- Basant Bhujel
Kathmandu, May 11: The elders made our identity as Veer Gorkhali. There was a time when ‘Aayo Gorkhali’ would have made the whole world rational. ‘ Some events of the last few days have shown that the interest is over.
Nepal has been in lockdown for the past two months due to the corona epidemic. Neighboring countries not only India but most of the countries in the world are in lockdown. The world is in a great crisis. The message is that Nepal is relatively safer than neighboring India and China. This is a pleasant thing for us. Feeling that Nepal is safe, the number of Indians entering Nepal has increased.
Nepal’s security forces have tried to control such infiltration as much as possible. Despite extensive efforts to control it, a mob of Indian nationals forcibly entered Nepal from the Kakadvitta area of Jhapa last week. Though the security personnel from the Indian side became gaiety, the security personnel from the Nepali side tried to block the entry and a double clash took place. Indian citizens attacked Nepal’s security personnel.
Similarly, a similar movement of Indian nationals was also seen in Simraungadh area of Bara district this week. The intrusion of foreign nationals into our territory and the attack on our security personnel is extremely heinous. In recent days, Indians have been doing this, but this time Chinese citizens have also done it.
Nepal’s security forces have tried to control such intrusions as much as possible. Despite extensive efforts for control, a mob of Indian nationals forcibly entered Nepal from the Kakadvitta area of Jhapa last week. Though the security personnel from the Indian side became gaiety, the security personnel from the Nepali side tried to block the entry and a double clash took place. Indian citizens attacked Nepal’s security personnel.
Concerned countries are chartering planes and returning the citizens trapped in Nepal during the lockdown. China, meanwhile, has repatriated about 400 people. This work is being done by the embassies of the countries concerned. The Chinese embassy may be doing the same. Chinese citizens also had to go to their own embassies. But they staged a sit-in in front of the Nepal government’s headquarters, Singha Durbar. The sit-in was not peaceful but violent.
Regarding the Chinese nationals who staged a sit-in in front of Singha Durbar, Narayan Prasad Bidari, who is also the Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, said that Nepal has not stopped them from returning home. He says, “If our country takes it, Nepal will not stop it, but we will not leave any foreigner behind.” The Government of Nepal is not to blame for allowing Chinese citizens to return home. If they really want to return home, they have to take the initiative through their embassy. Demonstrating in front of the country’s largest administrative center is not only a stumbling block but also a violation of diplomatic dignity.
This case has raised three main questions. Why did the Chinese go to Singha Durbar instead of going to their country’s embassy? Why was the protest turned violent? Is this attack of the Chinese just a coincidence on the day India inaugurated the road to Mansarovar of China by crossing the Nepalese land Lipulekh?
According to analysts, China has fitted its notable troops in Nepal as spies. Some of them are active in Nepal as tourists, some as hotel and restaurant operators, some as construction businessmen and laborers. The attack on the police at the gate of Singha Durbar on Friday looked very interesting. One of the protesters easily pushed four or five policemen. People without military training are not becoming so proficient. Is there any connection between China and India regarding Lipulekh? These two incidents of last Friday have confirmed the suspicion.
Kalapani case
India has encroached on Nepali land and opened a new route for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in Tibet. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Dharchula-Lipulekh Link Road via video conference on Friday. India has opened the road from Pithoragarh in the Dharchula region of Uttarakhand to Lipulekh in the Gunji region of Darchula in Nepal.
The Indian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the Border Roads Organization (BRO) of Uttarakhand has connected the Kailash Mansarovar route to the Chinese border. Taking the opportunity, India has intervened on Nepali soil. According to the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, the entire territory east of the Kali (Mahakali) River belongs to Nepal. As the river with the source of Limpiyadhura is the border river, the entire territory including Gunji, Gabryang and Kutiyangdi belongs to Nepal.
After the Survey of India published two political maps on the Indian side of the Nepali territory since November 2019, there was strong opposition in Nepal. Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Lipulek as a trade route. At that time, they did not give any information to Nepal. Both the countries have admitted that there is border dispute in Kalapani area and Susta of Nawalparasi. However, it is wrong to pave the way alone in an area where one admits that there is a dispute. The Government of Nepal’s position on this issue should come as soon as possible.
Earlier, the government of Nepal had sent a diplomatic note after widespread protests against the map drawn by the Survey of India. However, India has not yet shown any readiness to resolve the issue. Even if India remains silent, Nepal must clarify its position. This is an issue connected with the boundary of the Mahakali river. It is against the agreement for India to open such a road when there is a dispute over Kalapani and Susta. What has the government, which considers itself the messiah of the current nationalists, been watching when the country’s land was directly attacked? Ordinary Nepalis have to question the irresponsible statement of the government’s foreign minister.
(The author Bhujel Gorkha is a retired engineer from the British Army)
