Why is India blocking the border?
According to Indian Embassy's official press release
We have seen reports of obstructions at various entry-exit points at the India-Nepal border. The reported obstructions are due to unrest, protests and demonstrations on the Nepalese side, by sections of their population. As was already said on 21 September 2015, our freight forwarders and transporters had voiced complaints about the difficulties they are facing in movement within Nepal and their security fears, due to the prevailing unrest.
We would reiterate that issues facing Nepal are political in nature. Nepalese leadership needs to address the causes underlying the present state of confrontation credibly and effectively. Issues of differences should be resolved and institutionalized with broad-based ownership and acceptance.
We do hope the situation will ease at the earliest.
tl;dr: They're citing security reasons because of the political unrest near the border.
According to the Nepalese people (depending on which side they are), you will hear two types of answer.
They have an unofficial blockade because of the unrest in southern Nepal. They are having Bihar elections which is right next to the border and they're worried that the violence will cross the border during a critical time.
India tries to control Nepal: a small, dependent nation. It doesn't like the new constitution and didn't welcome it officially. Their exact words, "We note the promulgation in Nepal today of a Constitution." It is using the economic blockade to steer Nepalese government to do according to their wish.
You will find a good example of redditors all over /r/nepal going to-and-fro, arguing to prove their own point (1 or 2) while proving their opposing point wrong. The discussions are really plaguing this nice, fun sub-reddit. There's no sure way to know who is right or wrong.
Assuming you wouldn't want to know the details, I am going to make it short. The blockade is unofficial. Indian Prime minister says, because of the agitation in the Terai, sending supplies might not be safe. You might want to know, some of the protesters are also on a sit-in protests at the border and say they won't allow supplies pass by.
Some Nepali people (and apparently Nepali Media too) believe that it's because Indian government is just being nosy. They believe Indian government doesn't agree with Nepal's new constitution so he is basically trying to blackmail Nepali Government into amending the constitution as per his wishes. I guess.
Now, what makes the most sense is that Bihar (An Indian state) is going to hold their election in a month or two and the current government in India badly wants to win the election. So they want to take Bihar (which has a a good relationship with the Terai of Nepal) into confidence by showing them that they stand with the people of Terai.
But then, it could be any of those things or it could be a little of everything.
Hey nice point there about the Bihar elections. Could you elaborate on the relation between Bihar and our Terai? Is it mostly like a big brother kind of thing where Bihari politicians are providing Terai leaders with advice and support on their movement or is it more of a bilateral relationship with give and take on both sides?
What's interesting, admittedly for me, is that it looks like integration of our Madhesi brothers into our politics is one way to achieve status quo with the Indians, if they have built a solid rapport with them.
I guess I ask my next question more broadly and that is:
what are the consequences of this integration?
Someone I recently talked to, an older family member is vehemently opposed saying "Dhotis will take over Nepal" and out of respect for him I did not press the issue further, but that seems like a fear and not a direct consequence.
Thanks in advance.
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[–]snobbyslob 3 points 3 months ago
Could you elaborate on the relation between Bihar and our Terai? Is it mostly like a big brother kind of thing where Bihari politicians are providing Terai leaders with advice and support on their movement or is it more of a bilateral relationship with give and take on both sides?
It's different. It's on a different level from political level. The relationship is on more on a social level. Cross border marriages are a common practice there. They share the language. They celebrate the same festivals. Overall, they have the same culture. So you can understand the bonding they have.
And I sincerely don't understand where you're going with the second question.
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[–]momosallday 1 point 3 months ago
And I sincerely don't understand where you're going with the second question.
Sorry about being so vague. I meant what negative impact, if any, would be had by integrating the Madhesi people into mainstream politics? I realize it might not be as simple as it looks but from the gist of it, we went ahead (bulldozed?) with making the constitution without listening to the needs of the Madhesis.
Also, thanks for clarifying relationship between Terai and Bihar. I think thats a very healthy relation and it could be fruitful to leverage that to bring about a status quo.
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[–]snobbyslob 3 points 3 months ago
I meant what negative impact, if any, would be had by integrating the Madhesi people into mainstream politics?
I understood what you're trying to ask but I don't understand why you asked what you asked? Why is it relevant? If you are trying to know my opinion then, I have none right now. I guess we'll have to wait and see. But I don't think it's going to be as bad as your older family member speculates.
I think thats a very healthy relation and it could be fruitful to leverage that to bring about a status quo.
If you mean maintain the status quo in India then, yes.
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[–]momosallday 2 points 3 months ago
Fair enough. Thanks for the answers.
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[–]snobbyslob 2 points 3 months ago
Anytime.
permalinkparent will Code For Money -1 points 3 months ago
This is politically bullying and nothing more. Here's why:
The agitation were going on for more than 40 days and were much much more violent than now. The blockade started only after the constitution. The sudden "security concern" makes no sense here.
Nepalese security apparatus has been providing escorting for safe passage of vehicles from the beginning of the unrest and is still doing so. There hasn't been any major accidents in that front too.
The notion of India supporting the cause of Madhesi and Tharu is laughable. Every year, flooding due to the illegal dam construction on Indian borders causes huge loss of life and property in Terai region. They also regularly encroach farmlands and villages of Nepalese sides using armed police and local goons. And the Nepali madhesis who cross border everyday for work, shopping, family ties etc are treated very badly by Indian officials in the checkpoints. These aren't made up, just search for the topics and you'll find 100 of news reports for each. It's very clear that they don't give a rat's ass about Nepali madhesis and tharus.
They are certainly trying to pressurize Nepal for changes in our Constitution. What those changes exactly are is still not known properly in public. The Hindu nation agenda can very well be one of those as the ruling BJP are Hindu hardliners and always wants that religion playcard in Nepali politics. Got no proper economic knowledge or insight, but the blockade is certainly harming India too since Nepal is their major export destination.
I also fear that the genuine demands of the Madhesi and Tharu people are now being overshadowed by this blockade. It's being counter-productive to the genuine movement. It may very well be a case of Nepali leaders and Indian leaders working together in trying to distract the general population from the Madhesi and Tharu uprising and discredit them. I hope Madhesi and Tharu leader understand the dangers of this and work towards a solution where their genuine demands are met and the unrest stop.
It may very well be a case of Nepali leaders and Indian leaders working together in trying to distract the general population from the Madhesi and Tharu uprising and discredit them.
This right here.
Call me a conspiracy nut all you want but i think this might be the whole reason of today's problem.
India can afford the backlash it is seeing right now. It does not has much too loose and Nepali netas are also not too vocal about India's blockade. Shouting nationalists slogan does not equals to actually solving the blockade problem.
When the leaders want to solve a problem they sit for talks continously sometimes days and night and solve it. As seen during Maoist time. But the KTM Neta's don't want to agree on any of the demands of Madhesis and Tharus which is why they are buying this time so they can completely discredit the demands
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