The restriction on the movement of Indian freight trucks into Nepal has had a debilitating impact on the Nepalese public. New Delhi and Kathmandu must resolve their differences and restore normalcy
Within the struggles of Nepal’s complex leadership and the genuine interests of the Madhesis, the Himalayan nation’s ties with India are at a new low. This is unprecedented. In the past, if India imposed sanctions, it did so in the public glare, unlike the current situation wherein it seems to have imposed ‘unofficial sanctions’ that is causing much hardship. At its peak, the border blockades had completely stopped freight movements.
This writer has travelled and seen the hardship in Kathmandu and other places in Nepal. The shortage of fuel and other essential items is even crossing the justified level of acuteness. If there will be no changes in the stand of the Nepali regime towards incorporating the required changes in the new Constitution — and therefore, bring ‘normalcy’ with India — Nepal will come to a complete standstill. Except for a few city elites, the rest of the Nepalese population will find it difficult to survive.
Relatively well-off, this writer’s friends in Nepal, working with international organisations and media houses, have shared with him how it is tough to live in Nepal, with its enduring tryst with blockades, curfews and sanctions. In a sarcastic tone, one of them have reminded this writer of iconic democrat BP Koirala’s statement that escapism with reactionary nationalism wouldn’t work and it is important to have friendly ties with India.
The people of Nepal need an enabling environment to thrive as a sovereign nation. This has been elusive under a new generation of intolerant and indecisive politicians in Kathmandu, who see India as the ‘Big Brother’, as per
their convenience.
Sooner or later, the forces behind the flawed new Constitution will have to take suggestions from all sides —more so, since they on their own have wasted over 50 days to reconciling with the aggrieved Madhesis and Tharu communities as well as the women at large, who are now second grade citizens under the new national document.
No fancied flight, no smooth road journey, this writer reached Sunauli border via Bhairawaha (from Kathmandu) and saw the plight of people living near the borders, where even the movement of a rickshaw is impossible. The frustration has been at an all time high in the Madhes, and now the situation in Kathmandu is no different. The obstinacy of a few leaders in accepting the rational demand of constitutional amendments had led to the halt of basic civic services.
Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, asked people to go back to the ‘cycle era’ but what kind of national economy will the positions taken by him and his comrade-in-arms KP Oli createIJ It will be tough for an average Nepali to buy and ride the China- or US- made bicycle and Indian-made two-wheelers will be not welcomed in their utopia. Instead, in their utopia, they are forcing people to walk long miles, flee in flight despite having no money in dire needs.
Where the Nepali economy is heading is no one’s concern. In all probability, the billions of dollars in the Nepal Rashtra Bank that came for reconstruction of the country, after the earthquake, have no bearers to use it meaningfully. The rubble is still on the streets of Kathmandu. When one walks at Patan Durbar Square or visits the Pashupatinath Temple, it becomes hard to evade how the country has been ravaged by one natural disaster and many manmade disasters. But even in these testing times, the spirit of the Nepali people must be celebrated. They know how to live and hope, even when the latter has been elusive in their lives.
Irrespective of how deep the communication gap that led India to harden its stances, New Delhi must now upgrade its capacity to deal with its neighbours, especially when it is on the verge of losing a trustworthy friend without fences.
Both countries should talk and take things forward. The recent visits of diplomats and leaders have been counter-productive. This is time of course-corrections for both sides. Now that partial freight movements have resumed at a few border posts, both countries should seize the moment and end the artificial low in their coordination and allow the situation to get back to normalcy.
A certain interest group in Nepal has to understand India can’t be substituted with China – and certainly India’s goodwill should not be taken for granted. In reciprocation, India should stick to its conventional friendly line that ensures its faith in open borders and civil-cultural relations. India-Nepal relations are delicate but strong. It is time to remove the hiccups and bring Nepal on the ‘normal’ turf that has been lost in tantrums over the new Constitution.
Without a peaceful Madhes, Nepal can’t be a complete nation and Madhes can’t have another nation, except Nepal. Having agreed to this, India and Nepal should end the blockades at the earliest — and ignore a few bad Twitter trends.
(The author is a New Delhi-based journalist)