Nehru 'influenced' Nepal's politics; claims book

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Dec 14 (PTI) India had "enormous influence" on
Nepal during the Nehru era with the first Indian Prime
Minister advising the Himalayan nation's leadership on its
political situation and key foreign policy issues, claims a
newly-published memoirs of ex-Premier Matrika Prasad Koirala.

The 400-page book titled 'A Role in a Revolution',
published a decade after Matrika Koirala's death, contains
references to several letters exchanged between him and Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru during between 1952 and 1954, including some
which show Nehru advising his counterpart on different matters
relating to the Nepalese politics as well as foreign affairs.

In the preface, Ganesh Raj Sharma, the author who
compiled the book after receiving manuscripts from Matrika's
wife Manju, claims that India was behind both appointment and
exit of Matrika Koirala as Nepalese Prime Minister in the
early 1950s shortly after the overthrow of the Ranas.

Sharma had served as the legal advisor to the Koirala
family and was close to the three Koirala brothers -- Matrika,
B P Koirala and G P Koirala.

The book speaks of the "enormous influence" the Indian
officials posted here on deputation during that period had.
"The Indian bureaucrats were present in the Royal Palace as
well as in the Cabinet meetings and they needed to know what
was going on," it claims.

Nepali Congress, currently led by G P Koirala, was about
to take a unanimous decision to have B P Koirala lead the new
government, when a personal letter from Nehru to King
Tribhuvan, grandfather of the recently ousted monarch
Gyanendra, scuttled the process, the book alleges.

Nehru had expressed preference for Matrika, who died in
1997 at the age of 85, over B P Koirala, it says, adding "such
was the influence of Nehru among the political players of the
time."

According to the book, India had proposed a bilateral
treaty with Nepal, which was blocked from being formalised as
it "would have done away with sovereignty and independence of
Nepal."

Under the treaty, Nepal had "to consult with India with a
view to promoting better coordination in the policy of the two
countries ... especially on matters relating to Tibet and
China," the book says.

"Another matter that contributed to Matrika's permanent
exit from power was related to a proposal by India for
unhindered police surveillance up to 30 miles inside the
Nepali territory," it claims.

"Indian leaders with whom the Nepali leaders had worked
so closely during the struggle against colonial rule suddenly
changed their attitude towards Nepal after independence was
achieved," the book says.

Nehru, it alleges, had played a role in the royal
takeover by King Mahendra on December 15, 1960 when the Nepali
Congress government led by B P Koirala was dismissed, "though
outwardly expressing resentment over the setback to democratic
process."

In a letter written to Matrika, Nehru advised him not to
take Rs 10,000 compensation from Tibet, the book claims.
"Nepal's treaty with Tibet is dead and you cannot get Rs
10,000 from Tibet," he said, adding "China can never agree to
that."

In the past, Nepal had defeated Tibet in a war and
therefore, it used to get Rs 10,000 annually from the
Himalayan region as compensation.

According to the book, the then Indian ambassador to
Nepal C P N Singh sought Matrika's permission to bring in
Indian troops to crush the mutiny staged by Kunwar Indrajit
Singh, who was overpowered and made to surrender after he
staged a 24-hour coup.

In one of his letters, Nehru, according to the book, said
Indian government cannot intervene in domestic conflicts
between personalities or groups in Nepal.

"We are only concerned with a stable Ministry and
Government being formed, which is progressive and efficient,"
he said, indicating at the tussle between Matrika and B P
Koirala for power.

After the King appointed Matrika as the Prime Minister in
1951, B P Koirala expelled him from the Nepali Congress'
membership.

"... I have a feeling that India is not getting a fair
deal in Nepal. We go all out to help the Nepal government,
financially and otherwise, and yet our people are subjected to
insult there and intrigues against India continue," complains
Nehru in a letter to Matrika.

"Indeed, it would not be right for us in the government
of India to intervene in a domestic situation... If India's
desire to help Nepal was misinterpreted and actually described
as undue interference in the domestic affairs of Nepal then we
had to be careful as to when and how we should help," Nehru
said.

Nehru was very much realistic in his approach to the
Indo-Nepal relations which is evident from his statement that
"my interest in Nepal is to see progress and stability there.

"It is not my concern what kind of government the
Nepalese people would like to have. But if something happens
in Nepal which endangers our own security, then of course this
is a matter of great consequences to us," he said, according
to the book. PTI SBP
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