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The brazen denial of his statement to postpone the elections to the Constituent Assembly by Prachancda, the Maoist supremo, must be taken as a calculated move to test the pulse of politicians and ordinary Nepali people. Despite the fact that Kantipur T.V had shown him making that statement, viewed by millions within and without Nepal., does not it look mysterious why the Maoist leader chose to deny it? As a matter of fact, whatever the reason, Prachanda was right in stating that election, in the existing situation in the country, cannot and should not be held. Failing to stand by his own statement, Prachanda too has proved that he is not different than other politicians of Nepal . Integrity and honesty are qualities God forgot to instill in Nepali politicians when he made them. There is total lack of security through out the country. There is no law and order. Sister organizations of political parties that have no authority whatsoever, are ruling at many places throughout the country, collecting revenues and even customs duties and home ministry is shutting its eyes. Hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, due to more than a decade of insurgency, who have been thronging the capital and other urban places, have not been able to return to their homes. Most of them have no homes and no properties where to return. How can they exercise their votes when they cannot go to their constituencies? Hundred of millions worth of looted properties have not been restored to the legitimate owners and they are living like refugees in their own country, of course, without any help from the government. Thousands of Pahadiyas, who have been forced to flee their home in Madhes cannot go back for fear of losing their lives. Various groups of armed men are moving around freely, looting and abducting people. The government cannot control them. How can any sane man say that elections are possible, under these circumstances and they will be free and fair? As a matter of fact, when interim parliament was prorogued for the elections, the government should have resigned, making way for a neutral government that only could give comparatively free and fair elections. And this is the general democratic practice . Except the cronies belonging to the eight parties, the overwhelming millions of Nepalis have no faith in this unconstitutional government that has been behaving in the most authoritarian manner worse than the Panchayati governments. That this eight party government will conduct free and fair elections is an idea that only fools can entertain. They can fool only the international community and UN agencies, not the simple and patriotic Nepali people. Moreover, this eight party government is totally under the influence of foreign powers and has no moral justification to stay in authority even for one day. However, we do appreciate the over enthusiasm shown by the Election Commission. But, first thing must come first. The E.C must arrange for the refugees to return to theirs “homes,” that the looted properties restored to their rightful owners, see that the situation in the Madhesh becomes peaceful and the Pahadiyas return to their homes, see that unlawful arms are nabbed and people do not fear for their lives and last of all restore the vestige of state authority throughout the whole country. Unless and until they can stop all such unlawful activities and establish the authority of the government how can they claim they are ready for elections? Except for hypocritical behavior, no political party and no interim M.P. is sincerely serious about the elections. They openly say “ a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.” Even the diehard Maoist commanders and leaders who have become so addicted to the parasitic life of luxury in a few month that they might think twice even to listen to their supremo, Prachanda, and give up their windfall- their new life style. To be quite sincere and honest, the possibility of the elections taking place is very very remote in the present circumstances. Prachanda was not only right but even prophetic. Why did he chicken out? May be, as a Nepali politician he is also endowed with the characteristic of Nepali politicians. It does not take a great effort to blab your tiny tongue. But it is quite different to honor it. It might even take a lifetime sometimes. But that is for honorable men.
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