India's Involvement in Nepali Politics: Are Nepali Political Parties Steered by India?

By Deepak Gajurel Indian foreign minister, also acting Prime Minister, Pranav Mukharjee, in an interview with Al Zajeera Television, announced that India officially 'persuaded' Maoists and Nepali political parties to sign 12 point agreement in New Delhi. It is the first time an Indian high ranking official publicly accepted that India has a key role in Nepal's internal political affairs. Since the signing of 12 point agreement, India has had rejected its any direct involvement in Nepal's peace process. What does this disclosure from Indian side mean for Nepali current peace process? Why did New Delhi choose this time for revealing this fact? Does it mean that India's Nepal policy and strategy heading towards failure? What would be the consequences of India's policy failure in Nepal? Is the current peace process going to derail? Is India pressurizing Maoists and 'Parliamentary' parties to work in accordance with India's will? If yes, what are the possible factors behind India's concerns? Before the signing of Delhi agreement, was India bargaining with the King as well as with the Maoists/seven parties simultaneously? The parties of 12 point agreement (Maoists and seven parties) seems to have derailed from the 'consensus.' What would be consenquences? Where Nepal is heading? I have analyze whole gamut of the issues to dig out answers to these questions in a radio talk show. The program was broadcast live over Gorkha FM on Magh 17, 2065. Please click on the link below to listen/download the program. I would appreciate if you could find time to provide me feedback on the same. Deepak Gajurel Assistant Professor Tribhuvan University http://www.box.net/shared/ty3i5tljaa