"Political Parties Have Lost Their Faith In CA Polls"
Taranath Ranabhat
TARANATH RANABHAT, former Speaker of House of Representatives and former general secretary of Nepali Congress, is one of few people left in the Congress who are pleading moderate voices. Ranabhat, who has a base in Kaski district, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues regarding the contemporary politics in Nepal.
How do you see the state of Nepali politics now?
The political situation is very fluid and confusing. I have never seen this kind of uncertain situation in Nepalese politics.
Don't you think your statement is strange when eight party government led by prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala is saying that this is the best period in political history?
They might have their own reasons to say so. What I am saying is the reality of the situation. Look at the situation, parliament is locked up, cabinet meeting was held after two weeks, civil servants were manhandled in their offices and public properties including statues are destroyed in day light. Law and order situation has completely derailed. This is not my personal view but any one can see this. If we are unable to control the present situation, the country will head towards failure. These moves seem to be directed to send the country towards liquidation.
What do you suggest to control it?
We need support from all the forces inside the parliament, and civil society members. Even we require the support of the King to bring normalcy in the country. I don't think only one force can do it. We cannot find solution isolating one force against other.
But, leaders of eight political parties have already declared that they will remove the King?
This is the fact that monarchy is also a strong political force of this country. Had the monarchy not had any base, our political leaders including Maoists would not have spent valuable time in condemning it. In politics merely wishes cannot work. I can wish I want to be a prime minister or Girijababu or Prachanda can wish to be first president of Nepal. Even our leader Girija Baba has hinted the need to have a ceremonial monarchy. His recent argument of reduction of monarchy into twenty percent indicates that. One has to accept the ground reality.
How optimistic are you about holding the elections for Constituent Assembly?
Political parties have already lost their faith in CA polls. By demanding to declare republic from the nominated parliament, political parties have also distrusted the will of the people. You cannot declare republic from a controlled parliament with nominated members by denying the right of sovereign people to decide their own fate. Who are we to deny the rights of the sovereign people? Declaring republic on the basis of votes of MPs who are controlled by party whip is itself an act of distrust on the will of people.
But, political leaders and some intellectuals are saying that this parliament has mandate of people to declare republic?
Street demonstrations or agitations cannot be taken as mandate of people. When people participated in Jana Andolan II, their demand was to hold elections for CA. Its mandate is also to test the mandate of people through the elections of CA. Early political commitments also supported this view legally by agreeing to hold the elections of CA to decide the fate of monarchy. This is legalized by interim constitution. It is politically, legally, ethically or otherwise unjustifiable to declare republic from the present nominated parliament.
How do you see the possibility of making Nepal as a federal state with right to self determination to all the ethnic, linguistic groups?
Making Nepal as a federal state on the basis of region, ethnic and linguistic groups with the right to self determination is no more than a move to disintegrate Nepal. Our sensitive geo-political situation cannot permit us to live as a unified Nepal under the federal forms of government. It will open the way for disintegration of the country.
Is it not too much hypothetical?
At a time when we are unable to reach consensus on the issue of constituent delineation, how can you satisfy the people of different regions, race, culture and ethnicity when you try to draw the border on the various units or federals. This is going to be major issue of discontent from the beginning. Even after about 200 years of demarcation of border between Nepal and India, there remain disputes. How long will it take us to settle the border of the units of Nepal's states. This is going to trigger never-ending debates and disputes.
Do you mean federalism is unsustainable in Nepal?
This is a small country, much smaller than any federal state of India. When Indian states like Bihar and UP –which are larger than Nepal – remain as a single unit, I don't think Nepal cannot remain in unitary form of government. Of course, there is a need for strong commitments and implementation of decentralization of authority from center to village.
Since all ethnic and regional groups have already come up with the demand of federal structure, how can you address them?
We have a way out. First of all we should make honest efforts to decentralize authority from center to local. Although I am a student of law, even I don't know much about the federal forms of government. It seems a fashion now to talk about federalism. Like all our political leaders, we are dreaming about the federal government. For a small and underdeve
loped country like Nepal, dividing the country on the basis of federal form is unviable in terms of politics, economics and natural resources.
Why is it not viable?
First of all the economic cost will be high. Nobody has imagined the resources we need to spend to sustain the federal units. Lets say, if you divide your country into ten units, you will have ten chief ministers, ten chief justice, ten speakers and hundreds of parliamentarians and tens of thousands of bureaucrats. When you are claiming that even the current size is too big, who will pay for all of them. When we are unable to manage one King, one prime minister and one speaker, politically it will be disastrous for Nepal. Political disputes will be in much bigger scale, there will always be debate who will represent center and who will represent the units. The units are going to be center of political disputes. Along with this, there are going to be disputes on resource mobilization. If Makwanpur or Trishuli or Syangja denies supplying electricity to Kathmandu and other units, what will happen? Similarly, how Rasuwa or Lamjung or Taplejung, Humla or Jumla share resources? This will plant never-ending disputes in this small country. As Prithivi Narayan Shaha said, this country is a yam between two boulders; it has many limitations if its people want to survive as citizens of an independent nation.
What should the role of Nepali Congress be?
The foremost important thing is the unity in the Congress. Our future will be dim in case we go with the divided house. Girijababu and Sher Bahadurji might have their own limitations; but they have no alternative than to unify the Congress. Sooner the unification process begins, better for the future of the party.
What is the identity of Nepali Congress?
Nepali Congress is a moderate liberal democratic party. It is a centrist party. At a time when the country's political process is polarizing in two extremes, Nepali Congress has to follow the middle path. There is no alternative to middle way. This is what our leader B.P. Koirala had taught us. B.P.'s said that all national political forces need to go together. Whether you say it as national unity or national reconciliation, it is compromise not a conflict between the political forces. Several general elections, changes and revolutions have already endorsed B.P. Koirala's views of national reconciliation. B.P.'s view is accepted as philosophical as well as legitimate view in our party. National reconciliation is at our heart. If we give up B.P.'s views, our party will lose its identity. We need to reconcile with the monarchy.
How do you see the role of monarchy?
Monarchy still has its role. Even our prime minister Girijababu has talked about the role for ceremonial monarchy. Nepal needs the institution of monarchy to protect its own identity. This may be the reason why B.P. Koirala - who was humiliated by the King and suffered under their rules - defended the institution of monarchy. Some persons may be good and some persons may be bad but the institution of monarchy still has utility in Nepal.
Why have all of you suddenly started remembering B.P. Koirala now?
At a time when the country is in crisis and democracy is in crisis, B.P. Koirala is the only leader whose views and opinions can save us. He is the only leader who could speak anti-current and he is the leader who understood strength and ethos of Nepal. B.P. is our strength and B.P. is our party's soul. In this time of crisis, I can remember him as the only leader who taught us so many things about country and democracy.
