‘US games in Nepal will harm India’

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, May 16: Cautioning India against the "games" being played by the United States in Nepal, a former Indian ambassador has said American involvement will only serve to pull China into the Himalayan nation.

Mr Deb Mukharji, who served as the Indian envoy in Kathmandu, on Friday told a seminar on the "Emerging situation in Nepal: Policy options for India", organised here by the Observer Research Foundation, that certain American actions can elicit a reaction from China.

"If the Americans are playing a certain kind of game to deny the Maoists legitimate governance, this could lead to instability," Mr Mukharji said. Given the situation in Tibet, China could choose to react differently, he added. "Then I would be worried. India should be aware of all possibilities."

Mr Mukharji did not think China would play too proactive a role in Nepal, if the US were not involved. However, given the increasing US involvement with the Nepalese Army, which the Chinese may suspect would affect its position in Tibet, then China might choose to react in a manner it deems fit.

"There were elements within the Nepalese Congress egging (Girija Prasad) Koirala to stay on as Prime Minister. Who is instigating them?" Mr Mukharji wondered aloud. He went on to suggest that if Mr Koirala refused to budge from the Prime Minister’s seat, it could lead to a constitutional crisis as it would be against the people’s mandate. A two-third majority would then be needed to remove him, which would be a difficult task, he added.

Mr Mukharji hoped Mr Koirala would resort to doing so only for bargaining given the fact that many, including his daughter Sujata, lost the election.

CPI national-secretary D. Raja and Mr Satish Chandra, a former deputy national security adviser, also spoke on the occasion. Almost all the speakers hoped Nepal King Gyanandra would leave the Royal Palace before May 28, on which day the Constituent Assembly is scheduled to meet.