Nepal’s Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay has countered allegations by the KP Sharma Oli Government that he has been working against Nepal’s national interest, visited forward area in Nepal with Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae to meet Madhesis without the consent of Kathmandu, and that he was conniving with India to topple the Nepalese Government. Upadhyay said that no such visit ever took place with Rae and stories are being cooked by Kathmandu.
The Nepal Government on Friday announced the recall of its envoy from New Delhi on charges of non-cooperation and indulging in anti-Government activities. Nepal Defence Minister Bhim Rawal had alleged that Upadhyay was siding with the Opposition Nepali Congress to bolster Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s UCPN-Maoist party’s threat to topple the Oli Government.
Upadhyay termed the Nepal Government’s recall order as unethical and questioned Defence Minister Rawal’s authority to talk on foreign policy matters. Interestingly between Friday and Sunday, Upadhyay has not been officially conveyed of his recall to Kathmandu.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Upadhyay termed the charges as baseless. “Is there any proofIJ I am a Minister-rank Ambassador and a senior politician of the country. There should be dignity of the office at least. Every envoy should have freedom to work for the best of his country,” Upadhyay said.
Countering allegations on accompanying Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae to meet Madhesi, Upadhyay said, “The regional tourism department of Nepal had planned a meeting for promotion of tourism in the forward area. In that process we were also to review projects made with India’s assistance and sort out some problems at check posts. But the tourism department cancelled that meeting and neither Rae nor I went. So, this is complete rubbish. People should check facts before spreading stories.”
Upadhyay also laughed at the theory of toppling the Government in Kathmandu with Maoists while sitting in New Delhi. “Is this possibleIJ” the envoy asked. Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Sharan Mahat alleged that the Oli Government has levelled false charges against Upadhyay to hit out at the main opposition party NC.
Besides, Upadhyaya had confronted Oli regarding the cancellation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s scheduled visit to India from May 9 at last minute saying it may impact India-Nepal relations.
Interestingly, Updhayay’s tenure in India from April 2015 started at a time when the Himalayan nation was going through a rough patch --- first after a devastating earthquake and then protests due to newly adopted Constitution leading to blockade of borders by protesting Madhesis. Upadhyay tried to pressurise India to push essential items supplies to Nepal through alternative routes and talk to Madhesis to end blockade. Officials dealing with Upadhyaya found him very passionate for Nepali cause and persistent in his efforts to see supplies reach Nepal. In New Delhi, Upadhyay also tried to clear air about the new Nepalese Constitution and held several discussions with government, civil society and Indian public.
More interesting is Nepal’s engagement with India during the time these allegations of destablising the Oli Government came. Nepal’s top leadership hosted Indian envoy Rae over dinner twice in less than a week. On May 1, Oli hosted Indian envoy Rae for bilateral meeting and dinner at Dwarika Hotel in Kathmandu where only a couple of officials were present from both sides. The meeting went for about two and half hours. Following this, on May 5, President Bhandari invited Rae for a dinner to discuss her tour to New Delhi. The trip was cancelled by Oli next day and India was informed that fresh dates will be given.
What surprised New Delhi was pointing of fingers towards India by Oli for his own failures in governance. last week Prachanda announced to withdraw support to Oli and invited Nepali Congress led by Sher Bahadur Deuba to form a coalition Government, a crisis which was later resolved with involvement of China, which is learnt to have pursued left Unity concept to keep the flock together.
The fact Oli is facing Opposition’s attack for failing in earthquake rehabilition work, checking price rise and corruption. In the last few days, the Oli Government had tried to hit out at rivals and critics --- journalist Kanak Mani Dixit was arrested on flimsy ground to pressure the media and a Canadian citizen living in Nepal, Robert Penner, was shunted out for criticism of the Oli Government on social media.