TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
PARTICIPANTS:
• PRIME MINISTER KHADGA PRASAD SHARMA OLI
• SAMANT GOEL, DIRECTOR, RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS WING, INDIA
PRIME MINISTER’S RESIDENCE, BALUWATAR, KATHMANDU
DATE: WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2020, 8:30 - 11:20 PM
[BEGIN TEXT]
GOEL: It’s straight to the point, I guess.
OLI: There’s never a better way.
GOEL: This is a decisive moment for both sides. New Delhi didn’t expect this from the 12-point understanding. Granted, there’s enough blame to go around everywhere. Still, Nepali political players must bear the brunt.
OLI: Hold on, you were the ones who foisted an impossible task on us. In fact, you couldn’t even get your act together. Your stick pulled away from the carrot before the palace could begin to make up its mind.
GOEL: Yeah, the Saran end of the show kind of messed things up. But we could keep Karan quiet only after you guys promised everything was under control.
OLI: We did the best we could.
GOEL: No, you didn’t. You immediately opened the door wide open to the Chinese just to snub us.
OLI: Well, the SPA needed an insurance policy. You took over the state army. Now we had to contend with the Maoists you spawned and sustained.
GOEL: Well, if you’re thinking of pinning all this on us …
OLI: Of course, I am. How could you trust the Maoist leadership to rein in cadres basically fired up by anti-Indianism? That, too, after weakening the palace – institutionally and instinctively, the greatest friend India could ever have?
GOEL: That’s the same thing my government and ruling party leaders keep asking me.
OLI: That means it’s a valid question.
GOEL: Okay. But what are we going to do about it?
OLI: Go back to where it all began, like everyone else seems to want.
GOEL: It’s not that easy. RAW spent much of its time alive pushing for a republic here. The ex-king is far more influential among the people in his topi than he ever was with the crown on. So you have to help us out here.
OLI: You think it’s easy for us? We’ve spent the past decade and a half demonizing the man, his predecessors and successors, not to talk about the institution.
GOEL: That’s the crux of it all. We’re not going to take the fall here. You guys promised you could handle things. You didn’t even try.
OLI: Don’t blame me. Don’t you remember the parable of the oxcart and America? Everyone hates me for opposing federalism, even those who now hate it themselves. I haven’t missed a single Dasain ever since, or at least have tried not to. And, pray, show me where there is anything approximating ‘republic’, ‘secularism’ or ‘federalism’ in the 12 points you drafted.
GOEL: Don’t you get it? You’re the right man in the right place. Get everyone on board and admit that the 12-point journey turned out to be misguided. Take a joint petition to Nirmal Niwas affirming the same. Then start blaming us for egging you on to abolish the monarchy. We’ll take it. Heck, it’s gonna be nothing after the heat we’ve already been taking at home.
OLI: Okay, what’s in it for me?
GOEL: Not just you, for everyone. You’ll get to keep everything, your politics, money, self-respect.
OLI: How long have I got?
GOEL: Until Gen. Naravane’s visit. He’s not going to be as accommodating. Remember, the Indian Army was the most bitter critic of our agenda in 2005. They’re the ones breathing the hardest down our necks today.
OLI: Have you spoken with the other blokes here?
GOEL: Yeah. Everyone is waiting for you to take the initiative.
OLI: What? They’ve demanded my resignation again, already?
GOEL: Don’t quote me on that.
[END TEXT]
