Wednesday, January 11, 2006

For the first time perhaps, one political creature belonging to the Nepali Congress-Deuba faction has spoken the Indian mind as regards the emerging politics in this Himalayan Kingdom . Let us presume in all good faith that this politico has spoken the truth. Nepali analysts have reasons to believe that whatever have come from the sharp brains of Pradip Giri, an intelligent Nepali brain who is considered to be close to the Indian establishment (could be a rumor only as per the Nepali habit) should have come deliberate in order to make the majority of the Nepali population aware as to how India of late has been viewing the emerging fast developments and what its prescriptions were for the Nepali monarchy and for that matter the Nepali establishment.

Nevertheless, we will apologize if the rumors that tarnish the very bright image of Mr. Giri if in effect were incorrect. In effect to be honest we have high regards for this singular par excellence ideologue in the entire NC paraphernalia.

Now let's see how Mr. Giri pushes his ideas which appear more as Indian views vis-à-vis the Nepali situation as it has evolved in the meantime.

Firstly, Mr. Giri point blank says that a "section of the Indian establishment must have "sincerely" admitted that whatever they did to enhance the Maoists insurgency in Nepal in the past were incorrect". This is what Mr. Giri says on behalf of the Indian establishment. The Indian powers that be in Delhi have yet to collect the guts to accept or even refute what Mr. Giri says on their behalf. Till the other side does not print disclaimers to that effect, let us presume that Mr. Giri is correct in his admission and that he has spoken the truth and truth only. Oblique is the fact that India better late than never has begun repenting on what it did to weaken Nepal for a variety of unexplained political reasons.

The second important thing that the NC-D ideologue has very radiantly put is that following the Indian repentance of its past slip-ups, the Indian establishment in Delhi now fervently wishes that the Maoists insurgents join the Nepal 's main political stream as "junior political partners". But why is this change in the Indian perception Mr. Giri does not reveal in his much-publicized DESHANTAR weekly interview dated 8 January 2006 . He nonetheless, presumes that India might have in its mind that what if the Nepali Maoists clandestinely joined hands with the extreme Left wing of the Indian Maoists and create havoc in their own country. The fact is that this is not an eventuality but a hard fact, which was there for all to see. But then this is not all. Mr. Giri who is really a very good political analyst of international standard does speak of Indian catch-22 situation as well in case the Maoists, at a later date, join the political mainstream. His presupposition that the Indian dilemma is on what if the Nepali Maoists upon joining the Nepali politics in all good faith begin encouraging the Indian Maoists? This is Indian apprehension admits or predicts Mr. Giri. Mr. Giri reading of the Indian psyche appears fabulous in so far as it appears a near possibility which in no way could be dismissed outright looking at the very close ties what our Maoists brothers have with their Indian friends of the same variety.

Hats off Mr. Giri for your marvelous analysis.

Should this mean that Indian establishment will remain ever suspect of the Nepali Maoists' political credentials even after the latter joined the nation's mainstream politics?

Lastly he says that let's not presume that the twelve point agreement that they have signed with the agitating seven political parties does speak of their real intent of having renounced the arms. It is not that forcefully says Mr. Giri. According to him the Maoists instead have become successful in molding the minds of the contracting seven parties to "wage a sort of concerted struggle from their respective quarters against the monarchy". This does not speak in any manner that the Maoists have renounced the arms but instead speaks well that they still will have the arms and the weapons with them, analyses Mr. Giri by adding that this is what has remained the most weakest point of the over hyped twelve point agreement that the seven parties signed with them recently. Explaining the twelve-point treaty, Mr. Giri does not hesitate in terming the said agreement as an "agreement of convenience" which appears to him as a document mainly aimed at "threatening the monarch".

Elaborating the agreement, Mr. Giri says that what is new in the agreement is that the Maoists for the first time have agreed to spell that " for the temporary gains of the constituent assembly, we have converged". It is only this point that brings the Maoists and the agitating parties closer or else the rebels have not, says Mr. Giri, budged an inch from their earlier standpoints.

Concluding his remarks, he also wraps his own political party and others as well by saying that Nepal 's political parties must begin practicing democratic values and norms internally and shun the process of landlordism to what is seen yet in the parties.