rediff.com: Anti-India wave sweeps across Nepal

KATHMANDU (AFP) - A wave of anti-India sentiment of unprecedented proportions sweeping Nepal reflects pent-up animosity over a perceived Indian "big brother" role in the region, analysts here say.

A violent unrest, in which at least four people have been killed, has been triggered by hostile statements attributed to popular Indian film actor Hrithik Roshan.

Hrithik, 26, and Star satellite television have both denied the screen star ever said he "hated Nepal and the Nepalese people" in an interview two weeks ago.

But leftist students, ignoring the denials, continued to protest and have called for a ban on the actor's films, threatening to "bury Hrithik alive" if he set foot in Nepal.

The continuing unrest and agitation against India that has gripped Nepal has terrified Indian residents who have seen their vehicles, shops and businesses destroyed.

Previously, when there was tension between Nepal and India, the local population had vented its anger "in a small way, but this time, the Indians and their property have been repeatedly attacked and damaged," an analyst here noted.

Some political observers in Kathmandu see the agitation as a reflection of pent-up anti-India feeling.

"Being a bigger and a powerful nation, India always tried to act as a big brother," political analyst Hari Shrestha said.

"Hrithik's statement was the last straw which triggered the anti-India move," Nepali language daily, the City Times Evening said Thursday.

"India has been blaming Nepal for all the misdeeds that happen over here against it," the daily said, alluding to the hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft a year ago and allegations in New Delhi that Pakistani spies received help in Kathmandu in harming Indian interests.

The president of the Nepal-Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rajendra Khetan, said: "The protestors who attacked the properties of Indian businessmen and their firms and shops were not large in number but the riot police did nothing to protect the Indians."

The mobs even damaged social service centres which provide medical aid and food to Nepalese and foreigners, including Indians, he said.

"There is no logic why such social service centres have to be smashed," Khetan said.

A leading Nepali businessman of Indian origin Banwari Lal Mittal said: "Indian businessmen's participation in Nepal's economy through trade and industry is very important.

"If the Indians living here or those of Indian descent are attacked, it could gravely affect Nepal's economy, apart from weakening Nepal's democracy," he said.

The Ruling Nepali Congress party's youth leader, Mathabar Singh, Basnyet said: "Foreign elements are the main force behind the current anti-India movement in Nepal. Whenever we have political agitations here, there is always the influence of foreign elements," he said.

Basnyet was echoing Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's remark to his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee Thursday that the unrest was part of a "conspiracy."

A communique from the Indian premier's office quoted Koirala as telling Vajpayee: "These incidents appeared to be a part of a conspiracy aimed at harming the traditionally close bonds of friendship between the two neighbours. We have set up a commission to inquire into its origins and find out if it has any external dimensions."

A Nepal government statement Thursday said: "It doesn't suit the prestige of a country to create social disorder and disturbances over some unproved and repeatedly denied statement made by an individual."

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