Some years back, the Maoists boasted they were expanding their sphere of influence right up to Nepal. Their slogan was: From Tirupati (in Andhra Pradesh, India) to Pashupati (in Kathmandu, Nepal). They weren't taken seriously then. But things have changed now, especially following the deadly attack earlier this week I blogged about yesterday.
Today, the Maoist insurgency, which started in the 1940s in a small place called Naxalbari in West Bengal (hence the name ‘Naxalites’), has spread to at least 16 of India’s 28 states. Everything the Maoists say today must be taken very seriously indeed.
But the insurgency—in security terms described as left wing extremism—has raised some troubling questions for Indian policymakers . These include:
1. Is the Naxal fire being stoked from abroad, by state or non-state actors? Indian officials have spoken rather mutedly about the foreign hand behind the Naxals. Even if the foreign involvement is currently minimal, what happens if these foreign actors eventually come forward in a significant way (for example backed by terror outfits funded out of Pakistan like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed) to extend training, funding and arms to the Maoists?
2. Militarily, how should the Indian state should deal with the Maoists? Should the Indian government use the Army and Air Force to give a decisive edge to Operation Green Hunt against the Naxals—something New Delhi never did in countering insurgencies in Kashmir or terrorism in Punjab?
3. What would be the political cost for the UPA government if it were to take the war against the Naxals to a new and decisive level, yet even bigger Dantewada-type massacres then take place more frequently in response?
There are no easy answers to these questions. Personally, I see the Naxal problem as the biggest security challenge for India, with its roots a complex mix of non-governance, mis-governance, corruption, illiteracy, unemployment and a pathetic lack of infrastructural development. The government will have to adopt a two-pronged approach: launching better planned surgical strikes by competent security personnel at Maoist strongholds while simultaneously giving a fillip to developmental efforts.
But this is easier said than done. To begin with, New Delhi must do two things immediately. One, it must prevent a further spread of the Maoist insurgency, rather than focusing on reclaiming or liberating territory under Maoist control. Second, the central government needs to create a separate ministry or a division directly under the Prime Minister’s Office to initiate, implement and monitor developmental and infrastructure-related schemes in the Red Zones.
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Dirgha Raj Prasai
Dear editor,
From the very beginning we knew that the reality-’The Maoists boasted they were expanding their sphere of influence right up to Nepal. Their slogan was: From Tirupati (in Andhra Pradesh, India) to Pashupati (in Kathmandu, Nepal).But, now, they are spreading their voice. Due to the mistake by some Indian leaders RAW, the Maoists of Nepal India was out of control.
Cordial people to people level relations between Nepal and India has existed since ancient times. We have to keep friendly relations with India due to our similar cultural and religious traditions. But sadly Indian congress, ever since coming to power has been striving to destabilize Nepal. India, through its intelligence agency ‘RAW’, has been found continuously involved in destabilizing our national identities – royal institution, Hindu Kingdom and national language, which were developed along with the ideology of national unity, security and national identity.
The Maoists are opening a ‘Pandora’s Box’ (evils collections) in the name of so-called ‘Civilian supremacy’. Actually, after the election of Constituent assembly-2008, the Maoist, UML; Madhesi based
government failed in their commitment. The Maoist-led government has failed to maintain the rule of law and become failure to provide social justice to the common people. Due to the Maoist leadership the rule of law, Judiciary, Nepal army, and prestige of Nepalese identities including Pashupatinath, religious culture and traditions are at peril. The Maoist, during the insurgency, destroyed infrastructure, including projects of hydro-power, irrigation projects, radio stations, television, suspension-bridges and telephone towers. So, the
poor Nepalese people are still in painful. Now, the Maoists have no vision and honesty how to move the nation. What is ‘Civilian supremacy?’ To establish one-party Communist rule?
The Delhi 12 points agreement 2005 has been the major cause to create the crisis and desintrigate. Now, Nepalese Maoists, RIM and COMPOSA have been joining the hands for one-party anarchist-Communist rule.
Nepalese people are not secure. The situation is very dark. But, the Maoists are dancing before Govt. offices in the name of protest for so-called ‘Civilian supremacy’. Actually, they are getting fizzle out.
If the situation would not be solved in time under the leadership by the nationalists, Nepal as well as India can’t secure. The Maoist regime was just like a poisonous wine in a new bottle.
We, Nepalese people are suffering from the notorious activities of traitors as well as UNMIN. Nepalese people had expected that the UN’s role would be impartial. But the UN could not remain neutral. The
UNMIN listens only to the Maoist rebels and the corrupt leaders of the so-called big party totally disregarded the aspiration of majority of the Nepalese people. In the main time UNMIN also is active to support Maoist’s agenda. UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon also misguided from UNMIN and Ban Ki- Moon has urged for a national government participated by the Maoist. And he asked the government for not
recruiting new personnel in the Nepal army and also not providing lethal arms to the Nepal army, a national security force. That is not the joke for Nepal and India. The Nepalese and Indian leaders could
not understand the grand-design of Maoist. The Maoists are going to establish anarchism in Nepal. Maoists used to claim them nationalist. But they are completely exposed by their confused and non-political
activities.
Nepalese people had expected that the UN’s role would be impartial. But the UN could not remain neutral. The UNMIN listens only to the Maoist rebels and the corrupt leaders of the so-called big party totally disregarded the aspiration of majority of the Nepalese people supporting Maoists and its rebels by allowign them to keep the weapons with them in the cantonment and let them start the youth force (YCL) who can be the law and order itself as they used to do during their revolution. So, Nepalese democratic exercise faced the black period in between 2005-2009. During the period, Nepalese people tolerated the worst political practices made by corrupt leaders. The nation achieved the climaxed height of the lawlessness, theft, robbery, ransom and murder.
What were pitfalls of the Constitution of 1990? Why was it suspended
without reason? What kind of new constitution they require? These are
the causes of crisis in Nepal. Nepalese democratic exercise faced the
black period in between 2005-2009. During the period, Nepalese people
tolerated the worst political practice made by corrupt leaders.
The so-called People’s movement II which was guided by India, were two
vital agendas-Republic & Secular state. Without analyzing the
assumption, the some Indian leaders supported the Nepalese Maoist’s
hypocrisy. I am sorry to write that it was a great blunder of Indian
Government and the notorious diplomats- Shyam Saran, Sive Shankar
Mukharejee and other officials who not only blundered in their
assessment of Maoist but also did much harm to Indian’s interests in
Nepal. ‘Crows are never the white for washing.’
Recently, Maoist leader Pracanda said “If there is another revolt at
least one million people may lose their precious lives. We need to be
very careful at this juncture, to stop the casualties. When the people
revolt they obliterate everything. If the mandate of the CA election
is further ridiculed we will declare war” What is that? The Maoist
wants to come to power but the dirty way. ‘A dog’s tail in a barrel
always crooked’.
Similarly, the Maoist leader Mr. Bhattarai says- ‘After the abolition
of the monarchy, would try to resist, and our main contradiction then
would be with the bourgeois democratic parties. After April 2009 [when
Prachanda resigned from government], that phase of the Constituent
Assembly and implementation of the bourgeois democratic republic was
more or less complete. We had formulated the People’s Liberation Army
(PLA), we had our base areas, we had a lot of mass support, and all
this we have been able to preserve. The PLA is still with us, and the
arms we collected during that war are still with us within the
single-key system, monitored by the United Nations team, but basically
the key is with us and the army is with us and we have never
surrendered. We are still continuing in the path of revolution.’ What
is that? Can Indian leaders and America & UN’s diplomats answer the
result? The national army can’t compare with Maoist’s army. Now, in
Nepal, we have two kinds of army- the national army and the Maoist’s
army. Can we imagine two kinds of army in a country?
Why UNMIN is not responsible for the overall management and
supervision of Maoist army and their movement? It is the matter of
grief for all. The intention of UN and its Org. UNMIN is to destroy
all the identities of Hindus & Buddhists with the help of Maoist’s
army. So, we are feeling, the Virus of UNMIN is more dangerous than
Swine flu.
Nepal has been facing a series of problems due to the mistake of
abolishing the royal institution. History says and everybody knows the
monarchy is a symbol of Nepalese unity and democracy. An irresponsible
leadership in the government, the corrupt mentality of political
leaders as well as the bureaucrats, all are responsible for the plight
of Nepal. The government or the so-called big parties are neither
responsible nor sincere to solve these problems. The reality is that
after the removal of the King, not only nationality, but the risk of
the nation fading is increasing every day. If we don’t accept the
King’s existence then trouble will be seen in the existence of the
nation. So, the King’s necessity is being felt more than ever. The
monarchy is the oldest and strongest foundation for Nepal’s
nationality and democracy. The so-called republic can’t protect the
sovereignty of Nepal.
The situation of Nepal is getting worse day by day. If effective
action are not taken all the situations would further deteriorate.
Every citizens and castes in Tarai are furious because some culprit
wants to introduce Hindi to eliminate all the rich and old languages &
rich culture of our Tarai people. To disintegrate country it is
necessary to destroy religion, culture, languages and way of life of
the people. So, the antinationalist want to finish Tarai people’s
language, culture and way of life by introducing the Hindi culture &
language- introducing the Indian dominance. To protect the language &
culture every nationalist Tarai people should be aware of it. The
reality is that the people have no power and are ignored by the
culprit leaders. The agent leaders of Tarai have not accepted the
People’s opinion in Tarai because the indigenous people of Tarai are
not in leadership.
Nepalese people feel ashamed of so called leaders who are giving
slogans to built New Nepal. They are trying to make the people fool.
The so-called founders of the Republic Nepal made us ashamed before
the world. The power mongers, opportunists, corrupt, ethics-less,
kidnappers and killers are now the advocators of the so called new
Nepal -Federal Republic Nepal. Due to the nonsense activities of UNMIN
Nepal is in danger position. The democratic powers like USA, European
Union, UNO and others are not sounding against the undemocratic
attitude in Nepal. So, the only ways to stop more bloodshed and to
save democracy is by re-establishing constitutional monarchy and
strengthen parliamentary democracy.
It is a matter of regret, In Nepal, Indian leaders have been playing an active role to defuse the democratic aspirations of the Nepalese people. India should understand that the Nepalese people never accept Indian interference. So, late Girija, Madav nepal, Parchanda, Baburam Bhattarais are all visionless and culprit which will be the dangerous for India also.Then, why Indian leaders are playing the suicidal game? Who is Madav nepal ? He is a nonsense and notorious man and culprit. Due to Madav nepal there will start civil war which will be dangerous for India also.
We, Nepalese people are suffering from the culprit leaders of Congress, UML, Maoists. Why Indian ambassador Rakesh Suds is creating disturb in Nepal ? India is carrying the double role to intervene in Nepal. Why India is playing the suicidal game? It was a great blunder of Indians- Shyam Saran, Sive Shankar Mukharejee and other officials who not only blundered in their assessment of Maoist but also did much harm to Indian’s interests in Nepal..
In the context of Nepal, Republic, secularism, ethnic based federalism is not the Nepalese agendas. These agendas can’t adjust in Nepal.The leaders of Maoist, Congress, UML and Madhesi are not for the sake of the country. They are catering the desintrigate agendas of the country. Actually, federalism means is to establish the feudalism and the secular state means is to establish the Religious terrorism. So, the constituent assembly will be the missile to destroy Nepal. The Maoist model of federalism based on ethnicity can disintegrate the unity of the country. The federalism can’t develop the norms of democracy.
Similarly, Professor David Seddon of London (keen observer of Nepalese perspective ) has said-’ federalism is a big mistake, for Nepal.This is not necessary in fact to defend the interests of majorities or the interest of minorities, where women, or Dalits or Janajatie-s that can be done in other ways. The Madheshis- whoever they may be- can divide off and be a relatively autonomous state immediately provokes movements against this. I would argue very strongly that there is no need for federalism, that there is undesirable, undemocratic and profoundly divisive.(The Kathmandu Post 16 Mar.2009)
Actually, federalism with ethinics group will be the causes of desintrigate among the unity. The ethnic division of Nepal will create only ethnic leaders, not national leaders. We are Nepali brothers and sisters but the ethnic division will make us Bahuns, Chatri, Gurungs, Magar, Tharus, Newers, Limbus, Rai, Tamang and Madhsis etc, except Nepali.
A Newar scholar Dr.Tilak Shrestha says- ‘Ethnic marginalization has been exacerbated by Maoist to weaken the center and get support especially from Janajaties. They have pressed our every social faults line without any regard to the negative effects on the nation. However, they do not have solutions to it.’ So, I request to all Nepalese nationalists and Indian leaders not to exercise in futility. without Nepalese monarchy Indian cultural and identities also can’t secure.
So, if India and Indian Govt. and UN want peace & establishment in South Asia there must be reinstated people oriented monarchy & Hindu & Buddha Kingdom in Nepal. Monarchy is still a popular institution. THe Nepalese monarchy must reinstated for Nepal & Indian security.
Thank you.
madhav
I think this thought is very rough. there is no difference between you and the Indian RAW officer. I think you are supporting Indian government who have grasp our land.