Manjeev Singh Puri is a retired Indian diplomat from the 1982 batch of the Indian Foreign Service, with a distinguished career spanning over 36 years. He last served as India’s Ambassador to Nepal. Over the course of his career, he held key positions in India and abroad, representing the country at major multilateral organisations including the United Nations and the European Union.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Manjeev Singh Puri discusses Nepal’s shifting political landscape, including recent protests calling for the return of the monarchy and the ongoing debate over the future of democracy in the country.

He also explores Nepal’s foreign relations, from China’s growing influence to its ties with the West and Pakistan, as well as the role of identity politics in fuelling unrest.

Puri also highlights how Nepali politicians often use anti-India narratives and the “India card” to fuel nationalist sentiment and gain political advantage

00:00 – Introduction

02:23 – Pro-Monarchy Protests in Nepal

06:57 – Democracy’s Crisis in Nepal

14:22 – Identity Politics in Nepal

18:45 – India-Nepal Relations

26:06 – China’s Diplomacy in Nepal

32:27 – Nepal's Foreign Policy

34:35 – Pakistani Embassy Used for Spying

38:45 – Roti-Beti Tradition

46:59 – Monarchy's Return and Impact on India