Here’s how you can tell that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the world leader that his fans insist he is: he is so popular, he is able to disrupt the internal politics of other countries.
Earlier this month, when it was announced that Modi would visit Nepal for the second time in his six months in power, the prime minister's expressed the desire to include three religious-historical towns as part of his itinerary. On Sunday, however, the ministry of external affairs made it clear that Modi would only be making his way to Kathmandu this week, where he will be attending the three-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit.
"During his last visit to Kathmandu, Prime Minister Modi had expressed a desire to visit other places in Nepal, including Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath, to highlight, in particular, the strong civilisational links and unparalleled people-to-people contacts between our two countries,” said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for the ministry. “Due to Prime Minister's unavoidable domestic commitments and pre-scheduled travels within the country, he will travel only to Kathmandu to attend the SAARC Summit.”
There is reason to argue that, with the important winter session of Parliament starting on Monday as well, Modi actually does have “unavoidable domestic commitments”. But this is not placating those in Janakpur, a town believed to be the birthplace of Sita from the Ramayana. News reports mentioned the town getting “all decked up” for nothing and protests breaking out because of Modi’s cancellation.
What are the parties saying?
The ostensible reason for Modi’s cancellation, beyond the statement that was offered by the ministry for external affairs, was the threat from opposition parties in Janakpur to stage alternate events while Modi is visiting.
Not protests, mind you, like the decision of the opposition in Fiji to boycott Modi's address to their parliament. Instead, the rival parties in Nepal were complaining that the ruling parties did not include them in the organising committee for Modi’s visit. The Unified Communist Party of Nepal and a number of Madhesi parties, from the southern portions of Nepal that abut India’s plains, were even threatening to set up a parallel organising committee.
These parties wanted Modi to speak at a large public ground in Janakpur, but the state affairs committee of parliament discussion about the issue asked the question of whether allowing this would hurt Nepal’s sovereignty. The deputy prime minister then made a statement saying there would only be a felicitation ceremony for the Indian PM, and no public address. The reason cited was lack of space for Modi's chopper, and security concerns.
What’s the controversy really about?
Janakpur and Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, are important historical spots that also lie in the Tarai, the flat southern portions of Nepal that have open borders with India and people who speak the same language and share the culture of those who live in adjoining Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. As is the case in adjoining states across the border, Modi is believed to be very popular among the Madhesi people, a cause of concern for Nepal's ruling party.
“It is not about security,” Shiv Shankar Sah, chairman of the Janakpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Nepali Times. "The Nepal government is afraid that a hugely popular Modi would announce some development projects which they have been unable to deliver."
Modi’s image as a Hindu leader also comes as a destablising force for a country that, until recently, was the world’s only Hindu kingdom. Plans had been drawn up to make Janakpur a sister-city of Ayodhya, Ram’s capital in the Ramayana but also a city with a chequered political past when it comes to mixing religion and politics. Concerns have been raised about a renewed demand for Nepal to revert to it religious kingdom status, despite Parliament being entirely populated by secularists.
This also comes at a time when Nepal’s politicians appear to be once again heading to failure in negotiations to frame a new constitution.
How does it affect Indo-Nepal ties?
Simply put, this is not a good sign from Kathmandu. Modi expressed his desire to visit these towns on the floor of the Nepal parliament when he visited there early into his tenure. As recently as last week, India sent a message to Kathmandu asking the government to placate rival parties and ensure the visit goes off smoothly. Yet confusion reigned in the few days before Modi’s impending visit, with different ministers and diplomats making contradictory statements about the plans.
“The cancellation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visits to three shrines outside Kathmandu ‒ Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath ‒ with only a few days to go, has cast the first shadow over the chances of the summit proceeding smoothly,” wrote columnist Yubaraj Ghimire. “It gives India reason enough to infer all is not well in Nepal and that there’s a trust deficit at the bilateral level.”
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Earlier this month, when it was announced that Modi would visit Nepal for the second time in his six months in power, the prime minister's expressed the desire to include three religious-historical towns as part of his itinerary. On Sunday, however, the ministry of external affairs made it clear that Modi would only be making his way to Kathmandu this week, where he will be attending the three-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit.
"During his last visit to Kathmandu, Prime Minister Modi had expressed a desire to visit other places in Nepal, including Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath, to highlight, in particular, the strong civilisational links and unparalleled people-to-people contacts between our two countries,” said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for the ministry. “Due to Prime Minister's unavoidable domestic commitments and pre-scheduled travels within the country, he will travel only to Kathmandu to attend the SAARC Summit.”
There is reason to argue that, with the important winter session of Parliament starting on Monday as well, Modi actually does have “unavoidable domestic commitments”. But this is not placating those in Janakpur, a town believed to be the birthplace of Sita from the Ramayana. News reports mentioned the town getting “all decked up” for nothing and protests breaking out because of Modi’s cancellation.
What are the parties saying?
The ostensible reason for Modi’s cancellation, beyond the statement that was offered by the ministry for external affairs, was the threat from opposition parties in Janakpur to stage alternate events while Modi is visiting.
Not protests, mind you, like the decision of the opposition in Fiji to boycott Modi's address to their parliament. Instead, the rival parties in Nepal were complaining that the ruling parties did not include them in the organising committee for Modi’s visit. The Unified Communist Party of Nepal and a number of Madhesi parties, from the southern portions of Nepal that abut India’s plains, were even threatening to set up a parallel organising committee.
These parties wanted Modi to speak at a large public ground in Janakpur, but the state affairs committee of parliament discussion about the issue asked the question of whether allowing this would hurt Nepal’s sovereignty. The deputy prime minister then made a statement saying there would only be a felicitation ceremony for the Indian PM, and no public address. The reason cited was lack of space for Modi's chopper, and security concerns.
What’s the controversy really about?
Janakpur and Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, are important historical spots that also lie in the Tarai, the flat southern portions of Nepal that have open borders with India and people who speak the same language and share the culture of those who live in adjoining Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. As is the case in adjoining states across the border, Modi is believed to be very popular among the Madhesi people, a cause of concern for Nepal's ruling party.
“It is not about security,” Shiv Shankar Sah, chairman of the Janakpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Nepali Times. "The Nepal government is afraid that a hugely popular Modi would announce some development projects which they have been unable to deliver."
Modi’s image as a Hindu leader also comes as a destablising force for a country that, until recently, was the world’s only Hindu kingdom. Plans had been drawn up to make Janakpur a sister-city of Ayodhya, Ram’s capital in the Ramayana but also a city with a chequered political past when it comes to mixing religion and politics. Concerns have been raised about a renewed demand for Nepal to revert to it religious kingdom status, despite Parliament being entirely populated by secularists.
This also comes at a time when Nepal’s politicians appear to be once again heading to failure in negotiations to frame a new constitution.
How does it affect Indo-Nepal ties?
Simply put, this is not a good sign from Kathmandu. Modi expressed his desire to visit these towns on the floor of the Nepal parliament when he visited there early into his tenure. As recently as last week, India sent a message to Kathmandu asking the government to placate rival parties and ensure the visit goes off smoothly. Yet confusion reigned in the few days before Modi’s impending visit, with different ministers and diplomats making contradictory statements about the plans.
“The cancellation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visits to three shrines outside Kathmandu ‒ Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath ‒ with only a few days to go, has cast the first shadow over the chances of the summit proceeding smoothly,” wrote columnist Yubaraj Ghimire. “It gives India reason enough to infer all is not well in Nepal and that there’s a trust deficit at the bilateral level.”