MAP ROW WITH NEPAL

Nepal’s prime minister KP Sharma Oli is on a bold move to take on India. By releasing a new map that included sensitive Indian border regions of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh, he has put New Delhi on notice. Notably, this scenario has been developing progressively over the past few years when Nepal started distancing itself from India and edging closer to China.

The ushering in of democracy and winning of power by Communists in Nepal meant new times. Notably, India too is increasingly testing its patience with Kathmandu with China as a principal fly in the ointment. There is very little hope that the old bonhomie that existed between Nepal and India, up until the demise of King Birendra around the turn of the last century would ever be revived to that level again.

Nepal is obviously cut up with the release of a new map by India after the August designation of Ladakh as a Union Territory; this region having been separated from what was the Jammu and Kashmir state. Nepal raised protests that some of its areas were included in the newly released Indian map of the region. The building of an 80-km road to Lipulekh by India to help the pilgrimage to Manasarovar in the Himalayas too caused its own problems between Nepal and India.

The ruling Communist Party in Nepal has close ties with China. Chinese footprints are increasing in the Himalayan nation. China is helping Nepal with infra projects in power and other fields. China’s Belt and Road initiative, that also includes Pakistan, is drawn through Nepal. Once this is ready, Nepal’s dependence on India for transport of goods from India’s western and southern ports will be substantially reduced. The economic blockade effected by India on Nepal during the first term of the Modi government had caused serious troubles for the Himalayan nation. The Madheshi agitation – by people of Indian origin living in the plains close to India – for larger recognition from the Nepal government too set the Nepalese against India.

Nepalese are also cut up with India over the “big brother” attitude shown by Indians as a whole. The 2015 earthquake saw Indian TV channels adopting a patronizing attitude towards Nepal. When Oli targets India, he is bound to win cheers from at least sections of the Nepalese. Analysts also say this is Oli’s way of consolidating his position in the Communist party where two former prime ministers – Prachanda and Madhav Kumar – were trying to outwit him from outside the government.