As the stipulated date for elections to the Constituent Assembly gets nearer, all the bigger political parties are getting panicky and vigorously looking for a scapegoat even though they are posing as being very enthusiastic to fool others. We have never wavered in our opinion that, under the existing circumstances, a peaceful, free and fair elections is an utopian dream. When will the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons be rehabilitated? Or are the politicians thinking of depriving them of their fundamental voting rights? When are the crores worth of looted property being restored to the rightful owners? When are the thousands of Pahadiyas made to flee their homes in Madhesh be permitted to go back to their homes? And when will the government be able to stop bandhas and chakkjams so that ordinary citizens could freely move around in their own country? Can any politician of the name deny that some political parties are still running parallel government? Why is the eight party government so impotent to stop these stark illegal actions? Why is everybody behaving so hypocritical? Does the international community, stationed in the capital, and do the U.N. agencies assigned to supervise the peace process and elections, sincerely believe that situation in Nepal is suitable for holding the elections? What do they really want? A bloody civil war in Nepal? As it is, they are unabashedly supporting an unconstitutional government? Simply because Nepal is small, poor and weak and disunited and a perfect victim for their machinations, they can overlook all morality and humanitarian considerations? And now some politicians are threatening to embroil the failing state into a more vicious conflagration by demanding the immediate abolition of monarchy? Why must the twenty-five million Nepalis listen to a few politicians whose loyalty to the nation and people are not above board? As a matter of fact, even he Constituent Assembly (if formed at all) has no valid authority to pronounce any judgment on monarchy. It must be done via a “national referendum” directly by the people themselves. Indeed, King Gyanendra could have avoided all these troubles and directed the poor nation to progress and prosperity, had he listened to saner counsels. May be, his destiny blinded his vision. Any way, since it is no use crying over split milk, we will not dwell upon his unfortunate behavior. And now, a former prime minister - Krishna Prasad Bhattarai – has found a favorable opportunity to catch cheap lime light by coming out strongly in favor of monarchy and starting a big controversy. It is not for one man, even not for a handful of politicians of several hues and neither for neighbors or international community but for the poor, honest and patriotic millions of Nepalis to give the final verdict on monarchy. As such, it is high time millions of poor Nepalis be aware of the machinations of the enemies of the state and unite, setting aside all personal or partisan differences to save our poor nation from the disintegration lurking around. Of course, the Nepali Army is always there as the ultimate savior.

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