BE BOLD

The Kathmandu Post

4^th January 2015

BE BOLD

The efficiency of Subash Nembang was questioned in the erstwhile Constitution Assembly (CA) because of his weak leadership and poor performance as a facilitator (“CA Chairman seeks power to bring out prelim draft”, January 2, Page 1). He let the major political parties undermine CA’s role by deliberating outside it in the name of seeking consensus. The same scenario seems to be repeating itself as major political parties drifted on their own when they were supposed to be heavily involved in deliberation inside the CA. Eleven months have lapsed in the name of forging consensus. As the constitution writing deadline draws close parties have started blaming each other widening the political gap and creating mistrust among themselves.

Nembang should have heavily engaged the lawmakers in a series of deliberation on the disputed issues by exercising his constitutional rights. He should have strictly followed the CA calendar rather than depending on the senior leaders to play ambiguous roles. The political parties now are sticking to their guns and do not seem to be interested in budging from their petty political interests. On closely observing the ongoing political situation, there is little hope of drafting the constitution by January 22.

Still, Nembang should not hesitate from using his constitutional rights to break the ice and pave the way for promulgating the constitution within the dead line. Otherwise, the nation will plunge further into chaos which could disintegrate the nation inviting social, political and cultural instability. The thought of it is very scary. Some opposition parties are talking about staging protests throughout the country demanding the formation of a national government by dissolving the current CA. In this situation, one is unsure what Nembang can do to convince the major political parties to resolve contentious issues rather than taking the nation hostage to their insensible political acts.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj