CPI-M flays Modi government for 'arrogance' in Nepal

The CPI-M on Wednesday denounced the Narendra Modi government for taking a "negative attitude" towards Nepal's new constitution, saying this smacked of arrogance.

An editorial in the Communist Party of India-Marxist's mouthpiece "People's Democracy" said the adoption of a federal, democratic and secular constitution in Nepal was a historic occasion.

"We congratulate the people of Nepal, the three major political parties - the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the UCPN-M - and all democratic forces for this significant achievement," it said.

The editorial said India should have been the first to welcome the adoption of the constitution.

"Instead, the Modi government has adopted a negative attitude and an unwarranted interventionist stance."

It went on: "There has often been a big brother attitude to Nepal on the part of the Indian ruling establishment.

"This has been taken to new heights now, with the callous disregard shown to Nepal's sovereign right to formulate the country's Constitution as per their own democratic process."

It said the constitution had enunciated fundamental rights of citizens "which are more wide-ranging than those provided in the Indian constitution.

"There are many features of the constitution which represent an advance over existing democratic Constitutions in South Asia, though there may be some shortcomings too."

The CPI-M said the rejection of the demand for Nepal to be declared a Hindu state "has outraged the Hindutva forces in India.

"The BJP shares this anger, though it cannot display it openly. This has probably contributed to the negative stance taken by the Modi government."

It said the Madhesi people, who constitute 50 percent of the population of Nepal, may have legitimate grievances vis-a-vis the constitution.

"But the Modi government's open stance advocating their cause cannot but be construed as an interference in the internal affairs of a neighbouring country.

"The Modi government's arrogant intervention has only vitiated the good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

"It will also send a cautionary message to all other countries in South Asia to be wary of India's big brotherly attitude."