Jul 19, 2012

Nepal: Indian telephonic coercion exposed

By Telegraph Nepal

Our attention once again has been drawn towards what Professor Sushil Raj Pandey some years ago while reading out a working paper on Nepal ‘National Security’ at the Soaltee Hotel had stunned the audience by raising a mind boggling question wherein he had stated that “ why the 12 point Agreement was signed in New Delhi”? Perhaps he wanted to understand for his personal and general consumption as to what could have been the real target of the signing of this Agreement (more or less like the most unequal and distasteful Nepal-India Treaty a la 1950) in New Delhi instead of the same being signed in any place of Nepal, let’s say in Rolpa jungles the pseudo hiding place of the Maoists then who in effect were enjoying the in-Law treatment in NOIDA suburbs? Why it was not signed in Nepal is perhaps he preferred to understand. In saying so, Professor Pandey, a political analyst par excellence, (he was Head of the Central Department, Political Science, T. U while making this particular comment then ) smells rat. And he was right when he questioned the signing of this agreement-which later assumed the force of a Treaty, after things begun unfolding since his questioning the raison d’être of such an agreement being signed in a neighbor-troubling land.  Nothing remains now a secret. Every design and motive has come to the fore.

Professor Pandey too by now has understood as to why it was signed in Delhi. Nevertheless, some even opine that it was this agreement which allowed the then seven parties to bring back the Nepal Maoists to the much publicized peace process. The fact is that neither there is the prevalence of peace nor the process itself has begun. The conflict remains though in a smaller scale with chances of the same taking a bigger dimension. 

The fact is that the Maoists hospitality was becoming a heavy burden to the Indian government (eight plus years free service in no way could be a trifling matter indeed) and thus a dangerous mechanism was devised with the declared and Nepali cap wearing collaborators and so the burden was thrown to Kathmandu, “attached with several Nepal-damage strings”.

The damaging affair continues unfortunately. The actors remain still the same.

So for the Maoists and the Nepali population at large the Delhi free overhaul was not for free. Certainly, there is no charity in the British-India Company trained Indian diplomacy.

The most humiliating and insult loaded jolt, as sensed in advanced by this Professor some four years back, (among the crowd of several such shameful events that have taken place in series after this 12 point Treaty was signed), a fresh revelation made by a former Nepal’s Military authority, Mr. Kul Bahadur Khadka, has ashamed the entire nation. Gorkhali Heads remain in a bowed state. Yet what could be presumed that those have habituated themselves in serving to the dictates of the Indian RAW and the alien government machinery need not feel ashamed as those feel ashamed who understand the value of the word shame and the pain it follows.

Since the accused ones, so far have neither spoken the truth nor will they presumably dare to do so for fear of possible “nail fixing” on their respective honored HEADS.  But the population demands their personal explanations so that things become clear once and for all. We wish that these great personas of this country speak as we prefer not to tease them at all from these columns. We honor them. So do perhaps our readers too may not have the desire to humiliate their own distinguished nationals? We respect them still provided they speak the truth and only truth and that too soon.

Those who have been born to serve others perhaps feel pleased in not clarifying the national population as to whether the grave allegations made against them were loaded with facts or just the dissemination of fake and baseless news aimed at maligning their political credentials, if at all they still command.  Yet benefit of doubt must be allowed as demanded by natural justice theory. Yet our hearts go to them because we all are Nepalese. Some could though be rotten ones.

Having said all these, let’s come to the point of the allegation that have been very freshly made by Mr. Kul Bahadur Khadka upon his own then Nepal Army boss, Mr. Rukmangad Katwal and also to the sitting Nepal President.

While talking to Naya Patrika daily just the other day, Mr. Khadka has point blank stated that when then Army Chief Katwal was sacked by the Executive Prime Minister of Nepal, Puhspa Kamal Dahal, May 3, 2009, and he was made the new Nepal Army Chief then something unbelievable happened, which we at this paper presume that Nepal definitely has become a permanent stooge of an Indian minister. Can Nepal go so low? Yes! Its prestige and past glory has been brought to the foot path by an Indian national, a mere minister in Man Mohan’s cabinet, who, according to Mr. Khadka, made a telephonic call loaded with “instructions” to Nepal’s high profile President the same evening, 3 May 2009, wherein he is reported to have told our President, (sic), “O Hamara Senapati Hai, Usko Mat Hatao”. (He is our Military Chief. Don’t sack him).

Pranav Mukherjee thus ordered our Sovereign President.

This naughty minister was referring to the reinstatement of the sacked Nepal Army Chief Katwal. The Nepal President, trembling with fear perhaps, reinstated the sacked Katwal to the same post ( by all means it was an unconstitutional step)  the same late evening which forced the then Nepal PM, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, to submit his resignation from the PM post which he did the following day that is May 4, 2009. Yes, prior to submitting his resignation, a tensed PM Dahal went to Lapsiphedi for braving the situation that was to follow him in some hours. Humiliating ouster that it was.

What do all these mean?

Firstly, it makes clear that the sacked Army chief Katwal must have been excessively closer to the Indian machination. Secondly, it also exposes the political acumen of the Nepal President who attaches great importance to the commands he occasionally receives from across the border and acts as per their wishes and preferences. He is duty bound to talk to the population as regards this shameful event.

What a shame for the Nepalese people to listen to all these unimaginable incidents. Once upon a time, Nepal had a King. Good or bad, the Nepali decisions were taken right inside Nepal. Now the fun is that this 12 point Nepal has lost its self-decision making capabilities. Imposed decisions have become Nepal’s fate. An Indian minister scolds Nepal President.

Before we conclude this shameful event, one more thing we also would like to make clear that Kul Bahadur Khadka was apparently closer to the Maoists. This is evident in the manner he has talked to the media and the timing is also very important. Why he chose to reveal all these at this juncture? Yet so what? Khadka is also a Nepali national and the son of the same soil as others claim.

Thanks that Mr. Khadka did not boldly assert his “five hours CoAS role” or else bloodbath would have surely been its end result.

Will Katwal, a strong nationalist that he has become after his retirement, and Honorable President to find some moment to clarify their personal stances and make it clear as to what Mr. Khadka says of them were correct or just a garbage? Speak because benefit of doubt has already been granted. Or the people have now the authority to take both of you in a manner they prefer. The choice is yours certainly.

Editorial in the Telegraph Weekly dated July 18, 2012. 

Courtesy: Telegraphnepal.com

No comments:

Post a Comment