India-Nepal relations in a new transition
Context: New Delhi is comfortable with some changes as its Nepal policy is heading towards deeper engagement with all sections
- As a unique characteristic, Nepal’s internal political fundamentals continue to shape its foreign policy choices. In the process, what gets lost is the scope of pursuing ‘enlighted self-interest’.
- The year 2020 marked China’s unprecedented aggression, with an aim to counter India’s conventional edge in Nepal and South Asia at large.
- Accordingly, China’s geo-strategic, economic and infrastructural drives were made tempting to a precarious Nepal with its fragile democracy and the adulterated ideological standing of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (CPN).
- Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli move to dissolve the House of Representatives was termed ‘unconstitutional’ by the experts and the country’s Supreme Court.
- Amidst the domestic political chaos, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, visited New Delhi for the sixth meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission on January 15, 2021.
Business as usual
- The keenly awaited meeting proved to be more focused on confidence-building measures such as
- exchanges of courteous remarks on significant and concrete progress made since the last meeting of the Joint Commission and
- the close cooperation between the two sides in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
- An early provision of vaccines to Nepal was positively considered by India.
- On the development partnership front, the expansion of the Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum products pipeline to Chitwan and the establishment of a new pipeline on the eastern side connecting Siliguri to Jhapa in Nepal formed a part of the discussions.
- For the upgraded first passenger railway line between India and Nepal from Jaynagar to Kurtha via Janakpur, the elusive operating procedures for commencement of train services have been discussed.
- Other “cross-border rail connectivity projects, including a possible Raxaul-Kathmandu broad gauge railway line”.
- The Joint Commission laid emphasis on the need for facilitating cross-border movement of people and goods, thus giving the sub-regional cooperation, its actual due.
- The recently inaugurated Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Birgunj and Biratnagar have helped in the seamless movement of people and trade between the two countries.
- The construction of a third integrated check post at Nepalgunj has already commenced, while the new integrated check post at Bhairahwa would begin shortly.
- Since Nepal relies on India’s seaports in a big way for trading, and goods are transported by road, the integrated check posts are expected to ease trade and transit.
- The joint hydropower projects, including the proposed Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, should get positive momentum following this round of meeting.
- India’s support to two more cultural heritage projects in Nepal, namely, the Pashupatinath Riverfront Development and the Bhandarkhal Garden Restoration in Patan Durbar is significant in the times when China is exploring all avenues to disrupt Nepal’s natural choice in policy-making.
- Moving away from the recent hiatus, Nepal expressed support for India’s permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council (UNSC) to reflect the changed balance of power.
Stirrings for change
- Notwithstanding the Nepali side’s demand to include the boundary in the Joint Commission Meeting, India made it clear to find a fresh mechanism to resolve any such crucial long-pending issue.
- The growing disenchantment among the Nepali masses over the increased centralisation of power, failure of the Provincial System in addressing the developmental issues, misuse of Presidential authority by Nepal’s President and unprecedented corruption provide ample room for a re-setting of Nepal’s democracy.
- Worryingly, a large section of the people want the ‘cultural Monarchy’ back to substitute the Presidential system and a re-establishment of certain traditional ways to governance.
The timing
- The timing of the high-profile visit was strategically important as Mr. Oli had categorically placed conditions before engaging with India at the top decision-making level.
- With a possibility of surviving the self-created political stalemate feeble, Mr. Oli is believed to be receptive towards unexpected changes.
- In the time of transition, his outreach to India is being seen in such contexts.
- He is believed to be open to gaining a new ground of support from different quarters including India.
- His China connection has been artificial and failed him at times, and he knows this better than anyone else.
- It is equally true that he has failed China too at times; by breaking even the cosmetic ‘Communist unity’ in Nepal, he has finally made China’s hyper-interventionism a wasted effort.
Democracy in Nepal
- Democracy in Nepal is achieved, not ascribed, and Nepal and its people deserve a better deal than what has been offered by the Oli-Bhandari duo.
- Like many other democracies across the world, Nepal’s democracy has been affected with an extreme rise in majoritarian sentiments.
- Nepal cannot afford to enter in another round of political instability, and those who have commanding authority to spearhead India-Nepal bilateral relations must give a humane consideration to it.
- At the crossroads, Nepal needs action and to come to term with realities.
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