On April 23, 2005 in Indonesian capital Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met King Gyanendra of Nepal. In that meeting he promised to resume arms supplies to Nepal Govt. After February 2005 proclamation of King Gyanendra imposing Emergency in Nepal, dismissing Deuba Govt. and curbing democratic rights, Indian Govt. had suspended arms supplies to Nepal Govt. Mr. Manmohan Singh had cancelled his visit to Dhaka leading to cancellation of SAARC summit meeting, citing King Gyanendra’s proclamation as the major reason. In less than three months, Indian Govt. went back on its decision.

Since Indian Govt.’s promise to resume arms supplies to Nepal was made public by Gyanendra, Indian officials went overboard claiming the King has jumped the gun in going public with this announcement as there was an understanding between Indian PM and Nepal’s King not to make it public. They did not and could not contradict veracity of King’s claim, only highlighted his imprudence in making it public. The apologists of the Govt.’s decision too did not fault the Govt. for this volte face, rather advised the Govt. to postpone implementation of this decision as King has violated the understanding on not making it public. They obviously saw no problem if military supplies could be kept hidden from the people.

Govt. responded by claiming that King has agreed to a road map for “restoring democracy” in Nepal in discussion with Indian Prime Minister. However arms supplies were to be resumed to engage the King in this task. A few days later King revoked the emergency proclamation. The apologists were immediately vociferous in claiming that the King was honouring the agreement with Indian PM, little realizing that he had to do it in terms of the Constitution which mandated ratification of the proclamation within 23 months and that was the last day of this period. While revoking emergency, Gyanendra had not loosened any of the restrictions he had imposed while proclaiming Emergency. Ruling politicians were hauled before the Royal Commission for Corruption and Deuba was among those arrested for not cooperating with the Royal Commission. Roulette of releases and arrests is going on while the press continues to be gagged and public protests continue to be suppressed.

On the other hand, Royal Nepal Army has intensified its war against Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) killing innocent people in the process. This main theatre where future of Nepal is being shaped has enlivened more in the recent time. A number of clashes have been reported between Royal army and Maoist forces.

Why Indian Govt. resumed arms supplies to Nepal even while Gyanendra and his ruling clique continues its bloody mayhem, is the question being asked by democratic public opinion. Obviously Indian Govt. and the political representatives of ruling classes see greater danger from CPN (Maoist) than from the dictatorial feudal military ruling clique of Gyanendra. From the outset they were trying to bring King’s ruling clique and parliamentary political parties together to combat the revolutionary forces in Nepal. That they consider the revolutionary forces as the main enemy to be combated is the consensus among the political parties of ruling classes in India. In this regard these political parties run counter to Indian people’s democratic opinion which sympathizes with the struggle of Nepalese people against feudal military dictatorship of Nepal.

Not only Indian ruling classes but the imperialist rulers, particularly US imperialism, want Indian Govt. to help Nepal’s monarchy in suppressing CPN (Maoist). US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice during her stay in India tried to persuade Indian Govt. to resume military supplies. Ms. Rice warned that revolutionary forces in Nepal are close to coming to power if monarchy there is not militarily helped. US assistant secretary of state Christina Rocca was in Nepal talking to King and met leaders of CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress (Democratic) for “restoration of democracy” and united fight against CPN (Maoist). Besides US pressure, Indian ruling classes and their media also tried to play up the China card i.e. China substituting India as the main supporter of the Nepal Govt. and scoring over India in its neighbourhood. In the meantime, Pakistan Govt. too, obviously on US bidding, promised arms supplies to Nepal Govt. It was too obvious to be missed that the real target of US mandarins was India.

While UPA Govt.’s decision has the support of its constituents, Hindu communal organizations like RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena have been demanding that India resume arms supplies to Nepal. BJP’s main leaders have been keeping silent on the issue. On the other hand, CPM led ‘Left’ Front has criticized the Govt.’s decision on the resumption of arms supplies. Leaders of ‘Left’ parties had met the Prime Minister over the issue. With Govt. sticking to its guns, it has been business as usual for the ‘Left’ parties. It has almost become a pattern of cooperation with UPA Govt. at the Centre. They make appropriate noises, talk of their differences with Congress led coalition on this issue and that, and then move on to the next. Life goes on, so does their power sharing and also playing to the gallery but not abandoning the stage. It may be surprising to some that the parties claiming themselves to be ‘left’ should be party to the military suppression of the ‘left’ revolutionaries in another country!

It is not at all surprising for the Indian ruling classes to target revolutionary forces in Nepal as their main enemy there. In India too they are suppressing the communist revolutionaries with brute police force, enacting draconian measures and physically liquidating the leaders and activists of these organizations. Parties of the ruling classes, their ‘left’ contingent not excepting, have been vociferous in this suppression of communist revolutionaries and people’s struggles.

It was in fact Indian ruling class parties which threw their weight against any rapprochement between CPN (Maoist) and parliamentary parties in Nepal to fight the feudal military dictatorship of Gyanendra. In this, CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress (Democratic) of Deuba have been more forthright. These parties had participated in the Govt. appointed by Gyanendra after dissolution of parliament and had been dismissed by the King on February 1, 2005. It is the alliance between revolutionary forces and parliamentary parties which was the need of the hour in the wake of ushering of feudal military dictatorship by Gyanendra.

CPN (Maoist) has been calling for such an alliance but the parliamentary parties have been declining this alliance. Very recently too the parliamentary parties turned down the offer of CPN (Maoist) to forge an alliance against monarchy. These parties obviously have an agenda of reforming the present system and stand against the revolutionary reorganization of Nepali society. They have been forced into a difficult situation by King, but even then they are not prepared to abandon their fond hopes of reforming the monarchy. Behind this lies their service to the ruling classes of Nepal and subservience to Indian ruling classes and imperialists. They are camouflaging their opposition to CPN (Maoist) behind the catch phrases like opposition to violence etc. In doing so they ignore the violent anti-people Royal Nepal Army and the feudal military clique ruling in Nepal.

The central question in forging such an alliance thus appears to be the armed forces under the leadership of CPN (Maoist). The parliamentary parties particularly CPN (UML) and Deuba section of Nepali Congress feel more comfortable with Royal Nepal Army than the armed forces of CPN (Maoist). The leadership of these parties are therefore willing to cooperate in the suppression of revolutionary forces in Nepal provided King Gyanendra is willing to share power with them.

But this course runs counter to the aspirations of Nepali people who wish to throw out the feudal military dictatorship of Gyanendra. Whatever the problems in its way, a broad alliance of anti-monarchy forces is what the common people of Nepal wish to see to oust the decadent and retrograde monarchy. Obstacles in its way have to be overcome.

Indian communist revolutionaries must oppose Indian Govt.’s arms supplies to monarchy in Nepal. They should expose and oppose the Indian Govt.’s support to suppression of revolutionary movement in Nepal. It is as much an internationalist duty as in the interest of revolutionary movement in the country.