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‘Parties tossed 1950 Nepal-India treaty to winds’
KATHMANDU, JUL 31 -
Analysts and experts have charged the political parties of downplaying the advantages of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
“Treaty amendment is necessary but annulling it may not be in Nepal’s favour,” said Daman Nath Dhungana, political analyst and human rights activist. “The parties’ inability to forward a written proposal to India for revising the treaty proves their lack of preparation and research on the matter.”
“The issue has been raised merely as a popularity tool,” he said. “We have still not been able to make optimum utilisation of the treaty.” Anshuman Kaur, representative of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, said
no political party had, by far, submitted a written proposal on revising the treaty.
“The treaty is largely beneficial to Nepal since it assures equal economic and social opportunities for Nepalis living in India. Nepalis can establish their own business, they can buy houses, land and they can even be employed as an Indian government official,” said Kaur. “However, respecting the sentiments of Nepal’s demand, the Government of India has been committing time and again to cooperate in revising the treaty.” Despite
the commitment, Nepal’s leaders have failed to take the issue any forth, added Kaur.
However, the 10-point treaty signed by the then Indian ambassador to Nepal and Rana Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher Janga Bahadur Rana, experts claim, includes points that have been addressed neither by India nor Nepal. For instance, both the nations have not abided by the second, fifth, seventh and eighth articles of the treaty.
“While the treaty clearly says Nepal can use only the Indian soil to import arms, it has imported ammunition from China and Belgium during the premiership of Marichman Shrestha and Sher Bahadur Deuba, respectively,” said territorial expert Budhi Narayan Shrestha.
“Similarly, India didn’t inform Nepal about its cold war with China in 1960s, which is against the spirit of the second article. Besides, Indians are not allowed to buy houses or land in Nepal, which goes against the seventh article.”
According to Shrestha, a new treaty should be signed with India that is beneficial for both the neighbours.
Meanwhile, speaking at a programme organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the treaty, political analyst C.K. Lal said it
was impossible to make amendments to the treaty unless “we” formed a new constitution and a national unity government.
“At this critical stage, when we are not able to form a government, it’s impractical to consider more serious issues like amending the treaty,” he said. “Ample preparation and research on the issue is necessary.”
Posted on: 2010-08-01 07:34
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