The present crisis is not a one-day development and the ground was being prepared since Prachanda had to step down following President Ram Baran Yadav’s refusal to sack the then army chief. Prachanda now alleges that the present government has failed to draft the constitution and the dead line is fast coming to an end. Prachanda has given call of indefinite strike and millions of Maoists have assembled in the Himalayan country’s capital Kathmandu.

The life in the tiny and infant democracy, Nepal, has come to a grinding halt and the situation is fast deteriorating. Nepalese PM, Madhav Nepal has categorically refused to step down and has hinted of resorting to tough measures including use of the armed forces. Many political observers believe that the tone of Nepalese PM has suddenly changed after he came back from Thimpu SAARC meeting.

India’s politico-strategic interests in Nepal are an open secret and Sino-Indian clash on this issue is also known to even political naives. China has been vigorously pursuing its foreign policy in Nepal and has made deep intrusion in the social-political and economic life this country, a development which is not easily palatable to India. This concern is the real and root cause of the collision. The Maoists have openly and vociferously raised their anguish over what they call it interference with their sovereignty.

Needless to say that if this crisis is allowed to continue, it may snow ball into a major political unrest, a situation neither India nor Nepal can afford. One thing is sure that none of the faction and political party has come up to the expectations of the common Nepalese citizen and even after elapse of more than two years; they have not been able to draft the constitution.