Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’ focus 08/18/2010

Nepal grows wary of Indian ‘interference’

focus 08/18/2010 KATHMANDU — As Nepal’s parliament prepares once again to try to elect a new prime minister after four failed attempts, concern is growing over the role of neighboring India in the protracted political crisis. Nepal’s prime minister agreed in May to step down to pave the way for a new power-sharing government in a deal to secure the support of the opposition Maoist party for an extension of parliament’s term. Since then, political leaders in the desperately poor country have failed to reach agreement on the shape of the new administration, prompting New Delhi to dispatch one of its most senior envoys to Nepal earlier this month. India said it wanted to help its neighbor to set up a stable government, but many here believe its true aim was to prevent Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal — an outspoken critic of India — from becoming prime minister. “The perception that Nepal’s sovereignty is being encroached upon has increased,” said Ashok Gurung, senior director at the India China Institute at The New School university in the United States. “It is clear that micro-management by Indian authorities in Nepalese politics has intensified and produced anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal.”.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100818com3.html/

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