Thursday, February 25, 2016

[Editorial # 73] Restoring goodwill with Kathmandu : The Hindu

[Following editorial has been published in The Hindu on 25th February 2016. Read through it and try to answer the questions that follow. Please do not copy and paste answers. The objective of this exercise is to get you in the groove of answer-writing. Try to write in your own words. Don't hesitate to write in a bulleted-format, if you are uncomfortable in writing in paragraph form.]

Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Oli’s just-concluded six-day visit to India has come at an important juncture. The visit came after months of turmoil in the Madhes, or plains, region of Nepal following protests demanding a more federal framework in the new Constitution. India had tacitly backed the agitations, which resulted in a virtual blockade and a shortage of essential supplies in Nepal. After a prolonged period of vacillation, Mr. Oli committed to amendments in the Constitution that would satisfy some of the demands made by the Madhesis. This yielded an easing of the blockade after the protestors called off their stir. The net result of the Indian hand in the unrest, and of New Delhi’s perceived partisanship, had been a resurgence of jingoism in Kathmandu. It was also damaging for India, as the stand-off drained the goodwill gained from its commitment to supporting Nepal’s reconstruction after the devastating earthquake in 2015. The two countries clearly needed to recalibrate their positions, and this is a good start. Nepal has to maintain cordial relations with India; its economic dependence, especially as a landlocked state, is well understood and was, in fact, reinforced during the economic blockade. India too needs a friendly Nepal, whose geopolitical importance due to the open border between the two countries cannot be overstated. It is also in India’s interest that there be political stability in Nepal, to prevent the spillover effect any turmoil can have for the bordering States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and to secure the republican consensus needed to pull millions of Nepalis out of poverty.

'To that extent, Prime Minister Oli’s visit has helped reset some priorities. The emphasis by both sides was on taking forward the reconstruction assistance that India has promised. A memorandum of understanding in this regard was signed. Other MoUs covered economic aid for road projects, enhancing power transmission, and easing travel and transit of goods. As regards the question of the Constitution, the Indian government had not budged much from its earlier position on the need for a consensus through dialogue with the dissenting Madhesis to take their concerns on federalism on board. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi did acknowledge that the conclusion of the Constitution-writing process is an “important achievement”. The onus is now on Mr. Oli, his Cabinet and his party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). They could still project the halt in the economic embargo and return to normalcy in the Madhes as a sign of victory and resist any further concessions towards a truly federal Nepal. But that would only amount to further brinkmanship, which could prove detrimental again in the longer run. New Delhi too should dwell on the lessons from the recent deterioration in ties and on the need for a calibrated position that supports inclusive democracy in Nepal yet does not amount to interference. Mr. Oli’s visit has demonstrated the importance of high-level ownership of bilateral engagement to return relations to a mutually beneficial equilibrium.

Questions:

1. What has been the history of India-Nepal relations? 

2. Which all Indian states share a boundary with Nepal? How long is Indo-Nepal Border? How can one go to Nepal from India?

3. What is meant by an open border? Under which treaty did India and Nepal accept to open the borders for smooth passage of people and goods? What are the other features of that treaty?

4. What is the current constitutional crisis in Nepal?

5. Who are Madhes people? What are their demands?

6. Why should India be bothered about the crisis going on in Nepal?

7. How is Nepal's development on India's cooperation and support?

8. What is an MoU? How is it different from agreement?

9. Nepal could be a significant partner to India in her endeavours to establish peace, security and prosperity in South Asia region. Comment (200 words)

12 comments:

  1. 4.What is the current constitutional crisis in Nepal?
    • Nepal is governed under the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007. It came into force on January 15, 2007. It replaced the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990.
    • The Interim Constitution was drafted to facilitate and manage the Nepali constitutional transformation process that started with the April 2006 people’s movement against the Nepal Monarchy, known as the Second Jana Andolan.
    • The Interim Constitution was drafted to manage the transition of Nepal from a unitary, constitutional monarchy country to a federal republic.
    • The Interim Constitution provides for a Constituent Assembly, which was charged with writing Nepal’s permanent constitution.
    • Under the terms of the Interim Constitution, the new constitution was to be promulgated by May 28, 2010, but the Constituent Assembly postponed the promulgation by a year because of disagreements.
    • On May 25, 2011, the Supreme Court of Nepal ruled that the 2010 extension of the Interim Constitution was not right.
    • Since May 29, 2011 the Constituent Assembly repeatedly extended the Interim Constitution.
    • On May 28, 2012, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai dissolved the Constituent Assembly after it failed to finish the constitution after the latest extension, ending four years of constitution drafting and leaving the country in a legal vacuum.
    • New elections were held on November 19, 2013 to the Second Nepalese Constituent Assembly and political leaders pledged to draft a new constitution within a year.
    • The new assembly expressly committed that the new constitution would be promulgated on January 22, 2015. However due to continued differences on key issues including system of governance, judicial system and federation issues like number, name and areas of the states to be carved, the constitution could not be finalized and promulgated in time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 5.Who are Madhes people? What are their demands?

    Ans. The Madhesi people inhabit the flat southern region of Nepal known as the Madhesh. According to the population census in 2011, Terai occupies 17% of the total area of Nepal and has 51% of the Nepalese Population. Of the total population of Nepal, in Terai 22% are Madhesis while 29% are Non-Madhesis i.e. people from hills migrated to Terai. The region they inhabit is historically separate from Nepal. The demands are:
    The flat southern region of Nepal - the Terai - is known as Madhes in the Nepalese language and its indigenous inhabitants are called Madhesi.

    The Terai stretches from the east to the west of the country along the Nepalese-Indian border adjoining the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It comprises nearly 17 percent of the land and the Madhesi people make up about 30 percent of the 27 million people in Nepal.

    The Madhesi are predominantly Hindus with some Muslims, Buddhists and Christians.

    Economically, the Terai is the most fertile and productive region of Nepal where agriculture dominates. The main agricultural products are rice, jute, sugar, mustard, tobacco, herbs and spices. Most of the agro-based industries are here. In addition, the region is rich in forestry.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 5.Who are Madhes people? What are their demands?

    Ans. The Madhesi people inhabit the flat southern region of Nepal known as the Madhesh. According to the population census in 2011, Terai occupies 17% of the total area of Nepal and has 51% of the Nepalese Population. Of the total population of Nepal, in Terai 22% are Madhesis while 29% are Non-Madhesis i.e. people from hills migrated to Terai. The region they inhabit is historically separate from Nepal. The demands are:
    The flat southern region of Nepal - the Terai - is known as Madhes in the Nepalese language and its indigenous inhabitants are called Madhesi.

    The Terai stretches from the east to the west of the country along the Nepalese-Indian border adjoining the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It comprises nearly 17 percent of the land and the Madhesi people make up about 30 percent of the 27 million people in Nepal.

    The Madhesi are predominantly Hindus with some Muslims, Buddhists and Christians.

    Economically, the Terai is the most fertile and productive region of Nepal where agriculture dominates. The main agricultural products are rice, jute, sugar, mustard, tobacco, herbs and spices. Most of the agro-based industries are here. In addition, the region is rich in forestry.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 4.What is the current constitutional crisis in Nepal?
    • Nepal is governed under the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007. It came into force on January 15, 2007. It replaced the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990.
    • The Interim Constitution was drafted to facilitate and manage the Nepali constitutional transformation process that started with the April 2006 people’s movement against the Nepal Monarchy, known as the Second Jana Andolan.
    • The Interim Constitution was drafted to manage the transition of Nepal from a unitary, constitutional monarchy country to a federal republic.
    • The Interim Constitution provides for a Constituent Assembly, which was charged with writing Nepal’s permanent constitution.
    • Under the terms of the Interim Constitution, the new constitution was to be promulgated by May 28, 2010, but the Constituent Assembly postponed the promulgation by a year because of disagreements.
    • On May 25, 2011, the Supreme Court of Nepal ruled that the 2010 extension of the Interim Constitution was not right.
    • Since May 29, 2011 the Constituent Assembly repeatedly extended the Interim Constitution.
    • On May 28, 2012, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai dissolved the Constituent Assembly after it failed to finish the constitution after the latest extension, ending four years of constitution drafting and leaving the country in a legal vacuum.
    • New elections were held on November 19, 2013 to the Second Nepalese Constituent Assembly and political leaders pledged to draft a new constitution within a year.
    • The new assembly expressly committed that the new constitution would be promulgated on January 22, 2015. However due to continued differences on key issues including system of governance, judicial system and federation issues like number, name and areas of the states to be carved, the constitution could not be finalized and promulgated in time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1. What has been the history of India-Nepal relations?
    250 B.C. - Came under the influence of the Mauryan empire and later became subservient to the Gupta dynasty in 4th century AD.
    645 AD- Earliest traced economic relations between India and Nepal
    400 BC- Described as principal exporter of woolen goods by Kautilya
    320 AD- Increased trade related activities during Gupta empire
    1743 AD- After being declared the King of Gorkha, he took certain measures to preserve Nepal from the threat of foreign invasion.
    1768 AD- Crowned the King of Nepal, continued to expand and fortify the nation. Continued to expand the kingdom and threw away all Christian missionaries.
    Anglo-Gurkha War of 1814-1816- Caused due to the expansion in the East, West and South by the Gorkhas. Led to the Treaty of Sagauli causing them to return all the territories conquered.
    1815- Recruitment of Gurkhas into the East India Company’s forces. First Gurkha Corps raised on April 24.
    1846- Jang Bahadur Rana functions as the de facto ruler of Nepal.
    1850- Visit to England and frequent interaction with Queen Victoria and British nobles paved way for an increasingly pro-British security policy.
    1857- Assisted the British to quell the First War of Independence
    1923- Nepal initiated formal treaty relationship with Britain establishing Nepal as a fully sovereign nation.
    1991- Indo-Nepal Treaty encouraged economic collaboration to promote mutual sharing of scientific and technical knowledge sharing. Treaty of Transit to improve international trade prospects for Nepal by providing freedom of transit with additional benefits. Agreement of Cooperation to control unauthorized trade provided for free and open border between the countries
    1996- Indo-Nepal trade Treaty gave a new life to previous trade treaties.
    1999- Treaty of Transit signed to extend and promote the friendly relations between the countries and facilitate traffic-in-transit.
    2002- Indo-Nepal Treaty of Trade revised the earlier treaty of1996.
    2008- Nepal declared secular and inclusive democratic republic. Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) formed coalition government.
    2009- Agreement of Co-operation to control unauthorized trade allows export of goods imported to Nepal from India to third countries without additional manufacturing process in Nepal.
    Previous government toppled and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) elected to power.
    2011- Previous Government toppled and Baburam Bhattarai of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) appointed the new Prime Minister.
    2014- After consensus between the two major parties, Sushil Kumar Koirala appointed the Prime Minister of Nepal.
    2015- New Constitution of Nepal announced by President. Nepal struck by devastating earthquake

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950. this is the most imp one.

      Delete
  6. 1950 The Rana rulers of Nepal had good relations with India. But this rule came to an end within three months after the signing of the treaty of Peace and friendship.
    1954 Joint coordination of foreign policy. Indian security post was established in Nepal's northern frontier.
    1962 Sino-Indian affected the relationship between India and Nepal.
    1965 Accord that led to India winning Monopoly on arms sales to Nepal.
    1969 Relations started to worsen when Nepal started questioning the existing mutual security arrangement and asked Indian security checkposts to be withdrawn. India followed and withdrew its military checkposts.
    1975 Relations got more worse with the annexation of Sikkim by India. Further the King of Nepal demanded Nepal to be declared as the zone of peace. This was supported by China and Pakistan. India sort of agreed to it if it not violated the Treaty of Peace and friendship signed in 1950. By 1980 it Nepal had won support of 112 countries including UK< USA and France.
    1987 India reacted by demanding expulsion of Nepalese settlers in India. Nepal reacted by introducing work permit system for Indians.
    1990 Special Security relationship was re-established.
    2000 and above Issued 22 point statement. India extended a Line of credit worth US$50 million & 80,000 tonnes of food grains.
    The countries signed nine more agreements on 22 February 2016 including one on utilization of Indian grant of US$250 million to Nepal for post-earthquake reconstruction.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim.
    1,751km.
    Take a train from Bengaluru to Delhi. Then from Delhi to Gorakhpur. From there take a bus which will take you to Nepal.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 9. Nepal could be a significant partner to India in her endeavours to establish peace, security and prosperity in South Asia region. Comment (200 words)
    A. India and Nepal had good relations since ages. Nepal could play a significat role in establishing peace,security and prosperity in sourth asia.
    ECONOMIC:
    with many rivers running from nepal to india , india could tap the potential of hydro energy to meet its 175MW target.
    Most of the Gorkhas are employed in india which is a major source of cheap labour.Their contribution to 39 gorkha regiments in india army renders great service to the nation.
    SECURITY:
    It acts as a buffer zone between india and china.
    trafficking of women, drugs, narcotics, children, counterfriet currency, etc which happens through the porus borders can be addressed with proper coordination and implementation.
    to check the support of communists of nepal to the naxalites if any.
    international relations:
    BBIN-MVA that was signed will enhance the connectivity among the 4 nations and this leads to the shared prosperity with wise use of resources.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Open-border means that the citizens of both the countries can move freely across the borders without passport or visas and may live and work in each others country.
    1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship provided for open-borders between India and Nepal. The treaty was signed at Kathmandu by the last Prime minister of Nepal Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana and Indian ambassador to Nepal, Chadreshwar Narayan Singh.
    There are 10 articles in the Treaty.
    Provides for everlasting friendship and peace between the two countries.
    Both the countries will respect the sovereignty, integrity and independence of each other.
    On reciprocal basis grant same privileges in matter of residence, ownership of property, trade and commerce.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nepal Promulgated its new constitution in 2015. The marginalised groups in Nepal comprising of Madhesis immigrants, the Janjatis and the tharus as being left out of the Constitution. These led to protests against the Constitution and resulted in blockade of the border points.
    Further other point of contention is related to the electoral constituencies. Terai constitutes 51% of the population but would only get 62 out of 165 seats instead of 83 as per its population.
    The children of a Nepali male marrying a foreigner are ‘Nepalis by descent” whereas if a Nepali woman marries a foreigner, their children are ‘naturalized Nepalis’ which bars them from important and powerful constitutional positions.

    ReplyDelete
  11. An agreement is a document wherein two parties agreed upon to work together for a common objective.
    There is an offer and acceptance.
    It is enforceable in the court of law. There are collateral rights.
    Can be oral as well as written.
    MoU
    Also a legal document but rather than describing the Agreement it lays down the conditions or an arrangement between the two or more parties.
    Apart from offer acceptance there is also an element of Intention.
    Not enforceable in the court of law.
    It is binding if it has been signed and there has been a monetary consideration accompanying the same. Has to be in writing.

    ReplyDelete