By Babbler
Indian authorities continue to trouble Nepalis living in the border areas. Recently, when local residents in Susta were constructing a temporary embankment to protect their settlements from the Narayani River, Indian security personnel in civilian clothes allegedly entered Nepali territory and forced them to stop the construction.
Following the incident, local residents protested what they described as Indian interference. Subsequently, Nepal’s Armed Police Force requested the Indian personnel to withdraw and urged that the issue be resolved through high-level diplomatic talks.
People on the Nepali side staged strong protests against what they viewed as India’s domineering attitude and its attempt to encroach upon Nepali territory. We commend the local residents for their courage in resisting such actions and exposing what they believe are India’s ill intentions.
CK Raut’s Intentions
CK Raut, who pursued his higher education in the United States, appears to no longer uphold the spirit of Nepali nationality. When K.P. Sharma Oli was Prime Minister, he facilitated Raut’s entry into mainstream politics, stating that Raut had abandoned his demand for an independent Tarai state and agreed to work within Nepal’s constitutional framework.
However, after communal unrest surfaced last week, Raut once again called for a separate Madhesh nation.
Based on this statement, many view Raut’s position as contrary to Nepal’s national interest. If his remarks violate the country’s laws, the government should examine whether legal action is warranted.
Petroleum Price Hike
The market continues to face instability because of fluctuations in international petroleum prices. Such volatility has also created opportunities for some businesses to take undue advantage of consumers.
China has reportedly identified significant petroleum reserves in Dailekh. If Nepal, in partnership with China, were to explore and develop these petroleum resources, the country could become more self-reliant and substantially reduce its import bill.
Why should the government not make a serious effort to pursue such a project?
The Same Game Continues
How do supporters of federalism justify the continuing cycle of forming and toppling governments in the provinces?
The CPN-UML and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) have forged a new alliance and are now attempting to form coalition governments across the provinces. Once again, political horse-trading is expected in several provinces. Nepal’s provincial structure has increasingly become a mechanism for producing ministers and chief ministers rather than strengthening democratic governance.
The latest provincial realignments also expose another weakness in Nepal’s federal system. Provincial governments increasingly appear to function as extensions of bargaining at the federal level rather than as autonomous administrations accountable to provincial voters. Coalition arrangements are negotiated in Kathmandu and then replicated in the provinces, often with little regard for local political realities. As a result, provincial leadership has become a bargaining chip rather than the outcome of a democratic mandate.
This cycle has repeated itself for years. Political leaders denounce instability while simultaneously contributing to it. They speak of institutional politics but continue to rely on personal negotiations. They preach ideology in public but calculate numbers behind closed doors.
The bigger problem is that such developments no longer surprise the public. When political leaders repeatedly abandon their own commitments, public cynicism deepens. Citizens stop believing political promises because experience tells them those promises often expire as soon as a more advantageous political deal emerges. Prachanda’s latest move, and Oli’s willingness to embrace it, reinforce a familiar pattern in Nepali politics: principles remain negotiable, but power never is. Until that political culture changes, promises of stability, reform, and ideological commitment will continue to sound less like genuine convictions and more like temporary campaign slogans.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Now even minor incidents are forcing the army to be deployed. People have stopped respecting the police. Without the monarchy, the country is heading toward chaos.
–Shashank Ghimire
There is now a genuine fear that the country may become engulfed in religious and communal conflict. Every political party, the general public, religious leaders, and the government must take positive initiatives to maintain social harmony. However, it is unfortunate that the government has failed to play the expected role of a responsible guardian. Let us all work together to preserve social harmony.
–Om Kumar Thapa (Om)
CK Raut is trying to stage a political comeback by exploiting this incident of communal conflict. This strategy will ultimately backfire on him. He is trying to capitalize on fear in the Madhesh.
–Basanta Basnet
Seal the border immediately. The root cause of the problem is the open border with India, through which all these people have entered—Rohingyas, Pakistanis, Somalis, and even Americans!
–Bhumi Raj
Everyone should have noticed this. It is necessary to look beyond Angkaji Sherpa, CK Raut, Prachanda, and Baburam Bhattarai. It is time to speak out.
–Mahesh Mal
No Prime Minister uses the national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines. When addressing the nation, they do not give priority to the country’s own public broadcasting institutions. Such behavior raises serious questions about how much confidence and respect our leaders have for the state’s own institutions. A nation is not defined merely by its geography; it is also sustained by faith in its public institutions, traditions, and national symbols. If the country’s leaders themselves do not trust these institutions, why should the people? Governing a nation is a serious responsibility. Leadership requires vision, accountability, and commitment to national institutions. Otherwise, it becomes like the saying: “An inexperienced person picked up a slingshot and destroyed the beehive.”
–Deepak Raj Joshi
Another unfortunate incident has occurred in Dhanusha. Communal tensions have erupted in the Tarai before, but this time the situation feels different. It seems as though this is only one small link in a much larger conspiracy. From Myanmar and Manipur in the east to Ladakh and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the west, unrest is flaring up simultaneously. If these disturbances become interconnected, the entire Himalayan region could be pushed toward instability. Meanwhile, certain elements are attempting to spread poison in Nepal’s eastern hills. Tibetan refugees have been unusually active since last year. India has only one step left before issuing a red alert in the Siliguri Corridor. The Indian establishment itself appears insecure. Could this be the final chapter of a long-term strategy that has been in the making for the past half-century?
–Apil Gurung
Are the Rohingyas really Nepal’s problem? No. Nepal’s problem lies within the country itself—the foreign-backed political parties. These very parties have allowed Indians and other foreigners to enter the country in large numbers. Once the foreigners are sent back, these parties may collapse, but their agents will continue to work against the nation. Without eliminating these political brokers, the problem cannot be solved. Have any of them spoken up during the current crisis?
–Ganesh Regmi
How can anyone say that Gagan Thapa had no planned role in provoking religious conflict, especially when both India and Myanmar were aware of this issue and refused to allow those people to remain in their own territories?
–Bikalpa Pokhareli
The weakening of civil society in Nepal has several major causes: Donald Trump’s return to power, the suspension of donor funding, prolonged wars, and the shrinking role of transnational actors. In Nepal’s context, donor funding has decreased, public awareness has increased, people have begun criticizing individuals within civil society for becoming dependent on foreign funding, communication technology has expanded, politics has become commercialized, and ordinary citizens are now better able to question whose interests certain voices actually represent. These are among the many reasons.
–Binod Neupane
Should the government stop appointing advisers altogether? Or should it at least limit the number of advisers and personal aides? In reality, the Chief Secretary is the Prime Minister’s principal adviser and the official responsible for implementing the Prime Minister’s directives. Likewise, the secretary serves as the minister’s principal official, while the ministry and the entire civil service already function as the government’s administrative secretariat.
–Kosmos Biswokarma
Good to Know: The continued expansion of radio in the digital age may sound unbelievable, but it is true. In many African countries, radio remains the primary source of news. This is the finding of a recent public opinion survey conducted by Afrobarometer. The main reasons are that radio sets are small, inexpensive, and easily accessible. In addition, even low-cost mobile phones often come equipped with FM radio receivers, eliminating the need to purchase expensive mobile data.
–Dhruba H. Adhikary
What a contrast between King Mahendra and today’s leaders! If they only create a path for foreign troops to enter Nepal, the people will bury them alive.
— Durga Prabhat Kaflé
It is the broader safety and security provided by the Nepal Army that allows Nepalis to enjoy their freedom today. Otherwise, who would have contained the anarchy that began in September last year? Would public awareness alone have stopped it? Bipin Ji’s (Senior advocate Bipin Adhikari) argument is closely aligned with the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. You may disagree with it, but those who speak the truth should not be silenced.
Prabhat Kaflé
I express my solidarity with, and deep respect for, the local people of Susta who have been continuously resisting the encroachment and expansionist actions carried out by Indian security personnel, including today. However, it would be a serious mistake to leave the resolution of this issue solely to the resistance of the local people. The Government must immediately initiate dialogue and diplomatic efforts with India, and take credible steps to safeguard Nepal’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national interests, while upholding the dignity and self-respect of the Nepali people.
–Narayan Kaji Shrestha Prakash
Who brought this wildfire (communal conflict) into the country? Was it the monarchy? Was it the Panchayat system? Or was it those proponents of democracy who, in the name of “inclusiveness,” turned communal conflict into a political and vote-bank strategy?
–Dipak Gyawali
Nepal has a tendency to formulate policies and laws without adequate study, analysis, or preparation. Although such ad hoc measures may appear to offer immediate solutions, they often produce results that are the exact opposite of what was intended—much like the well-known Cobra Effect. Therefore, when drafting policies or laws, it is essential to carefully consider the incentive structures they create, how society is likely to respond, and their long-term consequences. It would be wise to give serious thought to these issues before it is too late.
–Surya Raj Acharya
Excerpted and translated by Sushma Shrestha
Login to add a comment