The no man's land at the main border crossings between Nepal and India, according to mutual agreement, is inviolate. It cannot be used for political purpose by people from either side. But in the past two months India has allowed protestors from Nepali side—and, according to anecdotal evidence, many Indians—to stage protests at the no man's land at Birjung-Raxaul. Now a clutch of protestors are camped at the no man's land between Nepaljung and Rupaidiha. In fact, in the next few days, Madheshi parties will be looking to block all roads into Nepal so that even the little fuel and supplies that is still coming is completely stopped. India, by allowing border points with its supposedly 'closest' neighbor to be blocked, is violating Nepal's right as a land-locked country to access the nearest port. This is against international law. It is also a crime against humanity considering how sick people in Nepal are dying for the want of medicines that have been stranded at the border. Others have died because there was no fuel for ambulance to take them to hospital. The United Nations has warned of an impending humanitarian crisis.India's actions are thus unjustifiable. But what about those of the Madheshi parties? If they have grievances against the government of Nepal, why are they using Indian territories to voice these grievances? It is pathetic to see cadres of Madheshi parties rain stones on Nepal Police from Indian territories. If their demands are genuine and they have popular support, ordinary Madheshis, as we saw during the 2007 Madhesh Andolan, would come out to the street in their hundreds of thousands. Back in 2007 the state was forced to listen to popular sentiment and the Interim Constitution had to be amended to include federalism. So perhaps these parties have resorted to the easy way out of blockading the border as they realize their popular support has evaporated and only with India's help can they put pressure on Kathmandu. If not, let them prove they have the support of ordinary Madheshis by calling off the border blockade and instead bringing more Madheshis to the street.
For if this is a fight for the rights of the Madheshi people in the Nepali state, the issue should be settled among Nepali actors. India should have no role in what is a purely internal matter for Nepal. But by imposing a blockade on Nepal while riding on India's shoulders the Madheshi parties are badly discrediting their agendas, which, increasingly, are viewed as being imposed by India through its proxies. Even if they now force Kathmandu to bend to their wishes, how productive is it for Madheshi parties to be viewed as 'India's stooges' in the long run? No constitution in the world is flawless; nor is ours. But if there are problems in it, again, let us try to solve them among ourselves. Inviting India or any other foreign power to solve them on our behalf is not in the country's interest. Nor is it in the interest of Madheshi parties.
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