Divash Sharma
In recent past, particularly since the mass movement of 2006, India has created a situation where its influence dominated every aspects of governance in Nepal. The 12-point agreement signed in Delhi was the beginning of a new departure point in Nepal - India relation. The then seven-party-alliance and the then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) got not only Indian political guidance but also logistics including coordinating meetings and providing substantial input in drafting the agreement. Even some critiques suspect that the drafting was out-sourced to India by Nepalese side and simply the fortunate Nepali sides got ready to sign the final product, which they happily did. Anyway, India played dominant role during the time of drafting and signing this agreement. Since then, in every major event in Nepal, there is some sort of Indian involvement.
India very well knew from the beginning that it needs a client regime in Nepal. Here, some explanation is needed about the nature and scope of work of a client regime. After the Indo-Pak war of 1947, India annexed part of Kashmir controlled by its forces by creating some sort of legitimacy in the form of 'consent' of the nominal ruler of Kashmir, Hari Singh. On the other side, Pakistan founded a client regime under Sardar Mohammed Ibrahim Khan by designating him as 'President of Azad Kashmir'.
The 'Azad Kashmir Government' signed an agreement with Pakistan in 1949. The agreement is popularly known as "The Karachi Agreement". Through this agreement, 'Azad Kashmir Government' handed over the important state functions of Kashmir to Pakistani authorities. These functions included "defence, foreign policy, negotiations with the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan, publicity in foreign countries and in Pakistan, co - ordination and arrangement of relief and rehabilitation of refugees, co - ordination of publicity in connection with plebiscite, all activities within Pakistan regarding Kashmir such as procurement of food, civil supplies, running of refugee camps and medical aid and all affairs of Gilgit - Ladakh under the control of Political Agent" (Karachi Agreement 1949). Now, anybody could understand what roles are left for 'Azad Kashmir Government'. If anybody is interested in details, googling "Karachi Agreement 1949" could be beneficial. The 'Azad Kashmir Government' is still there at Muzaffarabad. This is a glaring example of a client regime.
India colonized parts of Kashmir. Also, it provided voting rights to Kashmiri people at par to any other Indian and 'merged' parts of Kashmir into India. However, Pakistan created a client regime and ruled over them without any accountability towards them. There is no Kashmir as Kashmir in India; there are no Kashmiris as Kashmiris in Pakistan. Hence, both are unjustifiable arrangements but of different types.
The arrangements between Pakistan and its client regime in Muzaffarabad are well written. However, India has not done and could not do the same as the time is different, so is the space. Therefore, the forms are different in Kashmir and Nepal. However, the nature and content are similar to each other, if not exactly the same. Hence, there is need of examining India's objectives and expectations from its client regime in Kathmandu. These objectives and expectations include but not limited to the following critical areas.
• Securing Nepal-India board, keeping eye on Nepal-China boarder, observing movements regarding international arrivals and departures via air routes and getting extradition treaty signed so as to arrange access to India’s terror suspects including Pakistanis in Nepal. This is the item-wise break down of India’s much talked about security perceptions.
• Getting away with or at least maintaining the status queue regarding anti-India sentiment among Nepali people. This is what India talks loud about India’s willingness for Nepal’s progress and spreads ‘seeds of goodwill’ in the form of small grants to schools, communities and other smaller institutions.
• Getting hold over Nepal’s water resources and getting unrestricted access of its products and services to Nepal. India has encouraged Indian private or public sector companies for securing water resources and expanding networks to Nepali market. It has already controlled many large water projects and the Koshi high dam (Sapta Koshi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Koshi Storage cum Diversion Scheme) heads its priority list now. Also, BIPPA has created platform for expansion of its production networks in Nepal, if it desires so.
• Providing Nepal a pair of shoes, which Nepal wears and follows India in any strategic or critical journey that India makes in the international arena.
The mass movement of 2006 provided India a unique opportunity as there was a most unpopular king as the target of the movement; dethroned, weak and unpopular parliamentary parties were struggling for their very existence and a powerful but vulnerable Maoist party led by its ambitious leaders of middle class origin was standing at the crossroads. Without any delay, India jumped into the situation by bringing a few tankers loaded with petroleum, a few tankers with nutritious juice and a few tankers with plain water. Seeing the tankers loaded with petroleum; the king rushed to his lavatory. The malnourished parliamentary parties lined up for the juice and the ready-to-cross-the-floor Maoist leaders cooled down with the plain water. As a result, the king watered down; the seven-party-alliance was formed and they made contractual arrangement with the Maoist leaders. Finally, a client regime came into existence under the leadership of the ‘great’ Girija Prasad Koirala. After Girija Prasad Koirala, three more leaders offered their services to India according to the best of their abilities and statures. From everyone, India got something. Now, another leader is serving India as one of the most valuable collaborator.The former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shyam Saran told recently that India intervened to save General Rukmangud Katawal to preserve the professionalism of Nepal Army. (
http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/28/top-story/india-intervened-in--katawal-case-sharan/357832.html) This is enough to understand the gravity of the intervention. When a foreign country could influence the appointment or retention of an Army Chief, we could easily understand how Nepal has been running its business. A friend of mine emailed me this morning stating that, “I am not a hydrophobic anti-India activist. However, Saran's revelation made me feeling powerless and insecure”. The Nepali state has lost its sovereign power to make decisions together with its glory, status and manoeuvrability.
As Patriotic Nepali citizens, we should do not blame India primarily for all ills that we have. Promoting and protecting its national interest is a legitimate right of India. However, we should oppose Indian design that does not respect Nepal’s sovereign rights as an independent nation. Moreover, it has established a client regime in Nepal that is absolutely unacceptable. Hence, the client regime should be defeated and replaced by a regime which is committed to Nepali cause.
The Nepali patriotic forces should define their own objectives. A few vitally important ones are mentioned below.
• Protect national boarders in all directions that include international airports. Take charge of national security.
• Maintain patriotic alertness and be prepared to oppose when and where Nepali sovereign rights are challenged.
• Protect Nepali national resources and exploit them on the best interest of Nepal by mobilizing local, bilateral or multilateral resources, skills and technologies. Keep business environment friendlier to indigenous enterprises, skills and technologies to make Nepal prosperous.
• Take firm stand in any international forum by maintaining independence and protecting Nepali interests.
The primary obstacle in the way of attaining the above mentioned objectives is not India but it is its client regime in Kathmandu. This regime from the very day of its inception has been continuously injuring Nepal gravely. Hence, defeating and replacing the present client regime has become a precondition. All democratic, progressive, patriotic and nationalist forces should come together to launch a decisive movement to protect Nepali national sovereignty and independence and to create a way out from the disastrous situation that Nepal is in now. If people want to end the Indian proxy rule, they have to effectively end the client regime system that has been continuing quite for some time in Nepal.
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Note: The article was also posted on
www.thehimalayanvoice.com on August 04, 2012. The following thoughtful comment had been posted on the same blogsite. I have reposted the comment below and thank The Himalayan Voice.
COMMENT
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Madhukar <
madhukarsjbrana@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Subject: Re: INDIA'S CLIENT REGIME IN KATHMANDU GRAVELY HURTS NEPAL
To: The Himalayan Voice <
himalayanvoice@gmail.com>
The hope and grounds for a sovereign, independent Nepal lies surely in the hearts and minds of our youth today. Let us pray that they enter politics with this spirit and mindset to expunge the older party leaders that are part and parcel of this shameful and hurtful client regime that the author speaks of so passionately.
In addition to his excellent action points we need to underscore the need for a strong managerial civil service free of political leverage; the creation of an autonomous National Intelligence Agency mandated by the Constitution along with a National Security Council -- that is much broader than the present dysfunctional NSC.
Last but not the least we, need to set up National Economic Council (NEC) to debate and deliberate on the economic dimensions of national interest and guide all planning agencies at all levels of governance. Dismantle the current National Planning Commission and have it, if felt needed, as part of the PMO to advise the political party/parties in power. Presently, the NPC is a political body that is victimized by policy paradigms laid out by the donor nations and institutions.
The proposed NEC must subscribe to the philosophy and principles of people-private-public pragmatic - partnerships to garner political, economic and social spaces to the spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship for a prosperous, developed and independent Nepal.
Reforming the Nepal Police towards making it a community police force (CPF) while strengthening the Armed Police Force to include border security, industrial security, highway security and infrastructure security are vital, strategic musts.
Thank you for this patriotic article. Let's keep the debate on to rid ourselves of our client state mindset and leaders once in for all
Madhukar SJB Rana,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Reply to Mr. Mdhukar SJB Rana
Dear Mr. Rana,
I read your thoughtful comments though quite after a long time you posted. I agree with the important issues related to economic restructuring and governance you have raised.
Now, Nepal has been facing dangers from its rulers and their foreign conductors. In this critical juncture, being silent also is a criminal act. Hence, individually or collectively, we must express ourselves whichever way we could.
The leaders, particularly from the big parties are lining up as India's Team "A", "B" and "C". Now, Prachnada-Baburam &Co together with the opportunist leaders from Madhes stands as Team A, NC & Co as Team B and UML & Co as Team C. All of them are competing against each other. It sounds that an Indian Domestic Political League is in action in Nepal.
Sometime ago, a friend of mine told, "We are much unfortunate than the Sikkimis as Sikkimis at least have been represented at the highest level of Indian legislative, the parliament. But, we are governed by the agents and we do not have any presence at that level. We are ruled without representation. Hence, we are living in a colony." I am not sure. However, he has his point.
Now, options are quite limited. If the progressive, democratic, nationalist and inclusive federalist forces come together; they could challenge these Indian puppets. I believe, we could and should contribute to promote and strengthen such forces. By our actions, which include writing, speeches, art works, agitations, advocacy, campaigns etc, let's encourage them to come together and to challenge and to end the misrule, loot and anarchy of the ruling political sub-contractors.
Best regards
Divash
