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India & The Elections in Nepal.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
15 Dec, 2022

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 

Theme : India and Neighboring countries.
Paper:GS - 2

Nepal’s next government is beginning to take shape.The elections have provided a complex, fragmented mandate. Political stability could be elusive.China is trying to stimulate and tempt Nepal with multiple aids, economic growth and acquisition.Once considered a buffer state between India and China, Nepal is now showing an inclination towards Beijing.

TABLE OF CONTENT

  1. Context
  2. A Background of India-Nepal Ties
  3. India and The Politics in Nepal
  4. Various Aspects of India and Nepal Relations
  5. China’s Role in the Nepal
  6. Importance of Nepal for India
  7. Major Irritants in Indo-Nepal Ties
  8. Road Ahead

 

Context : Nepal’s next government is beginning to take shape.  The elections have provided a complex, fragmented mandate. Political stability could be elusive.

 

A Background of India-Nepal Ties : 

  • Ancient ties: The relationship between India and Nepal goes back to the times of the rule of the Sakya clan and Gautama Buddha.
  • Cultural relations: From 750 to 1750 AD period saw a shift from Buddhism to Hinduism in Nepal and witnessed widespread cultural diffusion.
  • Diplomatic ties: The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.

India and The Politics in Nepal : 

  • Sher Bahadur Deuba-led coalition is likely to form the next government in Nepal. This government is likely to enable smooth ties with India.
  • The Rakhi Diplomacy initiated by Deuba’s wife, was one of the landmark developments for India.
  • The former prime minister KP Sharma Oli was “pro-China”.
  • Even before Oli began his first term in October 2015, India and Nepal had a bitter falling out over Nepal’s new constitution.

Various Aspects of India and Nepal Relations : 

Cultural ties

  • While enjoying their own peculiarities, both India and Nepal share a common culture and ways of life.
  • Religion is perhaps the most important factor and plays a predominant role in shaping the cultural relations between these two countries, marked by a cross country pilgrimage on Char Dham Yatra, Pashupatinath Temple and some Buddhist sites.

 Strategic ties

  • Nepal is a buffer state between India and China.
  • Several Nepali Citizens are also deployed in Indian defense forces as well. Ex. Gorkha Regiment.

Political ties

  • Constitutional turmoil is not new in Nepal. India has played a vital role in the democratic transition in Nepal against the monarch King Gyanendra.
  • Nepali Congress (NC) is one of the country’s oldest parties which supports relations with India, but the communist parties show a tilt towards China.

Economic ties

  • Nepal is an important export market for India. India is Nepal’s largest trading partner.
  • Himalayan rivers flowing through Nepal can be used for hydroelectric power projects which will benefit Border States of UP, Bihar and other adjacent areas.
  • Also, Nepal is the largest borrower of Indian Currency in South Asia. Nepal has an escalating trade deficit with India.  

Connectivity

  • The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship was sought by the Nepali authorities in 1949 to provide for an open border and for Nepali nationals to have the right to work in India.
  • The BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) in which Nepal is a partner will permit the member states to ply their vehicles in each other’s territory for the transportation of cargo and passengers.

Multilateral and Regional Fora

  • Both Nepal and India work in tandem in the United Nations, Non-aligned Movement and other international fora on most of the important international issues.
  • Both countries have been deeply engaged in the regional and sub-regional frameworks of SAARC, BIMSTEC and BBIN for enhancing cooperation for greater economic integration.

China’s Role in the Nepal : 

  • Once considered a buffer state between India and China, Nepal is now showing an inclination towards Beijing.
  • China is trying to stimulate and tempt Nepal with multiple aids, economic growth and acquisition.
  • China has overtaken India as the largest source of foreign direct investment with the annual development assistance being worth $120 million.

Importance of Nepal for India : 

  • Buffer to China: It acts as a strategic buffer against the aggression of China.
  • Pakistan factor: peddling of FICN, drugs and terrorism through the Indo-Nepal border. It makes the cooperation of Nepal important.
  • Common culture: There are huge Nepali communities in Darjeeling and Sikkim. Many marital relations across the border exist.
  • National Security: There is a lot of interdependence. Gurkha Regiment in the Indian Army is known for its valiance.
  • Energy Security: Nepal has the potential of 80 GW of hydroelectricity. But only 600 MW potential has been realized so far.

Major Irritants in Indo-Nepal Ties : 

  • Nepali nationalism and Anti-India sentiments: Anti-India Sentiment in Nepal is largely politically motivated as it is wrongly perceived as India’s backing to Monarchy.
  • China factor: Nepal’s assent for the ‘One Belt One Region’ (OBOR) initiative of China is viewed by India with suspicion. It has slowly fallen prey to China’s inroad debt trap policy.
  • India’s perception of Nepal: The reality is that India has ignored the changing political narrative in Nepal for far too long.
  • Open borders: The issue of open borders has also been a point of debate in Nepal in recent years- Nepalese people argue that India is benefiting more from it than Nepal.
  • Madhesis Issue: Madhesis share extensive cross-border ethnic and linguistic links with India. India was upset that the final draft of the Constitution did not include the marginalization concerns of the Madhesi and the Tharu.

Road Ahead : 

  • Dialogues: In the best spirit of friendship, Nepal and India should restart the water dialogue and come up with policies to safeguard the interests of all those who have been affected on both sides of the border.
  • Investments: TheBilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) signed between India and Nepal needs more attention from Nepal’s side.
  • Sensitization: The onus is on India to rethink on a long-term basis how to recalibrate its relationship with Nepal provided Nepal should not ignore its relations with India.
  • Strengthening Economic Ties: The power trade agreement needs to be such that India can build trust in Nepal.

FAQs : 

  1. Briefly underline the Role of China in Nepal.

ANS. 

  • Once considered a buffer state between India and China, Nepal is now showing an inclination towards Beijing.
  • China is trying to stimulate and tempt Nepal with multiple aids, economic growth and acquisition.
  • China has overtaken India as the largest source of foreign direct investment with the annual development assistance being worth $120 million.

  1. Trace the Ancient Ties between India & Nepal.

ANS. 

  • The relationship between India and Nepal goes back to the times of the rule of the Sakya clan and Gautama Buddha.
  •  From the 750 to 1750 AD period saw a shift from Buddhism to Hinduism in Nepal and witnessed widespread cultural diffusion.