Several revolutionary organizations along with our Party took out a joint march on 20th December, 2001 against the Indian Govt.’s interference in Nepal’s internal affairs, against its military aid to the Nepal King and Royal Army and for providing security to Nepalese living in India. We also demanded from the Nepal Govt. that Internal Emergency be lifted, press be unmuzzled, democratic rights restored and negotiations with Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) be resumed.

On 20th December, members of CPI(ML)-New Democracy, AIPRF, Akhil Bharatiya Nepali Ekta Samaj, Lok Sangram Manch and several mass organizations gathered at Mandi House Chowk for the procession. Though police had adequate prior information, from a night prior they suddenly refused to allow the procession to proceed, first on the ground that it would cross the Nepal Embassy and later by saying that Nepalese being ‘foreign nationals’ could not march in a procession. Police even sent a written note of refusal of permission to let the procession go and instead asked the organizers to confine themselves to holding the public meeting at Jantar Mantar. When the organizers hotly contested the arguments and refused to change their programme, police officers made a further dangerous suggestion that the Nepalese would be transported to Jantar Mantar in police buses, while the rest of the procession could walk the distance. The organizers refused to accept this blatently undemocratic suggestion and announced to proceed from Mandi House (opposite Nepal Embassy) where it had gathered whereupon it was allowed to march to Jantar Mantar.

About 1500 people took part in the March including a large number of women. The long procession raised slogans against Indian expansionism, against military aid by NDA Govt. to the Nepal King against Nepalese people and celebrating the friendship of the people of India and Nepal. The rally walked through Bengali Market via Ranjeet Singh Flyover towards Parliament Street.

At Parliament Street a mass meeting was held, conducted by Com. Mrigank. It was addressed by Com. Aparna, Shri Khetri (a journalist) and representatives of AIFTU, AIPRF and other organizations. Impromptu teams presented revolutionary songs in Nepali and Hindi. Memoranda on behalf of the participating organizations were sent to the Prime Minister of India and the Prime Minister of Nepal. The Nepal Embassy, however, refused to even accept the memorandum. The memorandum to Indian Govt. demanded immediate halt to supply of arms and other military equipments including helicopter, giving military training and even sending Army personnel to Nepal for use against the people of Nepal. It demanded that Indian Govt. stop interfering in the internal affairs of Nepal and to do nothing to harm the friendship between the people of the two countries. Bringing to light several cases of harassment of Nepalese living in India, it demanded adequate protection for them from the harassment of the security agencies.

Just as the meeting was concluding the police led by an ACP suddenly went on a hunt for ‘Nepalese’ and, after the meeting, detained around 100 participants to try to ascertain their ‘national identity’ on ‘higher authorities’ orders.’ The detained included mainly the leaders of our Party and mass organizations. A strong protest was lodged with the police against this sudden and dangerous move.

The press note and leaflet jointly issued on the occasion pointed out that BJP led Govt. of India has attached itself to the chariot wheels of US imperialism and is stepping up its attempts to act as a regional policeman in South Asia. Since the 11th September incidents, BJP led Govt. and Hindutva forces are trying to exploit US tirade against ‘terrorism’ to brand all struggles as terroristic and suppress them, to justify its own repression and state terrorism as a “justified response” and to crack down primarily on revolutionary forces. Even while Deuba Govt. of Nepal was talking to the Maoists there, Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh declared the latter as ‘terrorists’ and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani went as far as to declare that the struggle against Maoists is part of India’s global war against terrorism! Without even informing Parliament or taking the people into confidence, huge quantities of arms, helicopters and even military personnel have been reportedly sent to the aid of the discredited Monarchy in Nepal. It is significant that none of the parliamentary opposition parties too raised the issue in the Parliament, despite it being reported widely in the press.