Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, like any other Nepali PM on his visit to New Delhi, received a memorandum from Nepalis living and working in India, on Wednesday.
One of the points in the memorandum was: Dear PM, many Nepali women are sold in India. Please make it stop and the other one was problems faced by Nepali students.
Prime Minister Deuba’s body language, while receiving the memorandum yesterday, made it clear that he was not going to raise the issue at all. He, however, hinted that he would discuss problems of Nepali students in India with Indian officials during significant meetings to be held today–and this speaks volumes about the stance Nepali leaders have taken on a serious issue such as human trafficking. Most of the Nepalis studying in India are from the middle- and high-class families whereas women sold in the brothels are from the poor class.
Many might think that raising the issue of Indo-China standoff at Doklam can make our Prime Minister more diplomatic and scholarly. It could be the reason why trafficking of Nepali women to India cannot make it to the agenda of diplomatic discussions between the two countries.
The Doklam standoff has been the talk of town in New Delhi now. Every single person walking on the street has some comment to make against China. A taxi driver in the Indian capital shares that if Nepal and Bhutan extend helping hands to Delhi, India will show China who is the boss.
A recent visit by Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang to Kathmandu, directly after attending Pakistan’s Independence Day in Islamabad has also fuelled anti-Chinese sentiments among Delhi denizens. Therefore, it will not be strange if Indian PM Modi chooses to talk about the standoff with his Nepali counterpart as well during the bilateral meeting scheduled for this afternoon.
But, the Doklam standoff is not a concern for Nepal at all. It just helps Nepal and India brush under the carpet serious concerns of bilateral ties.
But, neither Nepali officials working in New Delhi nor the political leadership visiting India is concerned about day-to-day problems of Nepalis living and working in India–be it the trafficking issue or the students’ concern. Seriousness was something that was not seen on their faces as Nepali organisations read out and submitted the memorandum to the PM yesterday. Deuba’s wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, did not even care to attend the function.
Nepali citizens, both at home and abroad, have some expectations from PM Deuba’s India visit. First of all, they want the PM not to sign any agreement that could put Nepal at a disadvantage in the long run. The second, they want the Nepali government to maintain balanced ties with both India and China. They also want India not to interfere in Nepal’s internal issues.
A joint communiqué likely to be issued after the meeting between two PMs this afternoon will answer if these expectations are met.
Meanwhile, PM Modi’s ‘surprise invitation’ to Deuba for tea yesterday hinted that the Indian PM gives importance to his Nepali guest. However, some believe that it could be part of a pressure tactic.
Respect and pressure, perhaps India wanted to send an ambivalent message to the visiting Prime Minister. Therefore, it is expected that New Delhi officials will try to divert attention of Nepali politicians and officials towards Nepal-China relationships during the bilateral meetings.
The Nepali side could have thought more wisely, but…
