Former PM Bhattarai Comments on Ravi Lamichhane's India Visit and Nepal-India Relations

Kathmandu. Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has claimed that the rumbling sounds heard in both Kathmandu and Delhi at this time are not very pleasant. He made this statement targeting RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane's India visit.

He further wrote on social media - 'The article published in The Hindustan Times by RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has created quite a stir in Nepal and India. We agree with that too. Especially when discussing development partnership and civilization-culture (roti-beti) in the matter of Nepal-India relations, there are goodbyes on both sides. During my time, despite opposition from some within my own party, when I signed the BIPPA agreement, there was happiness on both sides thinking that development would now pour in. But that is only the visible part of the story.

He further writes - 'There is another hidden but constantly simmering, unspoken aspect that both sides ponder and always causes trouble. We, the responsible people on both sides, do not speak openly about it, but we are fighting under the blanket! That is the issue of strategic security and national sovereignty! The core issue of that is the British-era ingrained thought in the minds of Indians - 'The entire Himalayan region is mine in terms of security'! The border dispute is an expression of that. And on the other hand, the fear of 'Sikkimization' that always makes us Nepalis tremble on the issue of national sovereignty deeply ingrained in us! This root cause has been condemning Nepal-India relations to repeat the story of Sisyphus from Greek mythology for a long time!'

He recalled that he had put forward the concept of an Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) based on his close understanding of the psychology of responsible people and the general public in both India and Nepal to unravel this knot. He said that the EPG report is still struggling on its deathbed. He also wished that Rabi Lamichhane's current Delhi visit would be successful in breaking this vicious cycle.