Indo-Nepal relations: from hospitality to hostility

• Relationship:-

The India Nepal relationship lays thousands of years back, according to Hindu epic, Ramayan the protagonist RAMA was married to SITA, who hails from Janakpuri(holy city) of Nepal. And Nepal has also been mentioned in another epic Mahabharat by different names. 

Since thousands of years people of both sides of border were involved in matrimonial, cultural, religious and trade and transit affairs. The people are so close in every aspect that the the relationship was termed as ROTI-BETI ( food and daughter) an emotional term. However, this relationship has been tense now and then at several points of time since India's Independence. 

The formal relationship between these 2 neighbors started in 1950 with India signing PFI, The Piece and friendship treaty in the 1950, with the Rana rulers of Nepal including some secret letters exchanged pertaining to security. 

In the PFI, agrement on bilateral trade and transit via Indian territory was signed due to Nepal being a land locked country, also both the sides pronounced that they will address security and bilateral issue, being in touch with one another. This includes that neither side will tolerate external aggression on other from foreign forces. This further included special treatment to Indian nationals in Nepal and preference to Indian business as compared to others. The Nepalese were granted same educational and economic opportunities in India. The indo-nepal border had been open for common citizens of both the countries. This made the relationship SPECIAL. 

The list is further strengthened as the nepali Gurkha's are recruited fluently in the Indian Army to guard borders which adds more to the relationship. 

The PFA 1950, was asked for revision by several rulers of Nepal including the pro-democratic onces and several Prime Ministers. After years of dissatisfaction by Nepal in 2014 the government of India agreed on a revision of agreement, but the revising points were not made public by either of the sides. 

In trade, India is the largest trade partner and investment source to Nepal including the transit to 3rd country. India supplies 100℅ of petroleum supplies and nearly 8 million nepalese are working in India. In 2018 Indian imports costed total of 446.5 million USD from Nepal while exports was of 7.7 billion USD to Nepal. 

• Conflicts and issues

Despite of promising relations in bilateral, strategic, cultural and trade, there has been several disputes, controversies and disagreements between the governments has been prevalent since long time. 

The tensions with Nepalese Royal Family with India in 60s initiated Nepals drift towards China. Nepal in appeasement of The US established it's relationship with Israel, contrasting India's stand of supporting Palestine. 

Post sino-india war of 1962 which India lost to China, indo-Nepal relationship thawed significantly. 

India refrained it's support to India based Nepal opposition forces who supported pro-democratic reforms in Nepal. Nepal clinched huge Concession on trade in the weak time of India. 

Nepal seemed to be unhappy after India annexed Sikkim and it was believed to pose a threat on Nepali sovereignty. 

Ties furthered excruciated after Nepal altered India's trade status with Nepal and openly criticized India over Sikkim. 

Time to time there has been open debate on India-Nepal falling ties and Nepal alleged to be going in Chinese lap. However commentators criticized India and it's establishment on behaving as superior nation in front of Nepal. Indian government was also slammed on ignoring Nepalese concerns on border and trade routes. Government of India always wanted government in Nepal to be under Indian influence. 

Nepal went through a long war for democracy and a fight against monarchy. India was alleged to be endorsing and opposition according to the situation to these forces. 

There was a huge uproar in India after Nepali PM kamal dahal 'prachand' choosed China at the place of India for maiden foreign visit. This however made Indian establishment upset and there was again some anti India uproar in Nepal. The communist regime is infamous in waging anti India sentiment in Nepal. 

One of the familiar example is the 2016 MADHESI protest on India Nepal border leading to a trade Barricading by common people, this was because of controversial bill on citizenship in Nepalese parliament. This barricades were alleged to be supported by Indian establishment. Again the government in Nepal was again of the communist parties were in power, and it shouldn't be forgotten that India was the 1st country responding even after being hit by same lethal earthquake in 2015. This border blockage caused great distress among Nepali public because of lack of Essential supplies from India. This was a fruitful movement for ruling communist  Party as they started deepening ties with China and downgrading reliance on India. 

• fresh conflict

Conflicting areas

The new point of conflict between these two close neighbors is areas under Indian control in state of Uttarakhand, pithoragarh district

On kali river, that is kalapani, limpeyadhura, lipulekh. There is another Dispute in susta in southern Nepal adjoining the bihar UP border. 

The conflict had a historic linkage with British India and nepal. There were several wars fought between the 2 sides and several treaties were made after that. Nepalese rulers at that time left claims over several regions they lost in the war. 
As we know every major issue is related to some unfair means of British across the globe, so how can India Nepal relationship be untouched from it. 
The treaty of sugauli in March 1816 between Nepal and British India points kali river as the boundry of Western Nepal with India. However the British surveyors depicted the origin of kali river at different places in subsequent different maps which created a confusion and conflict of course between the countries regarding the borders. Both countries have presented different maps on there respective claims. 

Nepal claims the West of kalapani is kali river origin so accordingly the areas belongs to Nepal. However India claims that the river west to the kalapani is not the real kali river and therefore border should be demarcated on the ridge of Mountain OM PARAWAT to the east of the river and hence the origin of the river is different instead. 

Another historic turning point comes here is the sino-india war 1962. The trijuction is guarded by ITBP of India and the 37000 hectare land has been in control of India more or less since 1962 as per several commentators. The Nepal claims that the region was given to India amid high tension with China to safe guard Indian sovereignty and security by king Mahendra because India feared a chinese aggression via limpeyadhura and now India has occupied it illegally. This pass has been a historical pilgrimage root for both Buddhist as well as hindu travellers. 

In the 1980s, the two sides set up a Joint Technical Level Boundary Working Group to demarcate the boundary.
The group demarcated everything except Kalapani and Susta area.

Nepal brought the issue officially in 1998 in front of India where both sides decided to demarcate by 2002 and talks to be continued. A PM level talk held in2000, but nothing happened till now.

The dispute got highlighted after the Indian defense minister inaugurated the road through lipulekh pass in the disputed kalapani area for Maansarovar pilgrimage in tibet. 
But this is the half fact. The real problem begin in 2015 during India-China agreement for a road for trade via limpeyadhura pass, which the Nepali parliament opposed fiercely, as this violates Nepalese sovereignty. 

In 2019 Nepal again objected the new map of India post bifurcation of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, which India included these disputed ares into its territory in the state of uttarakhand. 

But Nepal got rigid after May 8,2020 after Indian defence minister inaugurated the road via video conferencing and this acted as fuel between India Nepal tension on border and seeking the chance the Oli government introduced bills in Parliament claiming the areas and including them into the map of Nepal and vowed to take them back. The bill was passed by both the houses of Nepali parliament unanimously. More to this Nepal even included the susta areas which are disputed separately between both the countries. Indian foreign ministery retaliated saying, it's an artificial enlargement of territories disrespecting the facts and historical understanding. India also urged Nepal of refraining to take. Such actions and hoped for a talk on the issue and resolving the matter Deplometically, but things went worst since then. 

• Entry of China and Oli Plan

Nepal has been a musle flexing point for China and India. Historically being under the influence of India Nepal doesn't had the close ties with Nepal. But since the beginning of 21st century there was an alter in the scenario. India has always been meticulous in neighborhood affairs but the rising Chinese influence has been a concern for Indian sovereignty and security. 

The present communist rule has been seen as more China centric contrasting the historic approch. Even the government in Nepal is made by Chinese involvement which led to a coalition between the 2 seperate communist sect in Nepal to form government. 

Nepal has been seen trying to balance India with counter Chinese presence, to reduce its dependence from India which is impossible geologically. 

But don't you think that India is blame worthy equally? The loose grip of India over Nepali government and failing to address issues and disputes has made a long list of mistakes of new Delhi. Either it's kalapani or susta dispute, Indian governments has been seen reluctant in talks with Nepal regarding resolving the issues. Even in today's scenario Nepali establishment claimed of approaching India in 2016 which resulted in talking the issue on secretary level talks between the countries but later India didn't showed intrest. 

Some says it's the Oli government which is talking the matter as a face saver as she failed to tackle the COVID19 attack in Nepal, and the coalition party is unhappy. Several protests were held in Kathmandu against the government and the opposition in Nepal too demanded a clear stand of the government. 

The government is working so anti India that KP sharma Oli the PM accused India by saying " India has caused distress in Nepal by corona virus in Nepal. It's not the Chinese virus it's the Indian virus that is more dangerous ". At an interview to a news channel in india, spokes person of the Oli front said, The Roti Beti term is a rhetoric and the world is changeing so are we and we should look for alternative ways to deal. 

The comment of Indian Army chief gained criticism from Nepali government when he said, its not Nepal behind these actions it's some external force acting to deteriorate the relationship, his clear indication was on China. 

Not just this, but the Nepali defense minister retaliated calling Gurkhas in the Indian Army, not to fight for India against China in this period of tussle. Things went preety bad at a new level after this statement. 

The Nepali government have always emphasized on giving the map of 1856 from the British India office to present it's claim. But this time things got reversed. Nepal at first changed it's map and included Indian territory, then they started explaining there moves and claims over the area to media and public and then offered talks to India. Don't you find this is something similar to the Chinese way of engagement? 

India and China were clearly violating the Nepali concerns in the 2015 Lipulekh agreement which renewed India’s Mansarovar pilgrimage connection. Non of the side consulted Nepal or sought its opinion before that agreement that boosted pilgrimage and trade to Tibet. This should also be questioned from the Indian government over lenient nature and lethargic move of not talking Nepal into confidence.

There has been a clear upsurge in the anti India sentiment among Nepalese public which may help KP Oli government to induce nationalism in the name of fighting against India and this will lead to strengthening Chinese presence and influence decision making which can alter it's way to anti India moves.

Loosing Nepal will leave India with only one neighbour with it that is Bhutan. As other neighbours of India are either under Chinese depth like srilanka and Pakistan or swiftly moving into the Chinese grip like Bangladesh and Myanmar.