Numerous factors are at play in Nepal but the combination is deadly, dangerous and difficult to undo. After more than seven years of political deadlock, two Constituent Assembly elections and Nepal's second largest earthquake ever, the new Constitution was finally promulgated in the third week of September. Related to this a series of events both in Nepal and India seemed to emerge together complicating the birth of a new nation.In early August when the 6-state model was agreed on and announced, street protests erupted, most noticeably, in far western Nepal. In short order, the most contentious elements delaying constitutional consensus—the drawing of state boundaries—were addressed by lawmakers in a matter of days as a new state was added and the boundary lines redrawn.
However, instead of solving the problem, other minorities were quick to learn that they too could have state boundaries redrawn via street protests. As the police and army tried to quell protestors violence escalated and casualties mounted. After a Senior Superintendent of Police was brutally murdered, it seemed the use force went beyond maintaining law and order. Children were shot dead.
Then with the coming elections in Bihar and the common bond of kith and kin shared with people on both sides of the border, the BJP government in New Delhi could not be seen as inactive or passive. Otherwise, they would surely feel the wrath of the people via the ballot box. An unofficial blockade was imposed in the name of heightened security threats in Nepal.
As lawmakers in Nepal continued the final steps in ratifying the new constitution, India sought to have the process postponed. But it was bad timing. With the overt sortie from India, Nepal's national pride was at stake. If the Nepal government heeded the call from South Block at the eleventh hour the shock waves would echo in the hills and valleys of Nepal and be seen as acquiescence. Unfortunately this may have left the Indian government with the feeling of being snubbed or ungrateful for its unprecedented investments in Nepal, both personally and politically, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government.
More fuel was added to the fire as Nepal had to form a new government in a matter of weeks. Suddenly everything became highly politicized, party self-interestsbegan to reign supreme and previous agreements set aside.
What can be done? Nepal needs to do what it can do. Demands of the protestors are being met or are under discussion.
Misunderstandings need to be corrected and Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyaya and others are doing their best. Right now, the most important step for the new government is to work to open a new chapter in Indo-Nepal relationship allowing the cordial and historically friendly bilateral relation to be restored.
The author is director of education for UPF-Asia
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