This refers to the article, “India must tread very softly in Nepal” (December 20) by Ashok K Mehta. Despite Chinese overtures and the Madesi agitation offshoots, ties between India and Nepal remains secure. The ‘China factor’ is a cause of worry but not insurmountable. Nepal has jumped into the Chinese ‘One Belt One Road’ bandwagon, but it had its own compulsions. India-Nepal bond is not so fragile to be easily broken. Common knots of religion, culture and language have held together the people of the two countries. Add the people-to-people interaction and the picture of cordiality is complete. No one can ignore how Prime Minister Narendra Modi captivated the people of Nepal soon after assuming charge. But yes, New Delhi should, if at all it exists, shed its ‘big brother’ attitude.
India should display exceptional bonhomie towards the Prime Minister-in-waiting KP Oli. New Delhi must not ignore the fact that the left Alliance in Nepal has come to power on an ‘anti-India’ platform. But both Oli and his comrade-in-arms Pushpa Kumar Dahal (Prachanda) are former Prime Ministers who know what diplomacy is all about. So, its all about tactful handling of the situation and there can be no better leader than Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to do so. The common saying “kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless” holds good here. But the words should also be backed by action by New Delhi and KP Oli should reciprocate in kind.