-strategic and geo-cultural importance for India.
India's foreign policy towards Nepal must bear the stamp of paramount strategic determinants for four reasons: First, Nepal's Maoists are blood brothers of Indian Maoists who are waging war against the Indian State in 160 districts spread over 11 States of the Indian union.
Second, King Gyanendra speeded up Nepal's status of a failed State when he did away with the elected Government. China, Pakistan and many other powers started fishing into the troubled waters. The Chinese started sending truckloads of arms and ammunition to Kathmandu. They have everything to gain whatever may be the outcome of the present turmoil.
If the ongoing civil war in Nepal brings the Maoists to power in Kathmandu, its strategic depth reaches up to the Indian borders.
Third, Maoists are on the verge of seizing power through their 15,000 trained and armed guerrillas. The Royal Nepal Army has done everything to defeat violent upsurge but has failed. The present strife includes looting of banks, extortions, forced conscription of Nepali boys and girls and brainwashing them with rhetoric.
Last, thousands of Nepali refugees are pouring into India through Uttaranchal, UP and Bihar. Soon there may develop a situation that the Government may have to start refugee camps as it did prior to the Bangladesh war.
The UPA Government's response has been influenced by Left Front parties. The Maoists leaders of Nepal have been frequenting New Delhi, meeting CPM leaders and covertly negotiating with MEA.
Maoists have advanced their strategic move of vanquishing Nepal's Royal Power. At this juncture, the Indian Government has sent Dr Karan Singh to talk to King Gyanendra at Kathmandu as they have good personal relations.
The brief to Dr Singh indicates that India wants to force certain formulations, which King Gyanendra may not accept easily. One theory suggests, King Gyanendra wants to deal with the Maoists and the political parties separately.
The CPM, on the other hand, advises its Maoists brothers in Nepal to shun violence and take part in peaceful negotiation process.
If that happens, Maoists are sure to squeeze out the democratic leaders and become sole controllers of the Himalayan Kingdom in the times to come.
Left Front's perception of the situation in Nepal has caused immense harm to Indian interests. It is during this period that the problems of Nepal acquired menacing proportions. King Gyanendra wanted to come to New Delhi for consultations with leaders in the Government but India did everything it could to repulse his repeated efforts on one or the other pretext.
The underlining message was clear. India wanted to export democracy to Nepal at any cost. King Gyanendra wanted to deal with Maoists with a firm hand. Let us consider what it would mean to India if Maoists capture power in Kathmandu.
Can a Maoist takeover of Nepal ensure peace, democracy or stability?
The democratic set-up in Nepal under political parties or alliances could not effectively neutralise the growing menace of Maoists for over a decade. How can a weak political Government neutralise that menace? Would the Maoist Government in Kathmandu be India-friendly or China-friendly? Would it not be more difficult to fight Maoists in India if their blood brothers are in power in Nepal? Can a Maoist Government in Kathmandu provide a buffer between India and China?
Indian business establishments and other institutions are being attacked. This, too, has compelled India to send Dr Singh to Nepal. The situation is tricky.
The Kathmandu valley along with its universities and other academic centres, has fuelled the hate-India campaign for decades. Even Indian tourists feel the heat. This has to be considered before taking a step like military intervention. The Nepali establishment and palace power is generally hostile to India. India's stature has drastically gone up in all important capitals of the world but not in Kathmandu.
Just a decade back, it was unthinkable that Nepal would go the Maoist way. Despite the stubbornness of the King during NDA regime, the ties between the two countries normalised gradually after the Kathmandu-bound Indian Airlines flight was hijacked and the Nepali establishment took tough stand to curb ISI on its land. But the UPA has adopted policies detrimental to India's geo-strategic interest and has allowed Nepal to slip into the Maoist grip. Let's hope that Dr Singh is allowed to play a constructive role for both nations and not for Maoists in Nepal and Left Front in India.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->