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On/Off the Record

By P.R. Pradhan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi just concluded his visit to Russia. According to reports, his American friends had suggested Modi not visit Russia, however, Modi didn’t listen to his American partners. Modi received a high honor during his visit to Russia.

Modi looked after the Indian interests rather than the Western interests. India is an old ally of the former USSR and present Russia. India is heavily dependent on Russian arms and their spare parts. India believes the USA may not supply modern arms to her, therefore, India decided to maintain cordial relations with Russia even when the USA and its NATO members are directly or indirectly engaged in war against Russia. We can learn a lesson from India and Modi’s present move.

Our political leaders are in a race to please the Indian leaders. They compete to become India confidant leaders. The Indians are publicly saying that Nepali leaders as the Indian horses either in the race or in the stable. Even after getting such titles, the Nepali leaders are unable to react against allegations.

During his last visit of outgoing prime minister Pushpakamal Dahal to New Delhi, Indian national security advisor Ajit Dhovel is learnt to have advised him to develop an alliance with the Nepali Congress by breaking the ongoing alliance with the UML. Dhovel spoke about the BJP mindset. However, the Indian External Ministry, RAW and Indian Army were unable to develop a consensus on the Nepal policy. The Indian Army was conservative towards the UML-Maoist alliance and working for an NC-UML alliance. Immediately after his return from Delhi, PM Dahal started efforts for an NC-Maoist alliance but the NC didn’t trust Dahal and extended a proposal to the UML for a new alliance. Dahal was fooled by his over-smartness in the race to please his Indian bosses.

After receiving a message from Dahal, UML chair KP Oli decided to cancel the visit of ex-president Bidya Bhandari to Beijing from being afraid of his Indian bosses.

Dahal, although expressed commitment to the implementation of BRI projects signed five years ago, decided to keep pending for the time being. He publicly remarked that Nepal is unable to accept any project on debt and would accept projects on grants or loans with soft interest rates only. Diplomatically, this is a message that Nepal is not interested in implementing the projects under BRI.

During the visit of the then National Assembly chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina to Russia in April 2023, the Russian government had agreed to provide grant support in different 13 projects, including the construction of railways and roads.

Later, the Russian Embassy in Kathmandu sent a follow-up letter for an early endorsement of the Russian support. The Nepal government decided to remain silent discarding the Russian offer. Clearly, the Nepal government decided to reject the Russian support with the fear that the USA and its allies would become furious. Our leaders didn’t think about the benefits from such grant projects. When the leadership is self-centred and less bothered about the nation’s benefits, such acts are not an odd.

The Nepali leaders, whether they are from the Nepali Congress, the UML or the Maoist Center, all are solely relied on Delhi and Washington. They neglect offers from Beijing and Moscow. They are not bothered about the nation’s interests.

Verbally, we say Nepal is a sovereign and independent nation but we rely on those leaders who solely depended on Delhi and Washington. The “nation first” ideology doesn’t work in this loktantra as long as our leaders are happy to be the slaves of the Indians and the Westerners.