In the year of the Dragon, the Chinese Dragon is entersing into Nepal through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This belt of road infrastructure will tighten the belt along Nepal’s length from West to East. So the Chinese Dragon is all set to strangle Nepal’s economy.

The East India Company (EIC) was founded in the year 1600 as a trading company. With a massive private army and the backing of the British government, the EIC looted the Indian subcontinent. The EIC was the means by which Britain conducted its imperialistic policies in Asia, and it made millions through its global trade in spices, tea, textiles, and opium. India, in contrast, became ever poorer. India’s share of world GDP was 24.4% in 1700 before British rule but fell to 4.2% by 1950. Tharoor says, “The reason was simple. India was governed for the benefit of Britain.” Britain’s rise for 200 years was financed by its loot from India.

The Rastriya Ekta Abhiyan organised an awareness rally in Pokhara, highlighting apprehensions about the BRI and its potential consequences for Nepal. The focal point of the protest was the Pokhara International Airport. While the airport was not officially part of the BRI, Chinese banks provided most of the funds, and a Chinese firm constructed the infrastructure. Beijing insisted that the project was part of the BRI despite reservations by Kathmandu. The group alleged that there might be ulterior motives, including the potential deployment of the Chinese army in Pokhara, using economic losses at........

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