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Note no. 470
7-Sept- 2008
NEPAL: PM Prachanda Set to Visit India: Update No. 171
By Dr. S. Chandrasekharan
Prachanda is set to visit India on 14 September 2008. This will be his first visit to India as prime Minister though while underground he had spent eight of his ten years in India..
The Central committee of the Maoists while approving the visit has not yet decided whether the visit should be just a courtesy one or a full-fledged visit to discuss all bilateral issues. Party sources indicate that they would like Prachanda to discuss particularly the 1950 Nepal India friendship treaty and the 1954 Kosi Agreement.
Every Prime Minister of Nepal after taking charge takes the first opportunity to call for a review of the friendship treaty only to be forgotten after some time with Nepal not making any specific proposal for revision. There is no doubt that there is a case for revision of the treaty to suit the present day environment and it is for Nepal to take the initiative and come up with a proposal that would decide the kind of relationship Nepal wants with India and vice versa After all, Bhutan came up with certain changes while renewing the treaty a few years ago and it was readily accepted.
On the Kosi agreement, it is unfortunate that Prachanda should have described the Kosi agreement as a "historical mistake" without understanding the circumstances under which the barrage had to be constructed. Thanks to the jacketing of the river from the confluence at Barahakshtra to the point where it joins the Ganga, Kosi which had moved from Purulia to the present course in 200 years had remained within the embankments since 1955 If there had been breach and destruction of some spurs, the blame should go to both the Nepalese and Indian authorities - one for failing to realise the seriousness of the present breach and two for taking too long a time to react to take counter measures.
It is conceded that Kosi is no ordinary river and the amount of silt and boulders it brings along to the plains is a challenge to the engineers in India. But technology has moved on and India should be in a position to find a permanent solution as Prachanda has desired.
It is hoped that Prachanda comes fully prepared with detailed suggestions on all issues and it is also hoped that instead of making committees, task force, 2- track diplomacy ( a favourite past time of retired diplomats) etc. the problems are dealt with officially in a time bound manner.
The UML Joins the Cabinet:
Finally, after much haggling, the UML joined the cabinet after the Maoists conceded the post of Deputy Prime Ministership to them. Bamdev Gautam took over Home Portfolio as Dy. Prime Minister and five others took the portfolios of water resources, local development, Industry, forest and soil conservation and youth and sports.
The Maoists inducted six more ministers that included Pampha Bhusal, Hishila Lami, Lekh Raj Bhatta ( labour), Janardhan Sharma ( peace and reconstruction) and Matrika Prasad Yadav ( land reforms)
The Sadhbhavana Party, Janmorcha and CPN ( United) got one ministership each.
Priorities:
Some of the ministers have already indicated their priorities.
The Prime Minister said that his priorities would be to bring the peace process to its logical conclusion ( PLA adjustment and rehabilitation) and write the new constitution within the stipulated time.
It is interesting to read the interview given by Prachanda to the BBC a few days ago. He said-
Dialectic materialism says that alliance should be forged with others to defeat the main enemy. ( Now that the monarchy is gone, the next to be targeted would be the Nepali Congress Party)
Their philosophy is clear- from people’s republic to progress towards socialism and then communism. ( On another occasion he had said that he would be prepared to wait even fifty years for this transformation!)
In the next election under the new constitution they would get two thirds majority and will run the government for more than twenty years thence.
Taking the peace process to its logical conclusion would necessarily mean that the integration of the PLA with the national Army. It is said that the Maoist’ High command had taken a decision to push for PLA’s absorption into the national army. This is also to be done within three to six months. From what I see, the resistance of the army to group induction of the PLA is weakening and perhaps most of those in the PLA will be absorbed .in the regular army!
The Home Minister has vowed that he would bring normalcy in the law and order situation within six months. It is not going to be an easy task though he has made a good beginning in trying to win over the loyalty of the Police.
The Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai outlined his ideas for improving the economy in the economic summit meeting of CNI. His priorities are
Rural industrialisation
Infrastructure development
Development of Tourism
Need for another international airport
Health & Education- He remarked that uneducated and physically ill human resources simply cannot drive the country to progress.
His dream is to raise the per capita income to Rs 12,000 (NC) per month.
Foreign Minister in India:
Upendra Yadav, the foreign minister visited Delhi to take part in BIMSTEC meeting between August 29 and 31. He met the Prime Minister of India and apprised him of the woes of flood victims in Nepal. He observed that the "lack of timely repair of the embankments with the altered course of Kosi river due to silting caused the Kosi calamities. He told the Press that India was ready to revise, amend or change the treaty of peace between India and Nepal. I hope this is followed up in all seriousness in the coming visit of Prachanda.
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