THE Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has suggested the nascent Nepal government to guard against the fallacy of secularism. The RSS also felt that ?Nepal and Bharat? should devise a common strategy to curb the violent activities of Maoists, Pakistan'sISI and expansionist designs of China.
In an exclusive interview with this correspondent, Shri Indresh Kumar, member of Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM) of RSS, and an expert on Himalayan and Nepal affairs welcomed the establishment of democratic government in Nepal.
He also welcomed transformation of Royal Army into Nepal Army, dissolution of Rashtriya Parishad created by Nepal'smonarch, and the new national anthem of Nepal.
?These are all welcome indications?, Shri Indresh Kumar said expressing optimism about better relations between India and Nepal in future.
The senior RSS pracharak had a suggestion for the new government in Nepal: ?Do not fall prey to the fallacy of secularism?. Nepal being a Hindu nation, followed a tradition of respecting all religious faiths. It should not lose this special identity by declaring itself a secular state, he explained.
The communists had never supported the Indian freedom struggle, opposed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and criticised the ?Bharatiya? ethos as communal. In future these communists might play a key role in spreading anarchy in India and neighbouring countries.
Referring to secularism in India, he said that because of the wrong interpretation of secularism, India is currently facing the menace of Maoists, Naxalite violence, demands of separation from some parts of the country, and rampant conversions by missionaries of alien faith?all with the help of uninterrupted flow of foreign money. Besides fanning fanaticism and fundamentalism, this secularism has divided the ?Bharatiya society at multi-levels based on castes and sects?, he said.
Therefore, Nepal should learn from the experiences of India and rightly interpret secularism as Sarva Panth Samabhav i.e. equal respect for all religions.
He said even in India, a large section of the society felt that the proper meaning of secularism should be propagated so that respect for all religious faiths could be restored. ?This is possible because of the essential Hindu character and Hindu culture of Bharat and Nepal both?, he asserted.
He said that even during the Monarchy, Nepal was not declared as Hindu Rashtra by the constitution of the King. It had majority of Hindus by tradition it was known as Hindu Rashtra. So it was wrong to say that Nepal ceased to be Hindu Rashtra after the recent transformation to democracy.
Shri Indresh Kumar felt that the new seven-party government headed by Prime Minister, G.P. Koirala, should guard against an expansionist China with whom it shares a common border, the Pakistan-sponsored Inter-State Intelligence (ISI) and the Maoists.
China has already grabbed Tibet, establishing its control over Kailash Mansarovar and constructed roads and stockpiled arms in the Himalayan region is threatening peace in the land of gods. He felt that in the interest of both the countries, India and Nepal should formulate a joint strategy in respect of China, ISI and Maoists and Naxalites, he said.
Shri Indresh Kumar expressed his fear that participation of communists in the government of both the countries and their alleged covert support to Maoists and Naxalites might create hindrance in formulation of a common strategy. He warned that the government should understand the communist character and remain vigilant against their role in promoting anarchy.
He further said that the communists had never supported the Indian freedom struggle, opposed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and criticised the ?Bharatiya? ethos as communal. In future these communists might play a key role in spreading anarchy in India and neighbouring countries, he warned.
Analysing the events that led to political revolution in Nepal, the RSS leader said that people were fed up with King Gyanendra whom they held responsible for eliminating the family of his predecessor, King Virendra. People also felt that the King did not use the Royal Army to curb Maoist violence. ?Therefore the King was looked down as a murderer of the Royal family and killer of democracy by the people of Nepal?, he analysed.
?People also suspected that the King was encouraging Maoists so that he could enjoy uninterrupted power?, he said adding that this public anger transformed in the form of the massive movement against the King and monarchy.
The King tried to crush the public movement by all means. Not only that, he appointed a pro-China Kirti Nidhi Bisht, Tulsi Giri?who is believed to have a soft corner for Christians as his wife belongs that religion?and Salim Ansari, an alleged ISI supporter in his Royal Council of Ministers. This has sent danger signals among the intelligensia in Nepal who joined hands with the democratic forces against the King. All these events compelled the King to give up power and hand it over to the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA), he said.
Expressing apprehension that vested interests in their design to destabilise Nepal might instigate the King, his son Paras and their supporters to sabotage the democratic government and grab power once again, Shri Indresh Kumar warned that any such attempt by the King to undermine popular opinion would plunge the Himalayan nation into civil war. The King should honour the popular sentiments and respect the democratic government to avoid any such eventuality.
The RSS functionary said that Government of India should extend all help to Nepal in development and security of that country. Greater co-operation between the two nations and their governments will usher in an era of peace, development and progress in the subcontinent.
