In November 2015, Nepalese police shot an Indian man during protests at the India/Nepal
border.
These protests were sparked by Nepal’s new constitution, and since August have led to
the deaths of more than 40 people.
The constitution has also been named as the reason for a potentially deadly blockade of
fuel, which was reportedly enacted by India.
So, what exactly is going on?
Is India sending Nepal into a fuel crisis?
Well, Nepal is a landlocked state, bordered on one side by India and on the other side
by a relatively remote part of China.
India is responsible for more than half of Nepal’s trade, and all of its fuel.
But since September, fuel has not been getting in.
The whole situation is a little unexpected.
Following Nepal’s devastating earthquake in 2015, they received major support from
India, and grew closer as allies.
But by August, their relationship began to falter.
Nepal’s contentious new constitution was being fast-tracked, to the dismay of both
the Indian government, as well as an ethnic group, known as the Madhesh people.
Madheshis are culturally close to India, and while they represent about a third of Nepal’s
population, the new constitution would underrepresent them in parliament.
Before it was passed, India sent in a list of amendments which would have given those
minority ethnic groups greater power.
India warned that the marginalization of those groups would lead to violence in Nepal.
But the amendments were not taken into account, and the constitution went through by a narrow
margin, with 66 members of the Constitutional Assembly refusing to vote in protest.
In response, Indian officials reportedly ordered border guards to search all trucks entering
Nepal, blocking the flow of fuel.
India’s Oil Corporation has refused to refuel Nepalese trucks, and all fuel trucks trying
to get into Nepal are lined up on India’s side.
However, India has directly denied accusation of establishing an economic blockade against
Nepal, saying that fuel is not getting in because the protests are blocking or scaring
drivers.
Of course, India’s reluctance to admit to a blockade is not surprising.
India and Nepal have peace and trade treaties, which a fuel embargo would undoubtedly violate.
So far, the lack of fuel has been disastrous.
Schools have been shut down without enough gas to power the school buses.
Private cars have been prevented from filling up to leave just enough for emergency vehicles.
Ironically, even India’s embassy in Nepal has run out of fuel, and has been taking donations.
Regardless of how this turns out, Nepal has already turned to China for support, and India’s
supposed actions will undoubtedly sour their future relationship.
In light of Nepal’s recent devastation, the lack of fuel has completely changed day-to-day
life for the time being.
Nepal’s disputed constitution is a small part of the country’s ongoing struggle for
democracy.
Learn about the history of Nepal’s failed attempts to democratize in our video.
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