People's Democracy

Fruitful Solidarity Visit To Nepal

Sitaram Yechury

Yechury speaking to former prime minister and Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala

Following the abrogation of democracy and the dissolution of the elected parliament in Nepal by the King, in February 2005, this was the first political delegation to visit the country. Readers will recollect that following the King’s action on February 1, an all-party committee was formed in India to express solidarity with the Nepalese people’s struggle for the restoration of democracy. With Harkishan Singh Surjeet as its convenor and D P Tripathi as its secretary, a largely attended people’s convention was organised.

Apart from expressing solidarity with the Nepali people’s struggle, the convention demanded of the Indian government that it should in no manner provide any sort of legitimacy to the Nepal King’s action of abrogating democracy, and accordingly suspend arms supply to Nepal. Such supplies were subsequently suspended. However, following the meeting between the Nepal King and the Indian prime minister in Indonesia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary observations of the Bandung Conference, the arms supply was restored. This was, however, again stopped following large-scale protests in India.

During their stay in Nepal, the delegation had detailed meetings with the political parties as well as with the seven-party alliance. The Nepali Congress led by Girija Prasad Koirala, the General Secretary of the CPN(UML) Comrade Madhav Nepal, the Nepali Congress (Democratic), the Left Front, the United Marxist Party and a large number of human rights groups organised under the banner of civil society, hosted separate meetings and interactions with the delegation.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, the delegation was "greeted" by a black flag demonstration and stone pelting, organised by those who are loyal to the Nepal King. The supporters of political parties on the other hand were not permitted to come anywhere near the airport. The delegation took this in their stride, stating that in a democracy there is an inherent right to protest; this right however should be extended to everybody in Nepal. This action by the royalists evoked strong condemnation from all political forces and the civil society in Nepal.

FINAL WORD RESTS WITH PEOPLE

Dismissing the charge levelled by the royalists that the visit was an interference in Nepal’s internal affairs, the delegation emphasised that the Indian people’s support is to the Nepalese people’s struggle for restoration of democracy in their country. The Nepalese people alone will finally decide on the character and content of the democratic structures to be established in Nepal. Intense discussions are already on amongst the Nepali people on how their future democratic society should be organised. The Indian delegation’s concern for the restoration of democracy in Nepal, thus does not constitute an interference in the internal affairs of that country, rather it is an expression of the Indian people’s commitment to democracy.

The delegation unequivocally reiterated that it is for the Nepali people and its political leadership to decide on how the various elements in Nepal – the political parties; the Palace; the Maoists and civil society – will function under a democratic structure and what will be their specific roles.

Countering the ridiculous allegation that India is harbouring Nepali Maoists, the delegation pointed out that India has been domestically concerned with the activities of ultra-Left groups in various states. In all these states, the effort is to draw these sections into the democratic political process. Urging these groups to abjure violence and to join the democratic mainstream, some state governments, in fact, are making efforts to start a dialogue with such groups. Given this approach, there cannot be any question of India harbouring Nepali Maoists. In this connection the delegation expressed its earnest hope that the popular forces would not allow vested interests to take recourse to such allegations and the consequent spread of anti-India feelings, in order to justify the abrogation of democracy in Nepal.

The delegation was informed by the Nepali leaders that, since the Palace coup, the economic situation in the country had rapidly deteriorated. The state has incurred a massive fiscal deficit. The people are slowly realising that during the fifteen years of a democratic set-up, the share of Nepal’s industry in the GDP rose from below one per cent to over 10 per cent. The restoration of democracy in Nepal, thus is also being seen as essential aspect for the country’s modernisation.]

As a gesture of reciprocation, the Indian delegation invited a delegation of the seven-party alliance in Nepal to visit India at their convenience. The month of October, i.e., two weeks preceding Dussera to a week after Diwali, is traditionally observed and celebrated by the Nepali people. The period following this will see renewed political activity for the restoration of democracy in Nepal. A delegation of Nepali political leaders is likely to visit India during this period.

Before departing, the delegation assured the Nepali political parties and the people that it would continue to urge upon the Indian government not to provide any form of legitimacy for the King’s actions of abrogating democracy and not to re-start the supply of arms. The King’s actions have already evoked widespread concern globally. The Nepali King had to cancel his intended participation in the UN General Assembly celebrating the UN’s 60th anniversary because all major countries in the world, it is widely believed, refused to grant him a special audience.

India and Nepal enjoy a very long and deep mutually inter-dependent relationship. The delegation reiterated the Indian people’s desire to strengthen these bonds respecting the Nepali people’s desire for the restoration of democracy in Nepal.