Devendra Raj Panday

RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane's article in @htTweets has been generally appreciated both in Nepal and India. I also appreciate it. But this is only the half of the story. As long as you talk about the developmental and cultural/civilizational issues everybody goes gaga over it. I do vividly remember my time when I pushed forward the BIPPA agreement between the two countries to enhance bilateral investment and economic cooperation. But when you open the other half of the story, as you all can easily guess, the real demon of security and sovereignty question, the whole passionately built edifice collapses just as a house of cards. India's fixation with the 'Himalayan Frontier' mindset on the security question and Nepal'a deep-rooted fear psychosis of 'Sikkimization' , come as insurmountable obstacles on the way. We have been reliving this Sisyphus story for decades. To end this tragic saga for ever and embark on the path of longterm cooperation and coexistence I had initially proposed the idea of EPG (Eminent Persons Group) and was subsequently agreed upon by both sides. Unfortunately the EPG report is in virtual deathbed for years. Let Rabi's current Delhi visit succeed to create a new history. The rattling sounds both in Kathmandu and Delhi, however, are not very assuring.