New Delhi
23 April 2008
Stung by the stunning performance by the Maoists in the Constituent
Assembly election, India has plunged headlong into ensuring that her ties with Nepal
remain on an even keel.
For one, the Ministry of External Affairs has gone into damage control mode after India's
external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, did not see the Maoists'
win coming. The agency was found lacking at the time of imposition of Emergency in
Pakistan, too. Even National Security Adviser MK Narayanan had come to suggest India
trusted Mr Girija Prasad Koirala more than the Maoists and would want to see him
continue to lead Nepal.
"[We] were not able to gauge the situation on the ground," a source said, conceding the
Nepal election "marks a huge shift" for New Delhi. It had expected the principal political
parties to secure a "balanced" proportion of seats. Again, New Delhi backed the Terai
Madhesh Loktantrik Party but it was the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum that eventually did
better in the election. The source said the resounding victory by the Maoists now might
compel New Delhi to rework its policy positions, even as the international community
mulls its options in dealing with the "mainstreaming" of the Maoist insurgents.
Another source maintained the Maoists were equally stunned by the electoral verdict but
insisted New Delhi has "no axe to grind". Nepal will find a "principled" friend in India,
which will "always be available for help", the source said.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi herself has since reached out to Prachanda and
congratulated him on his party's electoral performance. Minister of External Affairs
Pranab Mukherjee has spoken with Prachanda, too.
India, which has already extended an invitation to Prachanda, will host Maoist No 2
leader Baburam Bhattarai's wife Hisila Yami this week. She is the Minister for Physical
Planning and Works, and will lead a 45-member delegation to India.
Hisila Yami will participate in a two-day seminar on India-Nepal relations at Patna. By
the Ministry of External Affairs's own admission, the organisation of seminar by its
Public Diplomacy Diviasion highlights the importance India attaches to her relations with
Nepal.
In another overture to the Maoist leadership, New Delhi has said it will not stand
between the people of Nepal and the King when a new dispensation in Kathmandu
begins the process of writing the Constitution.
"There is no hidden agenda," a source familiar with New Delhi's engagement of
Kathmandu told this newspaper, adding India respects the sentiments of the Nepalese
people and their desire for change.
"There are no favourites in Nepal," the source sought to suggest, adding New Delhi has
not kept in touch with the Palace for a long time. Barring "minor glitches", India has
remained committed to multiparty democracy, the source said.
These assertions come days after Maoist chief Prachanda made it known that he will
meet King Gyanendra to persuade him to step down and leave the royal palace before
the monarchy is abolished.
''He should understand and respect the people's verdict and what the people want and
leave the palace voluntarily. In history, monarchs have been beheaded and also had to
flee. Let that not be repeated in Nepal,'' Prachanda has said.
The source said New Delhi has conveyed to the Maoist leadership the people of Nepal
cannot wait for development and the Maoists have their task cut out in terms of meeting
the expectations of the electorate.
The seminar at Patna on April 26 and 27 will see the participation of think tanks and
industry representatives. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister of State
of Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh will participate in it.
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