Red flag over Kathmandu: But how green will be the signal for India?

–TMC Desk

New Delhi, Dec. 13:The big victory of CPN-UML and UCPN-M alliance and complete marginalization of Nepali Congress as well as two Madhesi parties have come as a blow to India as in all likelihood the new Himalayan Republic is going to come under the Chinese influence.

With the hold of Beijing already strong on Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka the victory of Chinese supported Left parties would certainly come as a big boost to India’s powerful northern neighbour.

Critics like Anand Swaroop Verma hold India responsible for this situation. Though India denies the charge that it mishandled the situation and initiated economic blockade of the country in September 2015 the general feeling is that New Delhi under Narendra Modi rule was instrumental in doing so.

Incidentally, the economic blockade which continued for several months, started just a day after Nepal adopted the new Constitution on September 20, 2015. This is the first election after the Constitution was adopted.

However, the Indian version is totally different. It claimed that it was the Madhesis, the Nepalese of Indian origin, who started protest as they felt betrayed by the new Constitution. Madhesis live in Terai region, which is in the southern half of the country bordering India.

Sandwiched between world’s two most populated countries––rather than civilizations––Nepal has a history of relationship with both the neighbours. Till a decade back it was a Hindu kingdom.

But the big transition in the country gradually increased the influence of China, though democratic forces like Nepali Congress enjoyed support from many Indian leaders and political parties.

However, the issue of rights to Madhesis has been a bone of contention between India and Nepal. Though Modi visited Nepal twice after becoming the Prime Minister, the timing of economic blockade––that is just after earthquake––had a serious impact on the people of the country. Thousands of people had died in massive quakes on April 25 and May 12.

The irony of the situation is that when rightist forces are winning elections in several countries and even China has in all practical purpose abandoned Communism, Nepal has turned Left-ward.

The country has got a stable government after a long time.

The strategic importance of Nepal can not be under-estimated, especially when the northern border is tense after   Doklam crisis. China has already made massive investment in Nepal’s economy and has done much to improve its infrastructure.

There is no dearth of independent experts who are of the opinion that the moves taken by the Modi government had backfired.

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