Getting friendly with the principal enemy

After months of bad news and setbacks, Maoists in Nepal had a reason to smile last week. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Jan 9, 2011, 23:52:25 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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After months of bad news and setbacks, Maoists in Nepal had a reason to smile last week.

Party vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai returned from a trip to India with the message that the southern neighbour is not averse to a Maoist-led government in the Himalayan nation.

Bhattarai's disclosure came after deliberations with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, external affairs minister SM Krishna, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and national security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

Though mandarins in New Delhi kept mum, Bhattarai made the happy announcement the moment he landed in Kathmandu.

He also disclosed India will keep a hands-off attitude let the deadlock surrounding formation of a government resolve itself through consensus.

For a party that has dubbed India as principal enemy and accused it of preventing it (Maoists) from regaining power, the development is a relief.

Earlier attempts at getting friendly with the enemy, sometimes at China's coaxing, had met with silent snubs. Now armed with the enemy's assurances, it hopes to reverse its fortunes.

But re-entry to the Prime Minister's residence won't be smooth as Nepali Congress and a faction in Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) are unlikely to agree to a Maoist-led coalition.

Unable to come to power through democratic means, Maoists are now planning to wage another revolt to install a peoples' government if there's a conspiracy against the peace process and constitution drafting.

With less than five months remaining for completion of both tasks, Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal is having difficulty in placating hardcore elements in his outfit and getting another shot at the PM kursi.

Getting a positive nod from New Delhi is only a small step, Dahal knows his journey to Baluwatar is fraught with major roadblocks and he will need to make big sacrifices to reach his destination.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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