'Right Balance': India should focus on Nepal's development, engage with new generation, says Shashi Tharoor

Finding the "right balance" is significant to manage the aftermaths of the youth-led protests in Nepal, and India should focus on the Himalayan nation's development that benefits its citizens directly to boost ties, according to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

Highlighting that while India should refrain from "micro-managing" Nepal's internal politics, it should not turn a blind-eye to the recent cases of instability in the South Asian countries, Tharoor opined in an NDTV article published on September 15.

"A policy of non-interference - essential to show arms-length respect for the internal affairs of a sovereign neighbour - must be balanced with a proactive, yet subtle, strategy to safeguard our interests," Tharoor wrote, adding that India must avoid direct intervention. "India must resist the temptation to micromanage Nepal's internal politics. Past attempts at heavy-handed diplomacy, such as the 2015 unofficial border blockade, have been counterproductive, fostering anti-India sentiment and pushing Nepal closer to China. A hands-off approach, for now, is the wisest course."

India should focus on Nepal's development and its own "soft power" and should increase development assistance and cultural ties. "Completing existing projects on time, investing in new ones that benefit the Nepali public directly, and promoting educational and cultural exchanges will build goodwill and strengthen the bilateral relationship," Tharoor added.

Engagement with youth

Since the protests led to the resignation of Nepal's former PM KP Sharma Oli as the youth of the country were unhappy with his government due to alleged corruption, Tharoor outlined that India "must engage" with the new generation by opening new channels of communication as "understanding their aspirations and grievances is crucial for formulating a forward-looking foreign policy."

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Tharoor noted that this kind of chaos has become a familiar story in India's neighbourhood, echoing the recent upheavals in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. "For India, it's clear that the old political establishment, which New Delhi has traditionally engaged with, has lost its hold and legitimacy," he said, adding that the youth seeks a new kind of leadership that is not burdened by the baggage of the past.

Former Nepal Chief Justice Shushila Karki took charge as the PM of the interim government. Tharoor stated that the protesters' use of a gaming chat app, Discord, to choose her, demonstrated the "organic and chaotic nature" of the movement, which contradicts the idea of a carefully managed coup.

India's concerns and China's growing influence 

The recent protests in Nepal pose direct and indirect threats to India. One of the main concerns is security as an open border could lead to rise in cross-border smuggling, human trafficking and increase in anti-India activities. "The potential for a security vacuum in Nepal could be exploited by hostile actors, particularly Pakistan's ISI, to foment trouble in India," Tharoor said.

Another main concern for India is China's growing influence in the region as Beijing has been actively engaged in Nepal through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and various infrastructure projects, including roads and railways.

Right balance: Not interfering vs not remaining indifferent

However, India should be careful of the conspiracy theories revolving around the matter. "The youth-led protests, while seemingly organic, bear an 'uncanny resemblance' to the regime changes that have occurred in other South Asian countries. This, they say, raises suspicions of a larger, coordinated effort to destabilise the region - by implication orchestrated by the West," Tharoor said.

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"I tend to be sceptical of most conspiracy theories - the world is often more susceptible to random events than the paranoiacs believe - India must of course bear such concerns in mind and monitor these developments closely," he added.

We have to find the right balance between not interfering and not remaining indifferent, while supporting peace and stability in Nepal by offering financial and institutional assistance to the new government, Tharoor concluded.