SPONSORED REGIME AND INTERVIEW FOR INDIA'S CHIEF OF 'NEPAL PROJECT'

[Few months ago in a private conversation, an Indian professor told me that replacing Babu Ram Bhattarai had been a very difficult job to do so far. However, it was necessary from the Indo-Nepal relationship perspective. The controversial role of his wife, his questionable tolerance in cases of corruption and Indian government's over use of him, created this unwanted situation. Therefore, India was inviting leaders for necessary discussions. The professor also told that was a Delhi Durbar interview of shortlisted candidates for CEO - 'Chief Executive Officer' or 'Project Manager' to run the ongoing 'Nepal Project'.  You may see delighted faces of those 'shortlisted candidates' who seem, as if, they have just come out worshiping Goddess Sonia Gandhi(Please see the above photograph of Sushil Koirala, Prakash Man Singh and Krishna Sitaula with Sonia Gandhi) and getting words of wisdom from Guru Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh; their polite speeches of gratitude and the actions that follow in Kathmandu, we now can certainly understand how much sovereign are Nepalese people actually ?]

(The Chief Executive Officer  is also called the honourable Prime Minister of Nepal)

By Govinda Neupane

Initially, I was literally taken aback by seeing many Nepali leaders lining up to see many chiefs at the Delhi Durbar. Why were they here competing against each other in this endeavor?

Is Nepal virtually a de-facto protectorate of India? Many believe it is so. In the 21st century, the characteristics of a certain colony and colonization have changed. Now, they have established a sponsored regime that run the protectorate or the colony as independent government. The sponsored regime works on the order of the master. The orders pass through mostly clandestinely.   

I do not blame India for establishing or fostering or arranging such a relationship with Nepal. This has happened, primarily, not because of Indian design, but because the result of the mentality and actions of Nepalese people's leaders.

During the Rana rule, Nepal was completely isolated from outside world, though there were formal relations with some countries. During its last days in 1950, the Rana Prime Minister Mohan Sumsher signed the 'Treaty of Peace and Friendship' with India. But, he failed to convince Delhi Durbar and could not become the first chief of the sponsored regime in Nepal irrespective of being Prime Minister for some time.

Tribhuvan and his company gave India the first real opportunity in 1950 to get involved in the strategic decision making processes related to the internal affairs of Nepal. Hence, Tribhuvan, in my assessment, is not the 'Father of Nation', but had become the first chief of an Indian sponsored regime.  

Mahendra tried to take an independent course consolidating power in hand and so did Birendra also. They did it, primarily, for their own interests as they believed, India would have Nepali Congress leaders at the helm and not the kings if there was any such opportunity. Hence, they distanced themselves from India for their own sake. The end result was somehow positive in regard to Nepal's nationalism. Again, in 1990 a sponsored regime came into existence, and this time, Girija Prasad Koiral replaced Tribhuvan after a gap of about 36 years.

The sponsored regime continued till Gyanedra snatched power in 2002. Again after the 2006 people movement, the sponsored regime took over after a brief gap of about 3 and half years. And, now, the patronized regime is functioning with its full force.

It has become very interesting to delve all squarely into the question why would Nepal have so many sponsored regimes after the three mass movements of 1950, 1990 and 2006? This could be another topic for a serious study  of political science for the students of Indo-Nepal relations.

The third sponsored regime, which came into existence after 2006 mass movement had been the most ambitious, ready-to-go to any lengths and least accountable to Nepali people. The regime's leaders were ready to barter anything for three Ps - for their position, power and pelf.

Girija Prasad Koirala and his company offered its services to India effectively and unquestionably. He was instrumental in creating the anarchic situation just after 2006, which is continuing till todate. He, in company with Pracanda-Baburam and Jhalanath-KP Oli groups made the interim arrangements in such a way that opened Pandora's Box for hundreds of anarchic acts, actions and 'aspirations' so to say. This troika (UCPN-M : United Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist, NC: Nepali Congress, UML: Unified Marxist Leninist ) increased seat numbers in the the disbanded Constituent Assembly to 601. They are responsible to manufacture hundreds of 'martyrs', many among them died in road accidents, gang fights, family quarrels and so forth. By providing one million rupees to each deceased and declaring them 'martyrs', they simply made the word "martyr" disrespectful in all respects.

The Himalayan Times Photo

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala (2nd from L)‚ Chairperson of India's 

ruling United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi (C)‚ Congress I leader 

Karan Singh (L)‚ NC General Secretary Prakash Man Singh (2nd from R) 

and NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula (R) pose for photograph after a 

meeting in Gandhi's office in New Delhi . 

Girija Prasad Koirala was replaced by Prachanda and the latter's successors were replaced again by A, B, C, and Ds etc. But the fundamental character, role and functioning remained the same. They became champions in the areas of corruption that has flourished in an unprecedented and alarming scale and magnitude in the country. These cases of corruptions included billions of rupees appropriated for the upkeep of former Maoist fighters and cantonments in which they were virtually imprisoned. The lives of 'former fighters' and the poor condition of the cantonments are tell-all stories. Then, where did the money make its way? Do we know it ? No, we do not at all. But the glittering bungalows, heavy bank accounts and rosy cheeks of the former Maoist (now Unified Maoists) leaders speak volumes about the whereabouts of the money. The Sudan scandal made the Sitaulas or in other words, Sitaula and his Congress comrades richer and  so seems to be the case with UML leaders also. This sponsored regime has only 'one authority' to be accountable to the Delhi Durbar. Perhaps, Delhi Durbar likes seeing majestic bungalows, elephantine bank balance and rosy cheeks of its 'beloved Nepali Bahadurs'.

Among the troika, Baburam Bhattarai was considered the most pro-India leader and still he is understood that way. However, his popularity nose-dived and India reached to the conclusion that he is no more an asset. India wanted to fathom the willingness and ability of other available leaders to fill the position of India's point person in Nepal who would replace Baburam.

There were five shortlisted leaders  – K P Oli, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, The Prachand himself, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Sushil Koirala.

The Delhi Durbar considers Jahalanath Khanal and Ram Chandra Poudel as dry and skinless sticks of a jute plant called "Sunthi" in Nepali.

Few months ago in a private conversation, an Indian professor told me that replacing Babu Ram Bhattarai had been a very difficult job to do so far. However, it was necessary from the Indo-Nepal relationship perspective. The controversial role of his wife, his questionable tolerance in cases of corruption and Indian government's over use of him, created this unwanted situation. Therefore, India was inviting leaders for necessary discussions. The professor also told that was a Delhi Durbar interview of shortlisted candidates for CEO - 'Chief Executive Officer' or 'Project Manager' to run the ongoing 'Nepal Project'.  You may see delighted faces of those 'shortlisted candidates' who seem, as if, they have just come out worshiping Goddess Sonia Gandhi(Please see the above photograph of Sushil Koirala, Prakash Man Singh and Krishna Sitaula with Sonia Gandhi) and getting words of wisdom from Guru Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh; their polite speeches of gratitude and the actions that follow in Kathmandu, we now can certainly understand how much sovereign are Nepalese people actually ?

People generally say, "Shame on these leaders, who sold Nepal!" I shall add, "Shame on us, the Nepalese people, who have been tolerating this all, for this long!"