UNNECESSARY NIGGLING

 The Himalayan Times

1 August 2013

Unnecessary niggling  

This is in response to the news article “Grand plan to revive monarchy under way: Baburam Bhattarai” (THT, 31 July, Page 5). These days senior leaders of different political parties have been unnecessarily niggling over the former king’s visit to different parts of the country for different purposes. He was even forbidden to distribute relief packages to flood affected people in the western part of the country on the pretext of his violation of election code of conduct. He was blamed for fishing in the murky water during this fragile political situation. There does not seem any reason to be nervous with and afraid of his tour for any reason. After all, he is simply a common citizen like every Nepali.

The major political parties have been making blunder one after another during the last six years. They were not able to institutionalize the post jana andolan achievements. They made the erstwhile CA completely defunct because of their egoistic, irresponsible and insensible political acts. People’s noble wish of seeing new constitution in their hands remained unfulfilled. Looking closely at the ongoing political situation of the country, it does not seem that the major political parties would be able to draft the new constitution in the near future. The crux of the problems that had obstructed drafting of new constitution in the first CA is yet to be sorted out. Unless these problems are addressed, there does not seem to be any sense in holding another CA election.

Why don’t the political parties let the sovereign people decide on the fate of monarchy, forms of government and federalism by holding a historic referendum rather than wasting time and money for nothing? Why don’t they let the common people draw the fate of the nation by themselves giving them an opportunity of making their own decisions? Why do only certain senior leaders of the so called big parties impose their unilateral decisions on the people? Why don’t they in the name of democracy act democratically to resolve the national problem rather than sidelining and isolating other forces? If not, revive and revise the 2047 constitution that can hold and embraced all Nepali people together and hold general election without wasting any time and money and save the nation from loosing its sovereignty.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj, Kathmandu