US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI1190

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 001190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IN, NP, India-Nepal 
SUBJECT: NEPALESE POLITICAL ACTIVISM IN DELHI 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert O. Blake, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request.  See para 5. 
 
2.  (C) Sharing perspectives on Nepal developments with 
Polcouns and Poloffs on February 15, International Crisis 
Group (ICG) analyst Suman Pradhan (protect) reported on the 
growing number of Nepalese politicians who have converged in 
New Delhi in recent days, and their attempts to engage the 
Indian government and political class to restore democracy in 
their country.  While many important political leaders 
remained under house arrest in Kathmandu, second rung leaders 
are working Indian contacts intensively, and intend to expand 
their reach in the weeks ahead.  Pradhan, who has also 
relocated from Kathmandu for the time being, reported that 
these exile politicians have already seen Foreign Secretary 
Shyam Saran, old friends like ex-PM Chandrashekar, NDA 
Convenor George Fernandes, and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, 
and plan press conferences, seminars and other public 
meetings to advance their cause.  They have deliberately not 
sought to engage with the BJP.  Prabhan asserted there is 
support for the King in India among Hindu nationalist groups, 
royal families connected by marriage to the Palace, business 
interests, and in parts of the Army disappointed with the 
parties' handling of the Maoist insurgency. 
 
3.  (C) Arguing that New Delhi has the potential to become a 
major center of Nepalese democratic political activity 
outside Nepal, Pradhan cited a February 14 meeting of six 
Nepalese political parties in New Delhi that pressed the GOI 
to cut off all military assistance to the King (the GOI has 
already done this).  This group included Pradeep Giri 
(Congress-D), KC Chitra Bahadur (NCP-MASAL), Rajinder Mahoto 
(NSP-A), Sekhar Koirala (Nepali Congress), Govind Koirala 
(NCP-UML), and Chandra Dev Joshi (NCP-United). 
 
4.  (C) Pradhan indicated that Nepalese politicians also 
intend to reach out to a broad array of influential 
non-Indian individuals and organizations in New Delhi as part 
of their campaign to increase pressure on the King, and may 
seek an appointment with the Ambassador as well. 
 
5.  (C) Action Request: The GOI is of course already a major 
player in Nepal, but if New Delhi does in fact increasingly 
become a center of expatriate Nepalese democratic activity, 
Embassy will want to increase its contacts with Nepalese 
leaders here.  We would be inclined for now to keep these 
contacts at the working level, not engaging at the 
Ambassador's level.  As we look ahead, Post would appreciate 
guidance on dealing with such an eventuality. 
MULFORD