What Indian Papers say about India's Blockade against Nepal?

We are regularly updating on the Indian Paper's reactions on India's blockade against Nepal. We have updated our blog regularly in the past on #IndiaBlockadesNepal and on #BackOffIndia. You can read our previous blog post HERE:http://nepalikabitagajal.blogspot.com/2015/09/update-on-indiablockadesnepal-29092015.html

India has consistently and officially denied that there are any blockades from Indian side. Indian administration has put all the blame on the Nepalese agitators and on the failure of Nepalese government to address the problems by dialogues.

But, as the days were passing, the matter came under more scrutiny of Indian press and many have slammed the Modi's chest thumping policy in Nepal. They have slammed the muscular approach and interference of Modi in Nepal.

We have some of the news items and screenshot on what Indian commentators are telling on Nepal.

The Senior BBC Journalist and the Author Subir Bhaumik has written in The Hindu that India needs no Monroe Doctrine. It has criticised the foreign policy of Indian Government. It has blamed the Modi Government that it is trying to create unnecessary sphere of influence in the neighbourhood by push and shove.

You can read the article here: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/india-needs-no-monroe-doctrine/article7716226.ece


Times of India has reported here http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nepal-turns-to-UN-over-Indias-blockade-of-trade-point/articleshow/49210855.cms that Nepal has raised the issue of blockade by India in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). As per the News, Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister requested the countries to respect transit rights of landlocked countries like Nepal while commenting on the Unofficial and Undeclared blockade imposed by India on Nepal to push Nepal to accept Seven points Constitutional Amendments in newly passed Constitution.

Times of India has also published an Opinion where it has said that "India is the biggest Loser in the divided Nepal" http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-the-big-loser-in-divided-Nepal/articleshow/49190134.cms This sense must have prevailed in TOI as Nepal is closer to opening borders with China which were blocked due to recent earthquakes. The reports in various Media yesterday said that the borders with China should be operational within two weeks. This must have given a dash of pessimism in Indian critics that Nepal may be slipping from India's hand and not everything is going on as per their scripts.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Concern-over-growing-anti-India-sentiment-in-Nepal/articleshow/49190105.cms In this link, Times of India has firther reported that India is concerned with growing anti-India sentiments in Nepal. This was conveyed by India's Ambassador to Nepal in a press meet. However, this was going to happen as India has imposed blockade in Nepal and Nepalese people are not happy with India's interference in Nepal. First of all, India needs to learn to respect Nepal and other neighbours and should not meddle in the internal affairs of Nepal. That will help to create goodwill against India #IndiaBlockadesNepal will only create the more hatred of Nepalese against India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Madhesi-border-blockade-sparks-anti-India-feelings-in-Nepal/articleshow/49161720.cms This link in TOI states that there is a growing anti-India sentiment in Nepal. This is due to #IndiaBlockadesNepal.

In this Associated Press (AP) Report filed in TOI in a way confirms that India has imposed an unofficial/undeclared Blockade in Nepal. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Nepalis-adapt-to-fuel-shortage-by-carpooling-riding-bikes/articleshow/49204208.cms

The report states that after India's unofficial #IndiaBlockadesNepal, Nepali people have found the way of carpooling, sharing and giving lift to each other to save the fuel. Nepal is facing fuel shortage due to blockade imposed by Indian Government which is reportedly not happy that Nepal's sovereign parliament made first ever Constitution without consulting India.

Keshav Pradhan in TOI has another report http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/A-fragile-friendship-Hindu-links-are-not-enough-to-keep-India-Nepal-together/articleshow/49202229.cms The report clearly states that though Nepal and India have majority Hindu population, this is not enough to keep a good relationship between these nations. Pradhan is write in his conclusion. What Nepalese demand from India is respect. Nepalese have always asked India to stay away from Nepal's domestic and internal affairs. The current #IndiaBlockadesNepal will only aggravate the relationship between these two countries and there will be more anti-India sentiments in Nepal. Due to #IndiaBlockadesNepal, Nepal must look for diversifying its trade with outside world and must especially be maintaining closer ties with China.

Nepal's digital Media Setopati.com has published a News http://setopati.com/raajneeti/34691/ which says quoting Nepal's Ambassador to India that Indian PM Narendra Modi is very hurt due to the current situation. In the context of #IndiaBlockadesNepal, this is laughable.

Meanwhile, The Hindu Calcutta Edition has a very interesting report here: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/article7717213.ece As per the report, one of the senior Nepalese diplomats at Calcutta Consul of Nepal has warned India that it will be Nepal's compulsion to move towards China if India keeps on meddling in Nepal's internal affairs and if India does not stop #IndiaBlockadesNepal.

The Hindu, Calcutta Edition has also another report which states on the prpblems faced by importers of Nepal. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/impasse-a-nightmare-for-cargo-handlers/article7717215.ece As per the reports, thousands of containers are lying stranded in Calcutta Customs and importers are losing the huge amount. Of course, this situation is being created by Madhesh agitation and the problem is further aggravated by current #IndiaBlockadesNepal.

And finally there is a news, though from Nepali Media Setopati.com that India has instructed its officers/authorities to act to open the borders connecting Nepal. http://setopati.com/raajneeti/34685/ Earlier, the reports were such that India had denied any blockade on goods entering Nepal but now, it is very curious to read such news that India has instructed to open border. Therefore, Nepalese twitter sphere is asking this question: How India can open the border/remove the blockade which it never imposed? This corroborates the position taken by Nepal that India had imposed blockade/embargo on goods going to Nepal to have an upper hand to meddle in Nepal's internal affairs.

Update on #IndiaBlockadesNepal-29.09.2015

Updated 16.55 Hrs on 29-09-2015

When it comes to criticizing of Modi's foreign policy and Blockade on Nepal, many Indian commentators have slammed the current government.

In Asia Times, M.K Bhadrakumar has slammed the Fascist Modi Government. You can read it HERE http://atimes.com/2015/09/india-acquires-a-himalayan-headache-nepal/ He compares the behavior of Indian Administration of today with that of 1980s when India was foolishly interfering in the domestic affairs of Sri-Lanka. Bhadrakumar thinks that India's brazen foolishness is going to cost it as China gets upper hand to play in the Himalayan Nation.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, Rajya Sabha MP from Indian National Congress (INC) slams the fascist and Nazi Modi by using even harsher words. MSA finds the acts of Modi Government childish and has few words of advice to Modi that Modi should stay away from neighbor's domestic affairs. http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/after-pakistan-modi-isolates-another-neighbour-1223237

MSA is right to point out that after Pakistan, Modi has isolated Nepal and it is very difficult for Nepali People to trust Modi and India again. Therefore, the relationships between India and Nepal have come to that point that there will never be trustworthy relationships between South Asia's these two neighbors.

In Outlook Hindi, Nilabh Mishra has written in Hindi that India should be cautious and careful while backing protesters in Nepal. Mishra warns that it is against the democratic policies not to back a constitution which has been drafted by employing the democratic means. You can read it HERE: http://www.outlookhindi.com/view/india-should-be-cautions-in-nepal-4297 (India should be cautious in Nepal in Outlook Hindi)


People's Democracy - mouthpiece of one of the Communist Parties of India term Nepal Constitution as historic. It has praised the features of new Constitution. As per it, the provisions relating to Secularism, Democratic nature of governance, proportional representation and inclusiveness are finest hallmark of the Constitution. It has also slammed the fascist Modi's interference in domestic affairs of Nepal. Read the article from HERE:  http://peoplesdemocracy.in/2015/0927_pd/nepal-constitution-historic-step

Sandeep Dikshit in The Tribune has another sensible piece on Nepal's Constitution. You can read it here: http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/backing-the-wrong-horses-in-nepal/136486.html

As per him, and he is absolutely right that only the Nepalese Women have been partially prejudiced by Nepalese Constitution. Otherwise, the Constitution making was democratic process in Nepal and the outcome has been a progressive and the inclusive Constitution. Slamming the fascist Modi, Mr. Dixit says that small and minor omissions, here and there, in the constitution should not be the reason for India to interfere in Nepal's domestic affairs. He says they are not such biggest crimes committed by Nepalese Parliament to get such an unwelcome ire from India.


Updated 16.35 Hrs on 29-09-2015

A lot of national and international media personalities have backed the #NepalConstitution. They have condemned the #IndiaBlockadesNepal and have supported #BackOffIndia with their writings.

KanakMani Dixit, among the few lone voices from Nepal, has written in The HINDU - Indian Newspaper asking India to adhere to the principles of Panchsheel and has requested the empire of India not to interfere in Nepal's domestic matters. You can read Kanakmani Dixit's "Apply Panchasheel On Nepal HERE

Similarly, Ameet Dhakal has written on Setopati.com calling for India to respect Nepal's sovereignty and democratic practice of promulgation of Constitution. Under "Is India losing sight of thing in Nepal?" Ameet Dhakal has written Here http://setopati.net/opinion/9438/ 

The Article of Ameet Dhakal was also published in Scroll.in and can be read HERE http://scroll.in/article/757547/has-modis-neighbourhood-first-model-forgotten-about-nepal


Updated 16.15 Hrs on 29-09-2015

As mentioned below in our previous post, the Indian Media is only toeing the official Indian government stand on the #IndiaBlockadesNepal but surprisingly, even foreign journalists and News Papers are either silent or have not tried to uncover the facts from the grounds. They are mainly relying upon the reports filed by Indian Press. This is very unfortunate on the part of International Media. They are shying away, most probably due to some fear, from carrying out their duties independently.

Updated 15.15 Hrs on 29-09-2015

Though Nepal is reeling from inhumane and illegal trade embargo imposed by India, the international community and the press has shown a cold attitude towards its coverage and concerns. Most of the India Media is toeing the official line that the situation is due to protesters and none of them had tried to verify the facts from the ground.

The Hindustan Times had sent its "Nepali" Journalist Prashant Jha for the reportage. However, the journalist, despite being a Nepali - whose grandfather had migrated from India/Bihar to Nepal to get chunk of construction contracts from erstwhile royal regime - is known for his pro-India posture. Recently, the Journalist Jha had argued for India's interference in Nepal as Nepal is only partly sovereign as per him. Therefore, as expected, Jha only corroborated the Official Indian stand. The journalist's reports are hardly taken seriously in Nepal these days and we could anticipate what he would have written/reported. Had he filed his report from his comfortable New Delhi Apartment instead of visiting Nepal, we knew that the outcome and narration of the reports would have been same.

Apart from Hindustan Times, no other Indian Journalists has tried to make any efforts to see the reality of Indian blockade in Nepal. They are all relaying what Indian Government is spreading. Though many journalists and newspapers do not see eye to eye with Current Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi - who has been accused of carrying out the grotesque Muslim Massacre in Gujarat in 2002- on domestic and other foreign policies, they have been quiet when it comes to Nepal.

Updated 15.00 Hrs on 29-09-2015

On the guise of Nepalese protests and pointing to the concerns of safety and security of transport owners and workers, India has imposed a blockade on Nepal. #IndiaBlockadesNepal has been the hashtag and the twitter trend in Nepal. We condemn such blockade and embargo put by India to destabilize the tiny Himalayan nation.

Though the arguments of India look attractive on the first glance, the truth is far from what India is arguing. First of all, India has put the embargo on transport of goods from all the borders though the protest is not severe in many borders connecting India and Nepal. Secondly, the reports from the grounds say that the protesters are thriving on the hospitality (food and shelter) given by Indian Public, Indian Government and by Indian SSB (Shasatra Sheema Bal). The reports say that in some places, even SSB of India is encouraging the protesters to throw stones at Nepalese Security Forces. Therefore, it needs to be condemned that India is assisting the protesters and attacking Nepalese Security Forces. On the top of it, India has imposed the Economic Blockade in Nepal.

There is a short supply of fuels and other products in Nepal and it has affected the country who was trying slowly recover from the recent #Nepal Earthquake.

What is #backoff #India in #Twitter?

It is the twitter rage initiated by Nepali People after India refused to welcome the Constitution that Nepal promulgated on 20 September, 2015. #BackOffIndia was started when Nepalese People were celebrating #WelcomeConstitution and #NepalConstitution. There were other hashtags in twitters. They were: #YesItsourConstitution and the people who protested the New Constitution of Nepal started their hashtags: #NotMyConstitution

The People who had started #NotMyConstitution allege that Nepal Constitution does not give them equal rights as compared people from hills in #Nepal. This is a very contentious and actually a false assertion as #Nepal Constitution gives equal rights to everyone and provides special reservations and Positive Discrimination to many marginalized communities.

Basically, Nepal's Constitution was an internal document prepared by sovereign #Nepal's Parliament for its people. Many People were happy that they were getting secular, federal, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural country and its constitution. Government was busy negotiating with different agitators in Nepal and passed its constitution after being ratified by more than 90% of members of Constituent Assemblies in Nepal.
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After the #NepalConstitution was passed by CA, major countries around the world have supported it but India did not welcome it. Not only India failed to welcome it or rather chose to unwelcome it, it has gone ahead by issuing statements after statements on how Constitution should have been passed, what should have been included etc. In  some statements, India even accused Nepal that it had suggested ways to handle the internal protests but Nepal neglected such "good " suggestions and finally, issued a threat indirectly that India may have to stop the supplies due to threats created by protests in Nepal. This effectively means India may go ahead to impose economic blockade in Nepal forcing shortages of fuels, medicines, and food supplies and expects Nepal government to surrender to its controversial demands to be included in Nepal's new Constitution.
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Due to its open threat and aggression, Nepalese people started protesting in twitter, facebook and in other online and social media by trending #backoffindia and #backoffmodi. #backoffIndia was able to appear as worldwide trend in twitter. That showed that millions of Nepalese did not want to surrender #Nepal's sovereignty to India.

It may bring the hardships to Nepalese People in future as Indian authorities seem to have decided to impose the embargo on movements of vehicles and goods on the pretext of security. How will it shape Nepal-India relationship in the future is a matter of worry for everyone.