- World over, the global community would have witnessed with stunned disbelief how some of the countries’ fates are unfolding with such rapidity, leaving everyone concerned. After what happened in the Middle East and West Asia, some of the South Asian countries are in the midst of upheavals, leading to governments being dislodged by the uprising initiated by frustrated youth. The Gen-Z, brought up on a steady diet of social media, technology-driven endeavours, and increasingly aspirational, will not tolerate or settle for anything mediocre. And if the elected representatives start behaving as dictators, completely ignoring the ground realities of the youth and their valid lookout for equal opportunities, expect the unexpected to ensue.
PC: Times of India
- Not so long ago, we witnessed what happened in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, respectively, leading to the overthrow of regimes that were deemed unfit to govern these nations. Something similar unfolded in Nepal recently when the youths’ uprising forced the extremely anachronistic regime to simply shut down the shutter, albeit with violence claiming innocent lives. Here, India should continue engaging, without appearing to influence outcomes. Come to think of it, Nepal’s social media ban didn’t cause Oli’s fall, but the undercurrents of discontent and frustration that were building up for months. That Oli was busy cementing his position in his party, CPN-UML, to ensure a third term at its helm, only shows how out of touch he and his government were.
PC: Al Jazeera
- The volcano of angst had to erupt, triggered by a brutal crackdown that left at least 22 young protesters dead, making their position untenable. Although the Nepal army has taken charge of security now, the ongoing churn is a matter of grave concern for India, coming just over a year after a student revolution in Bangladesh dislodged the friendly regime of Sheikh Hasina. Nepal is geopolitically more significant as a buffer between India and China and has largely played a friend in the tense subcontinent. Although Oli is a known India-baiter cosying up to China and raising thorny issues, CPN-UML again opposed India and China’s agreement to trade across the Lipulekh Pass recently. India has responded cautiously.
PC: Zee News – India.Com
- Hence, PM Modi, describing the violence as heartrending and appealing to all brothers and sisters in Nepal to support peace, is a par for the course exhortation. A wait-and-watch approach is the best course of action for now, as any intervention of any kind would be resented, especially when rumors of a foreign hand in the uprising are rife. With China actively courting Nepal, India does not want to be perceived as playing the role of big brother. The stakes are high. India has traditionally been Nepal’s biggest foreign investor and source of assistance since 2017. China has gained traction of late. That said, Nepal doesn’t seem too keen to hitch its wagon to China. Thus, India must maintain its level of engagement, without being seen as influencing the events.
