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Kathmandu Friday June 08, 2001 Jestha 26, 2058.
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UML’s drama
To be or not to be: the dilemma of the main
opposition party Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) is finally over. The
General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal pulled his name out of the three-member committee set
up to investigate the last Friday’s royal assassination. The decision may well serve
to uphold the party’s image, but at the cost of Nepal’s own personal reputation
and credibility. Shrewd and calculating communists smelled grave consequences, and
backtracked. What if the findings of the committee oppose the popular line? Can the Party
sustain public criticisms likely to be reflected in the next general election? And it is
obviously KP Oli, another astute leader and arch-rival of Nepal, who came down heavily on
the general secretary later on. Poor Madhav Nepal, what can he do? But enough damage has
been done to his reputation. Surely, Nepal was not inducted into the committee without
getting his consent. But better sense prevailed on him, after Oli gave a dressing down.
Was the decision on withdrawing from the committee made purely for the love of the party?
Given the long-standing personality clash between Oli and Nepal, discerning political
enthusiasts do not accept the motive wholeheartedly. Also, the reason put forward by the
party that the formation of the committee was unconstitutional is ludicrous. Because the
committee has the privilege of having Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay. And by the
way, who is Subash Nemwang to teach him the basics of constitution? He may be the hero of
the Public Accounts Committee but this does not give him the licence for other challenging
committees.
Reema Dhakal
Baneshwor, Kathmandu |
