Maoist hardliners ban Indian cars, movies in Nepal
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a breakaway faction that split from the ruling Maoist party in June, said the move would end Nepal's dependence on its powerful southern neighbour.
"We have ordered all the Indian number-plated vehicles to leave Nepal. We have also decided to put a ban on Indian movies that spread hatred against Nepal and Nepali people," Pampha Bhusal, the party spokesman said.
Although a fringe faction, the party exerts considerable influence and said it had supporters across the southern border preventing Indian-registered vehicles from crossing into Nepal, while allowing them to pass in the other direction.
Bhusal said the party had urged the Nepal Film Development Board, which regulates cinema in Nepal, to enforce its edict.
"We have asked them not to show the films. We will send our members to the cinema halls to enforce the ban," she added.
Indian-registered cars are a rare sight in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu but are much more common on the streets of Nepal's southern towns.
Police said however there had been no reports yet of vehicles being attacked or disturbances at cinemas.
The mainstream Maoist party, which waged an armed insurgency between 1996-2006 and won elections in 2008, split in June due to ideological differences between its leaders, sparking fears of violent protests by the splinter group.
The hardline faction has accused its sister party of selling out on its revolutionary ideals.
Members have staged demonstrations across the country demanding the resignation of Baburam Bhattarai, who has led a caretaker government since the dissolution of the parliament in May.
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@roger: oh come on! pakistan has very good relationship with China and also with Sri Lanka. Even our relationship with Bangladesh is not bad. Also Iran is our friend. And before the US attack on Afghanistan we are very good neibours for each other
@ X- Indian, Neither most of the neighboring countries to China (say it Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, many Asian Pacific countries including India) don't like China either. Even Pakistan neighboring countries don't like Pakistan either.
@roger: include usa in the list mate
Yes We're not happy with certain things about Indian policy.. but it doesn't mean any hardliners come and tell us what we can listen and what not... There is no place for these commies in Nepal.
See here is the difference... He hate indian policies not indians..
@ X-Indian Hello kettle. This is Pot. You are black!
@X-Indian. Something very common with Afghanistan, no. See how they detest everything Pakistani.
@X-Indian: "No neighboring country is happy with India, be it China, or Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh, or Nepal." Trust me, it keeps all 1.2 billion of us awake all night. Not a wink of sleep!
@X-Indian: and no country in the world is happy with pakistan...forget neighbours.....
No neighboring country is happy with India, be it China, or Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh, or Nepal. Every country suffered from Indian malice and machinations. Even Nepalese - a Hindu majority country - are furious as their teen age girls are smuggled out and forced into prostitution in Bombay brothels.
Good move