Is Nepal Under Prime Minister KP Oli To Get Closer To China?

Is Nepal Under Prime Minister KP Oli To Get Closer To China?

  

 The last decade has witnessed widespread changes in the Nepal political domain. The ever-increasing influence of China cannot be ignored either as pro-India blocks in Nepal are no more the dominant or decision making ones. The arrival of Nepal’s new Prime Minister KP Oli has complicated the scenario further. No doubt, he has been traditionally inclined to the Chinese and his coronation in Nepal’s political scene is indeed a cause of concern for Indian think-tank. Incidentally, this isn’t the first time that KP Oli has become the Prime Minister of Nepal. 

 Previously, in 2015, he was elected but within a few months, he resigned following a political crisis over the Madhesi issue. Already there are apprehensions in several quarters that KP Oli is going to revive controversial projects favoring China including $2.5 billion hydropower project, transit treaty with Beijing as well as the Budhi Gandaki project. In other words, pro-Chinese KP Oli is already making his best efforts to curb Indian influence in Nepal. In a very recent interview the Nepalese Prime Minister has categorically mentioned with regard to India, “We have great connectivity with India and an open border. All that’s fine and we’ll increase connectivity even further 6 but we can’t forget that we have two neighbors. We don’t want to depend on one country or have one option.’ Truly it is a clear as daylight that Nepal is virtually going into China’s clutch which India cannot afford to happen as national security will be compromised with growing Chinese influence in Nepal. There are indeed sensitive issues like Nepali soldiers working in the Indian army, Maoist leaders taking refuge in the state and other vital aspects. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj need to get a clear picture of the situation and work accordingly through diplomatic back channels to ensure a perfect balance, ensuring India’s interests with Nepal.

By sources