Nepal softens attitude towards India for Covid help

Nepal is witnessing somewhat similar scenes like India as the Himalayan nation grapples with a surge in Covid-19 cases overloading an already fragile health care system that lacks enough ventilators, oxygen and doctors to care for the patients.

New Delhi: Nepal is witnessing somewhat similar scenes like India as the Himalayan nation grapples with a surge in Covid-19 cases overloading an already fragile health care system that lacks enough ventilators, oxygen and doctors to care for the patients.

Amid acute shortage, Nepal seems to be pinning hopes on India despite getting help from China. This shows that the next few months will be crucial as it is likely to test Nepal's ties with India which itself is struggling against the second wave of the pandemic.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Former ambassador Jitendra Tripathi said, "this reflects that there has been a visible softening of attitude by Nepal towards India. One of the reason is that the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm has been reported to be not very effective as compared to vaccines like Sputnik V, secondly, even after getting vaccines from China, Nepal is still in dire need of vaccines as the nation is going to start to inoculate vaccine for senior citizens. There is a shortage and India is the biggest manufacturer. Nepal has, therefore, realised that antagonizing India will not be in its interest".

Earlier, Nepal PM Oli on several fronts had bad-mouthed India alleging the country to be conspiring with his political rivals to throw him out of power. But now the rhetoric has toned down a bit given the fact that the leader has lost the trust vote last week.

Despite his pro-China image, Oli had worked hard to improve ties with India since late last year with his rival PK Dahal Prachanda even accusing him of dissolving the lower house of Parliament at India's behest.

Now as the pandemic is looming large over the world, the Himalayan nation is hopeful and expect India to help the country meet the most urgent requirement of oxygen supplies, even if China is providing support in the form of medical supplies, vaccines and other medical aids.

On Monday, the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra, in a virtual event announced the arrival of liquid oxygen in Nepal from India within 8 to 10 days.

India will continue helping and assisting Nepal in the hour of crisis. 2.3 million doses of the Covishield vaccine have already been delivered. Within another 8 to 10 days, tankers with liquid oxygen would arrive in Nepal," ambassador Kwatra said.

Striking an optimistic note, Tripathi further pointed out that India in two weeks will be able to send across vaccines because the country has already received Sputnik V and Covaxin, Covishield will ramp up their production too.

"Very soon the situation will ease out and India will be in a position to send vaccines and other supplies", he told ETV Bharat.

He further pointed out that the international community will support India to fight covid -19 and as the API raw material has already started arriving and five more Indian pharma company are in the pipeline, therefore, with all these, the situation will ease out and perhaps, India in two weeks will be able to supply to Nepal, although China is taking this calamity as an opportunity.

"Now, I think there is a thaw in the relationship and an increased intensification in the relationship between India and Nepal, which is a good sign for us", Tripathi added.

China has been competing to make a mark in the global community in terms of vaccination and now has been twisting the arm of small countries.