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VOL. 28, NO. 24, March 20, 2009 (Chaitra 07 2065)
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Visit with Purpose
Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s recent visit to New Delhi for health check-up shakes the Maoist government
By A CORRESSPONDENT
Although former prime minister and Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala declared that his visit to New Delhi was just for the simple purpose of his long due health check up in India, however, the report of his visit has send a shock wave in Maoist camp.
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| Koirala: Political Treatment? |
From prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who publicly revealed that he lived eight years in India out of ten years long insurgency in Nepal, to JNU’s Ph.D and finance minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and finally civil society leader Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey, all raised their voices against Koirala claiming that this visit was to oust the Maoist led government from power.
Maoists are much worried not only from the visit of former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala but the visit of former king Gyanendra who is now in his 15 days sojourn to India to attend the marriage ceremony.
“I have credible report that Girija Prasad went to New Delhi to dislodge our government. This is completely anti-national,” said finance minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, who reportedly coordinated the 12 points agreement signed between Maoist and seven party alliance in New Delhi. “Girija Prasad’s intention is to grab the power at any cost even sacrificing national interest,” said Dr. Bhattarai whose recent budget curtails Nepal’s bilateral trade with third countries.
Having a long association with the scholars of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Dr. Bhattarai might have well known sources in New Delhi where he coordinated a meeting with the leader of seven parties.
“I don’t think there is any reason for such panic. As Maoists and SPA signed 12 points agreement in New Delhi and they took decision to declare Nepal Republic in Delhi, what Dr. Bhattarai can perceive may be true. Only snakes can see the leg of snakes,” said former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, reacting to Dr. Bhattarai’s remarks.
Whether one likes it or not, it is not new in Nepal how New Delhi can influence politics in Nepal. Thanks to New Delhi’s blessing, a leader of a radical party which killed more than 15000 people in Nepal is now leading the government.
Politicians’ remarks are understandable as they are going to lose their power but it is very strange to see the write up of the civil society member like Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey who was part of all kinds of previous agreement signed in New Delhi.
Although former prime minister Koirala’s visit, though it was highlighted as a major political visit by local newspapers and Nepali political leaders, may have nothing to do with the change of Maoist government, the reaction created the situation that prime minister Prachanda himself felt threatened.
By making hue and cry by Nepalese, India has got what it wanted as it made prime minister Prachanda nervous. “I don’t want to pull down this government now. I don’t have to go to Delhi to pull down this government,” thundered Koirala.
Whatever one can say about the visit and reactions, the euphoria created by visit helps pressure prime minister Prachanda. As Indian foreign secretary Menon’s favourite quote about diplomacy in India Today in 2007 which says “diplomacy is to get other people to do what I want but get them to think that I am doing what they want.”
