Respect traditions

The Himalayan Times

13 June 2019

Respect traditions

Nepal is known for its unique multicultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic communities. Different ethnic groups have been maintaining their traditional culture and social values respecting each other’s century old identities, honouring each other’s existence and living together harmoniously. It is also rich in its natural resources.

In the meantime, Nepal and its people have seen and experienced different political upheavals in its political history. It experienced Rana’s autocratic regime, partyless Panchayat system, constitutional monarchy and multiparty system and it is now a republic governed by a two thirds majority government since the last fifteen months. People are the sovereign of this republic in accordance with the constitution. However, looking at the ongoing political performance and the high handedness of the government, it seems this is limited to the provisions of the constitution. People have started expressing their frustration and dissatisfaction in the streets over some anti-social bills that contradict elements of the constitution. 

Among them are the Media Council Bill and Guthi Bill, which have been tabled in the Parliament “Drop Guthi Bill” (THT editorial, June 11, Page 8). It seems that the government wants to move ahead with these bills in its own way, undermining the constitutional provisions and people’s sovereign rights. It does not suit a democratically elected government to flex its political muscle on the basis of its two-thirds majority political to silence the people’s voices and bar them from staging peaceful protests by mobilizing the security forces. If the government continues to undermine the people’s democratic rights, then they will look for alternatives to safeguard their democratic rights, which could be disastrous for the government.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj