Palace Massacre: US & India involved, claims former envoy to India

TGW

In an exclusive write-up for The Nagarik Daily, April 1, 2010, Nepal’s former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastola claims that there were plans to kill Girija Prasad Koirala along with the members of Nepal’s Royal Family on Friday June 1, 2001.

Mr. Bastola was the minister under the premiership of Late Koirala at time of the mysterious Palace Massacre.

Bastola is also a former Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India.

Excerpts of Bastola’s write-up dedicated to Late Girija Prasad Koirala. Thanks Nagarik Daily.

Bastola on Royal Palace Massacre:

At time of the Royal Palace Massacre, I was the minister of Foreign Affairs. I have now come to the conclusion that there were conspiracies even to kill Girija babu at that time. I later came to know that the King then had told not to invite the Prime Minister because it was a ‘family matter’. Thus he was not invited, writes Mr. Bastola for Nagarik, one of the prominent national dailies.

We were on the mourning procession somewhere near to Sobhabhagawati area, suddenly we were attacked by a mob. We fled the area as quickly as possible. Bullets were fired at Girija Babu’s vehicle…these events are the proof that there was indeed a big conspiracy behind the palace incident…conspiracies even to kill Girija Babu.

Who is behind the incident?

Politics says gut feeling...social investigation needs rational reasoning. I have the feeling that the event was plotted by both India and the US. Because, nothing can happen in Nepal without India’s involvement. And the US is the world power thus no incident as such can take place without US information. Thus both are involved.

Nepal’s geo-political situation is like this. The US and India used Gyanendra (Last King) as well.

What was the purpose?

The then King Birendra was a Nationalist. The Nepali Congress leadership was a democratic and a Nationalist one, the conspiracy was to uproot all those who adhere to the nationalist line of thinking. But, I never held any discussions on these matters with Girija Babu. He only said there was a ‘Grand Design.’ Many people took his claim as his new tool to grab power. But that is not correct. We need to understand this fact though we cannot prove it. Girija Babu never told to anyone what he talked with others. Second, Nepali politics is such that round the clock international interest is at play here. Perhaps his acts were influenced by that.

Bastola on Maoist:

I always defended the Maoists’ preference to stay in India during the revolt. I also defended the claim that since the Maoists were in India they will have India’s support. But, I have changed my line of thinking now. I have no idea as to who laid the egg known as Maoists but it is India that nurtured the Maoists of Nepal. But the baby has refused to accept the mother. This is the problem now.

What happened on 2062/63?

During the 2062/63 Peoples’ uprising most of our leaders stayed in New Delhi. I preferred to go to Jhapa(Nepal). I was also requested to go there but I did not go. I shared good relations with Girija babu until then. After the 12-Point Agreement, we began having some differences. But I was not the only one who had differences with Girija Babu, there was a group. We felt that the Maoists had taken away our Girija Babu from us. They then forced Girija babu to sign the 8-Point Agreement. We then had permanent rift with Girija babu. Later Girija babu told us that he was forced by the Maoists. We took our stand, we told him it was not right what he had done.

Girija babu preferred Krishna Prasad Sitaula. Perhaps, India did not want my involvement…Because, I would always advise Girija babu from my own perspective. My political education, my stand and preferences are all built on the schooling of late B. P. Koirala. On the contrary, Indian mindset is different.

12-Point Agreement and India

I have seen the 12-Point Agreement being drafted by the Indians. They had sent it in pencil writing. Currently, India’s Nepal policy is being run by RAW (Research and Analysis Wing). I have told them (Indians) very frankly, “If you want to take me as a trustworthy friend then trust me, if you have taken me as your Nokar (servant), then I am sorry.” I have my own politics. After I told this then I did not became their partner.

India and US Alliance and Nepal’s Peace Process

No matter we claim that our peace process is our own but there is the overwhelming presence of international interest in our peace process. There is the Indian interest and the US interest. I have been to the US 3/4 times to attend meeting of Carter Center. I have closely observed the US-India proximity.

India again

I have been the foreign minister of the country, and I have attained some height in politics, I am not someone who would go to the Indian fold. I am not the one liked by India. Perhaps they needed someone of their liking. I would not blame Girija babu for this.

(Nagarik Daily Special Supplement published on the 13^th Day of Girija Prasad Koirala’s death)

Post your Comment here

TERMS OF USE:The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any persons) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

Comments

Posted on - 2010-04-04 by Pawan
Nepal was progressing before democracy but democracy introduced with the help of India from then our economy is badly hit which ofcourse is one of the Indias' grand design. All these Netas are a popet of India, their qualification is to do stricke, time they spend in jail, extorsion etc etc so what to expect from these non-sence people. It seems we are down and waiting to be out. Look at the politicians they are hopeless.. people like girija gets that kind of treat while alive and dead. Just imagine what is cooking inside.. that man should be given a sentace to be hang till death but happen opposite. This is really bad. We are praising stupids and making them strong.. its high time we do not support any one of them and stay aside from politics. This will create an emptyness for all these politician to do the politic which is only their money making business. minus zero respect to these politician. I think those who were not in politics were not aware of the present so called popet president of this country. WHAT WAS HIS CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY... WHO IS THIS MAN>>>>>> IS HE A INDIA MAN????

Posted on - 2010-04-04 by NepaliKeta
This is entirely plausible. India is increasingly paranoid about the growing stature of China who it sees as it competitor. The US wishes to contain China so that it does not challenge the US hegemony in the world. Nepal presents a great strategic point for the coming confrontation with China. Thus Nepal, poor and landlocked as it is, is of great importance to the Indo-US grand design contrary to what some may believe. As a Nepali I have no animosity against the average Indian, unlike Pakistanis who hate Indians en masse. I understand that we share a great deal of racial, linguistic, cultural and religious heritage. Thus, it perplexes me why would India, the only other Hindu majority nation on earth, have such hostile and predatory foreign policy towards Nepal, previously the only officially Hindu nation on earth? I received my answer soon enough. India is run by Islam-apologists and pseudo-secularists who could not tolerate the sight of a Hindu Nepal at its doorstep mocking the very rationale of a secular India. The concept of secularism was hastily forced down the throat of Nepal in the 12-point agreement authored IN DELHI under the auspices of the Left-Front. The Maoists who wanted an end to the Hindu monarchy and the regressive "Hindu" nation were sheltered, trained and indoctrinated IN INDIA. It was from INDIA where they launched cross-border forays of terror into Nepal. It was INDIA that pursued cross-border terrorism AS A STATE POLICY against the tiny hapless state of Nepal. Trust me, for the amount of aid that India lends, it gets much, much more in return. The Indian public only see the benevolent nature of Indian assistance in Nepal but are in the dark of the nefarious activities of the Indian security and intelligence apparatus in Nepal. It should come as a shame to the Islam worshiping Indians (India will be a Muslim majority country by the end of this century anyway) whose government hold such a stranglehold over a Hindu Nepal. Prithivi Narayan Shah the unifier of Nepal was correct. When asked about Hindustan, he is said to have remarked, "I am building the sakkal (real) Hindustan. The Mughal lands have been corrupted by Islam."

Posted on - 2010-04-03 by Andrew
India will stoop down to any level to subjugate her neighbours. Look at what they did to Sri Lanka. They armed and trained the LTTE, which eventually turned against them. It;s reported that the RAW instigated the infamous Anuradhapura massacre by the LTTE where hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims were brutally gunned down. Nepal, be careful. All South Asians will have to take a unified stand against India.

Posted on - 2010-04-03 by Jitendra Bajracharya
Bastola should change his name to Bastardla. He is poking his finger in the darkness by calling someone white and another black. As somone commented here, Bastola can be found at most times in drunken stupor. He can be bought by the Chinese, Indians or the Americans with a bottle of whisky. Stupid people talk stupid.

Posted on - 2010-04-03 by Jitendra Bajracharya
Bastola is telling tall tales. He is an alcoholic. During his tenure of minister, his car hit mine as it backed. Minister Bastola and his driver got out of the car and both reeked with alcohol. You can well imagine what comes out of a drunken man's mouth

Posted on - 2010-04-03 by R A Warning
Since the partition of the subcontinent, India has openly meddled in Nepal's internal affairs by contriving internal strife and conflicts through R.A.W. to destabilize the successive legitimate governments and prop up puppet regimes that would be more amenable to Indian machinations. Armed insurrections were sponsored and abetted by R.A.W. and later requests for military assistance to control these conflicts were managed through pro-India leaders. India has been aiding and inciting the Nepalese dissidents to collaborate with the Nepali Congress. For this they were supplied arms whenever the king or the Nepalese government appeared to be drifting away from India's dictates and impinging on India's hegemonic designs in the region. In fact, under the garb of the so-called democratization measures, the Maoists were actively encouraged to collect arms and resort to open rebellion against the legitimate Nepalese governments. The contrived rebellions provided India an opportunity to intervene militarily in Nepal, ostensibly to control the insurrections, which were masterminded by R.A.W. itself. It was an active replay of the Indian performance in Sri Lanka and Maldives a few years earlier. R.A.W. is particularly aiding the people of Indian origin and has been providing them with arms and ammunition. R.A.W. has also infiltrated the ethnic Nepali refugees who have been extradited by Bhutan and taken refuge in eastern Nepal. R.A.W. can exploit its links with these refugees whenever either country goes against Indian interests. Besides, the Nepalese economy is totally controlled by Indian moneylenders, financiers, and business mafia --- The main objective of the RAW is to create internal trouble in neighbouring countries and take benefit from the trouble that the neighbouring countries face. That apart, their present interest towards Nepal is to fail the Nepalese economy and create monopoly in the Nepalese market. India is showing double-standards towards Nepal. On the one hand the Indian government is supporting our government with arms on the other the RAW is supporting the Maoists. --- RAW’s agents have their presence in almost all regional countries, implementing various tactics of psychological warfare. In this context, M. K Dhar in his book, Open Secrets, India’s Intelligence Unveiled points out, “RAW’s operations against the regional countries are conducted with great professional skill and expertise, which include the establishment of a huge network inside the target countries. It has used propaganda, political dissent, ethnic divisions, economic backwardness and criminal elements to foment subversion and terrorism to weaken these states in conssonance with Indian regional ambitions”. also read "Movement of RAW in Nepal" by: Dr. Shastra Dutta Pant, Institute of Rural Development

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by nagrik
If Birendra was a nationalist, why is Gyanendra not a nationalist ? He lost his crown for not heeding to India and for brining China in SAARC . Why this biasness, Mr. Bastola? I think Birendra was the worst king, who did nothing for Nepal. Infact his wife was the ruler who destroyed Nepal.

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by harish kharel
nagrik daily deserves appreciation. the nepali text is more hilarious. good luck to both nagrik daily and telegraph online.

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by Saman
I think Mr. Bastola also lost his memory. Or maybe he wanted to show himself nationalist after taking over his charm and power by KP Sitaula. So it is not a matter of Indian and anti-Indian for Balstola. So far as GP Koirala as nationalist is concerned, please listen the news by KP Bhattarai during the day of GP Koirala death.

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by amar
till we don't have good leaders, till our economy is not sound, till there is no peace and stability it is obvious that someone will take advantage of us. It could be anyone... just anyone!!

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by Aashish
Mr. Bastola is going without any proof. I don't think any Indian hand behind Palace Massacre. It may have hand in making and breaking the government, but viewing every minor to major instances that happen in Nepal as a wish of India is a delirium we suffer and even politician, diplomats, learned people are also not far from this thinking.

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by pilandhare budha
I think Bastola his hiding more than he is revealing. After returning from China with King Birendra before the palace massacre, Foreign Minister Bastola had said that a new cold war was brewing in Nepal. He was foreign minister when King Birendra had those serious arguments with Girija over US Ambassador Ralph Frank's 'threat' to the king. Bastola was at the airport when Birendra and Girija had that argument over the country's image at the VVIP lounge while waiting for the Mongolian President's delayed flight to Nepal to land. Birendra had totally seen through Girija's 'Lhendup' tendencies. So is this Bastola's way of clearing Girija of any involvement in the palace massacre?

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by what
I think Bastola is drunk all the time. Too much boozing Bastolaji.

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by S Iyangar
Whether the US could have cared about affairs of the poorly endowed landlocked country is a moot point. But, going by the records of India, particularly in Sikkim, the Diplomat/Minister’s revelation does seem plausible. Even though New Delhi dispensation has squarely failed Indians eking out subsistence existence, its brilliant foreign affairs mandarins have been extremely active ever since the Nehru era. They have been squandering big money to strike a big brotherly pose in the region and have been accused of playing dirty politics everywhere - from Sri Lanka to Afghanistan. As a result, New Delhi enjoys friendly ties with none of the neighbours, who all resent its role. Incidentally, it is in direct contrast with China whose ethical attitudes have led to mending fences with even sworn enemies of the past -- except India, of course

Posted on - 2010-04-02 by Raj Shrestha
Mr S Iyangar, you are probably underestimating USA's greed. Though you do seem to understand India's greed. The same way india gains from geo politics, USA gets the same. USA can keep tabs on India and China through Nepal. USA does not want Nepal to fall either ways but if Nepal must fall, USA prefers it to fall to India. It is sad that Nepal, India and China who have relations since time immemorial now have to take orders from USA. India and China are fighting each other instead of strengthening old ties and Nepal is caught in between this fight. All because of global trade and capitalistic attitude imported from the West. And colonial mindset taught by the West. Now both India and China want to be global leader and super power, instead of a good neighbour. All want to follow the footsteps of USA. This is the sole reason why the world is in a mess. It is all about making the white people happy now. It never occured to us that if they can make a Europe, why cant we make something similar? But no, we have to keep on fighting so that USA can keep on selling arms. Of course mr bastola is right. But remember these things happen because we let it happen. Till we ourselves stop it for the greater good of humanity, greed will continue to destroy mankind.