Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi must be the last person Nepalis would like to think of these days. Unfortunately, his presence is felt everywhere in Nepal in the form of blockade, suffering, chaos and humanitarian crisis. Even children know their mother is unable to serve them their preferred food because "Modi has obstructed supply of essential goods and fuel." Patients in the hospitals are deprived of vital drugs.All businesses are suffering from lack of fuel, rendering thousands of people jobless.
He is the same Narendra Modi who had created 'Modimania' in Nepal not very long ago. The 65-year-old who became the prime minister of world's largest democracy in May 2014 had rushed to Nepal to convince Nepalis that he feels special about them and his tenure as Indian prime minister was going to be special for the Himalayan country. Innocent Nepalis took his words to heart and considered him a true friend.
It has become clear now that those assurances were sweet nothings. The fact that he has transformed into a foe from a good friend that he was supposed to be apparently means nothing to him.
Experts have reminded him that India is breaching international norms by imposing an economic blockade on a landlocked country. As per United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, a landlocked country gets an unrestricted right of access to and from the sea of the nearby costal state. This very much applies to Nepal as well. Similarly, India has violated Nepal-India Transit treaty as well as the Agreement on South Asia Free Trade Area Agreement (SAFTA) and a number of other international obligations. But Modi does not care. He is silent even when his popularity is fast eroding.
There are many speculations regarding Modi's modus operandi in Nepal. Few believe he is imposing blockade to protect rights of marginalized Madheshis. Most people thinks Modi wants to make sure Nepal remains under Indian domination in perpetuity and can maintain absolute control over Nepal's vital water resources.
Modi need not worry about Madheshis in Nepal. Nepalis have been through many such roller-coasters in the recent times.
People of Madhesh (unless provoked to act otherwise) know they are as much Nepalis as their hill counterparts. Both Madheshis and Pahadis know lack of development and opportunities is their shared problem. Every Nepali knows economic revolution is the need of the present and the future. Only politicians care about issues of federal demarcation and representation.
Experts say Nepal's new constitution, which India only "noted" instead of welcoming, is better than most countries'. They are not wrong. Gender discrimination is perhaps the only thing that the constitution has failed to address. A man and a woman have not been treated equally in terms of citizenship laws. Though Nepali women, who account for half of the country's population, object to this bias, they have not protested hard enough.
Despite their reservations, women have supported this constitution because they have been direct witness of labor pain Nepal as the country suffered so much in the process of giving birth to the constitution. The time and resources Nepal invested for constitution was solely ours, not India's.
While pregnant, a woman expects to deliver a healthy baby. But even if the newborn does not meet her expectations, she loves and nurtures her. For a true Nepali, this constitution is like a baby they have had after long gestation. They might wish for finer features but are no less happy with what is at hand. There are challenges ahead but Nepalis love to see the baby (read: constitution) grow into a healthy and capable human being.
Indian meddling in Nepal in the name of Madhesh is unwarranted. Nepalis hate it especially when India is itself facing multiple problems within its territory including its failure to address Gorkhaland issue. As a good neighbor (if it is), India can only suggest what may be done and has right to feel bad when its suggestion is not heeded, but it cannot deal with us cruelly.
India should notice how civil society leaders in Madhesh are worried about Indian meddling. They have urged both the government and agitating parties to sit for meaningful talks. Every Nepali thinks Madheshis should be heard and mainstreamed.
Both civilians and security personnel have lost their lives in Madhesh. Even hill people want the government to intervene and take the situation under control. We have responsible media and active youths to keep the government honest. Modi should understand that India has no business teaching us what to do.
Great many Nepalis believe Nepal will emerge from this pain one day, irrespective of what India does. Some are happy to see their leaders, who used to dance to India's tunes, for once standing up for Nepal's interests.
People believe Nepal will rise from this hardship while gradually minimizing its dependency on India. They also know Modi's "fall" in Nepal is meaningful. When you act against basic rules of humanity and smile when people suffer, you are sure to lose your inner strength one day.
@JournoAnjali
Related story
5 home remedies to stop hair fall
