Madhes Agitation Dispel Deepening Distrust:Ritu Raj Subedi

One of the obvious pitfalls of the ongoing Madhes agitation is the rising disharmony between the two major social groups- pahades (the hill-origin people and Madhesis (the people living in the southern plains). The mutual mistrust is increasing dangerously at the psychological and communal levels. It is the responsibility of the frontline figures from both social groups to overcome this crisis of confidence. It is not out of reach to find a win-win agreement between them to restore mutual harmony and redress the balance. As the trust deficit has reached the tipping point, it is imperative to delve into this matter from different dimensions. Several factors worked to flare the cultural/racial differences between them whose ethnic animosity was alien until a few years back. Bellicose rhetoric and atavistic sentiments were set in motion to cultivate the divisive politics to fulfill the vested interests of a few. A handful of individuals ranging from politicians to civil society members are knowingly and unknowingly involved in this vicious game perceived being played out under the bigger diabolic design. The great irony is that villainous actors come from both communities and are masquerading as the champion of politics of inclusion. There is partial truth in the claim of the mistreatment of Madhesi community in the past but insignificant ethnic fault-lines have been widened to the extent that the nation has been brought to its knees. Despite its sincere commitment, the state is floundering to fill these structural gaps. This situation occurred after the external elements blatantly backed the treacherous domestic masquers bent on distorting history and denigrating the remarkable constitutional feats achieved through Herculean efforts and due democratic exercises.

Democratic Framework

The new constitution and the amendment bill that are under deliberations in the parliament have virtually addressed all demands of agitating Madhesi parties except the one related to provincial demarcation. The bill is pushing for the delineation of the electoral constituencies on the basis of population and geography, and guarantee of the proportional and inclusive participation of Madhesis and other marginalised groups in the state organs. The demarcation of provinces has become a major sticking point in the negations between the protesting parties and the government.  It has become a wedge issue, putting Madhesis and Khas-Aryans poles apart. It is the point wherein the striking groups need to demonstrate its conventional wisdom if they want to resolve the vexing topographic and demographic complications within a broader democratic framework and consensus. When the Khas-Aryans are ready to ensure the Madhesis’ access to resources, power and opportunities, and their identity, there is no reason for the protesting Madhesi groups to be obdurate on this thorny demand. As they are calling for entire flat land to be carved into separate provinces excluding the hills and mountains, this naturally impels the majority populace to cast doubt on their motive. And there is historical basis to raise their eyebrows whether the Madhesi leaders are acting as the stooges of neighbouring India to secede Terai/Madhes region from Nepal. India has imposed blockade on Nepal in the support of Madhesi parties after the Himalayan nation promulgated the new constitution defying the Indian diktats and decrees.

The occasional speeches, behaviours and actions of top Madhesi leaders fuel the suspicion that they have willingly become an instrument for the geo-strategic game of India. Some secessionist elements are already active behind the veil of Madhes cause and agitation. But, some Madhesi leaders, who are following legitimate path, are also overstepping the mark. Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party chairman Mahantha Thakur other day argued that Madhes has all necessary attributes to be a separate nation and demanded that Nepal be declared a multi-national state. To our astonishment, Thakur’s treasonous comment did not draw ire from so-called ‘pahade’ intellectuals, who were in the attendance. Thakur’s announcement makes him no different from another controversial Madhesi activist, CK Raut, who is brazenly launching separatist activities in the region by taking the unfair advantage of lax laws and security. Thakur made a barefaced lie in order to drive a wedge between the Madhesi and hill origin people. It deserves to be condemned in the strongest term. In fact, Terai has been a part of hills before and after the unification of Nepal.

Nation is a biological concept based on common ethnicity. Nepal, where the mixed ethnicities have been living for centuries, is a historically a nation-state. It is civilisational state that spread knowledge in the form of Shivism and Buddhism to all over the world. The notion of ‘multinational states’ does not apply because it is an idea that defines the grouping of more than one nation. It is recipe for the Balkanization of Nepali state. Thakur’s remark has brought the intention of the protracted of Madhes agitation under the ring of suspicion. As the Madhesi leaders are working in collusion with the Indian establishment, they seem to be acting as the pawns to bring a geopolitical disaster to Nepal.

 Following the split of East Pakistan that gave birth to Bangladesh and annexation of Sikkim in India, the then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi had a plan to annex the Terai to India but this could not happen owing the political developments that aborted her hidden design. R N Kao, the founder of R&AW and a mastermind behind these two events, disclosed this fact while talking to RK Yadav, former R&AW officer. Yadav writes: “R N Kao told me that after the merger of Sikkim, he had a plan to disintegrate the Terai area of Nepal because of increasing presence of China there much to the discomfiture of the Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. However, merger of Terai of Nepal was deferred in view of political turmoil in India when Indira Gandhi declared emergency in the country in June 1975 just after merger of Sikkim with Indian Union. Most of the opposition leaders were arrested by her and internal political storm hampered her in formulating other external political planning of the region. Unfortunately, when elections were held in 1977, Indira Gandhi was defeated and her party did not come to power and Kao’s operations of merging Terai and other assignments, did not materialize. (Page 263 of ‘Mission R & AW’ by RK Yadav)

Social Contract

There is deepening doubt that the Madhes agitation is a part of long-term gambit to split southern flatland from Nepal. Now, the onus is on the Madhesi leaders to prove that they are not operating at the behest of southern neighbour to damage Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.  They must stop making traitorous statements in the public. A durable deal is possible only when there is greater understanding and trust between the state and the disgruntled factions. Hope that the Madhesi leaders have understood this basic fact and condition needed to strike a broader social contract.   The Rising Nepal