By Anand Gurung
With most of his political opponents heading for New Delhi or already there, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal met Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood Monday.
Although the exact details of the meeting that took place at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar is not known, on the basis of past such meetings, it could be surmised that the latest political scenario of the country including the constitution drafting and ongoing peace process must have featured during the talks.
But more than any, the timing of the meeting is significant in that it has taken place when top leaders of coalition partner CPN (UML) and main opposition party Nepali Congress are either in New Delhi or are planning to head there.
Former prime minister and NC president Girija Prasad Koirala and his daughter Sujata, both vocal critics of the Maoist-led government, are set to leave for New Delhi this week.
Although it has been said that octogenarian leader is heading for the Indian capital, like in many instances in the past, to have a “health check-up”, observers are not hesitating to give a political color to the visit.
If the past is any guide, they have strong evidence to back their claim.
During King Gyanendra’s direct rule three years ago, Koirala including many political party leaders went to New Delhi on various pretexts including the one cited for Koirala. However, the main aim of the visits were always political, and which became clear after New Delhi brokered an agreement between the mainstream political parties and underground Maoists in 2005, that led to the end of the royal regime and triggered a chain reaction that culminated in Nepal being declared a republic.
Only yesterday Koirala met UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and both criticised the government for its handling of importance issues.
They also pressed the Maoist led government to withdraw the controversial ordinances it has introduced of late, including the one on reservation which has become a bone of contention among the parties.
Sometime before that Koirala also held parleys with pro-monarchist Surya Bahadur Thapa in his bid to form a “democratic alliance” to counter the Maoist-proposed left alliance.
During the meeting, Thapa was learnt to have proposed to Koirala to form an alliance by including all parties that believe in democracy, and asked him to lead such an alliance. They also discussed roping in UML in the alliance.
Surya Bahadur Thapa, according to some reports, is also planning to head for New Delhi very soon. The former prime minister also enjoys very close-links with powerful Indian leaders.
To make things more interesting, senior CPN-UML leader KP Oli, who is a known Maoist critic and has blamed “some Maoist elements” for his recent defeat in the party election, is also in New Delhi since four days.
Plus, Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam is also scheduled to head for the Indian capital today. However, his visit is purely for health reasons as Gautam is suffering from a partial paralysis in the left part of his face and wants to undergo medical treatment at the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.
Similarly, former king Gyanendra is also currently in India in his first trip abroad after the abolishment of monarchy in the country.
It was not for nothing that Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai on Sunday claimed that political leaders’ upcoming visits to India were aimed at toppling the Maoist-led government and warned of disastrous consequences if that were the case.
The Maoist minister also alleged that the leaders are heading for India as they are in a hurry to hold a meeting with former king Gyanendra.
He said that though the former king embarked on the Indian tour in the name of attending a marriage, his aim is to garner support for the ascension of his grandson Hridayendra to the throne in Nepal and restore monarchy
“If it is not the case then why is he meeting senior political leaders and high-ranking government officials in India?” he asked. nepalnews.