HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Prime Minister K.P. Bhattarai resigns
Nation’s leadership should go to new generation: PM

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Mar. 16: Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who has had a rough ride since he assumed office in June last year, resigned today giving in to months of bickering and a renewed pressure from rebel lawmakers.

“I want to inform this House that it is going to be my last speech in the capacity of Prime Minister,” Bhattarai made a emotional announcement at the end of a nine page address to the jam-packed House of Representatives this afternoon.

“I thank the Speaker, leaders of the opposition parties and all other friends of my party for their hearty cooperation to me,” the Prime Minister said. “I want to inform the lawmakers from this rostrum that, in a while, I am going to the Royal Palace to submit my resignation to His Majesty the King,” Bhattarai said in a choked voice as tears rolled down the eyes of some ministers.

The Prime Minister himself could not hold back tears as he went and sat on his chair in the front row of the Treasury Bench after an emotionally charged speech that was carried live on Nepal Television and Radio Nepal.

The next moment, Bhattarai took out a neatly folded, white handkerchief from the left coat pocket and wiped his eyes as Speaker Taranath Ranabhat read a notice from His Majesty that said the resignation of Industry Minister RamKrishna Tamrakar had been accepted.

Tamrakar had resigned early this week to join the rank of 11 ministers, who had resigned under moral pressure in response to a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minster by 58 Congress lawmakers last month.

“I am ready for sacrifices of any scale for the sake of the country and democracy,” Bhattarai told the House in the address that outlined the achievements made by the government since his appointment as the Prime Minister. No confidence motions, he said, had been moved against him at a time progresses were being made in various fronts and the development works were picking up.

In his speech, Bhattarai spoke in terms of high respect of Congress’s new generation, which he said, had devoted their youth and energy for the cause of democracy and hence are capable to inherit the leadership next.

Following is the full text of the Prime Minster’s speech:

The present political conflict has affected the whole country, which has fallen into an unexpected crisis. The cause of the crisis is within us, not anywhere outside. Our tendency is guilty for this. The politics under democratic and undemocratic system is not the same. But some characters in our politics seem to have taken both as the same. In a democratic system, powerful are the aspects of values and morality in whose absence the whole system becomes weak. This is what the present crisis is all about. We are the ones to conduct the system. Therefore, we become the cause of the crisis if we possess unconstitutional and uncontrolled political ambition. The system is good, but the question of whether or not our conduct is compatible with it is before us. We have to find the answer ourselves. I am talking about this not to protect my leadership as Prime Minister, which is at stake now. Because the aim of my involvement in politics was not to hold the chair, but to achieve democracy and construct a prosperous Nepal. I became PM because of coincidence, circumstances and people’s faith in me. Besides, the Supreme Leader late Ganesh Man Singh’s good wishes were also involved in my becoming interim Prime Minister. And this time I had carried out my responsibilities faithfully. Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala had projected my name as future prime minister prior to the general election held in May last year. Probably because of this, our party garnered a comfortable majority. I am directly accountable to people because it is not only the parliamentary equation but also people’s interest that is reflected in my premiership. I am now bound by moral obligations since my name was projected as future PM to ask for vote. What should I reply to the people who voted for me? I am looking for a decisive answer to this question.

Since I share the votes people elected all the NC MPs with, I appeal to the party, its President, leaders and all of NC members to recall the promises we made before the country and people because the party has to reply to the public even after my resignation. The new Prime Minister who comes after me too cannot escape the same blow. I never intended to make NC’s internal politics a subject of persistent parliamentary debates. Nevertheless, I, as the leader of NC’s parliamentary party, should be given an opportunity to put my views before parliament that is made up of the people’s representatives.

Against all odds, our government is trying to give motions to the works in a prioritised manner. In order to ensure good governance in the country, the government is serious about curbing corruption and adopting strategies to maintain the system. I am committed to eliminate corruption. Had the party assisted me to streamline the rampant situation, it would have eased my successors because sooner or later I would have to resign.

When I was sworn in the chief executive ten months ago, the country was rift with instability, anomalies resulting from the dirty game of power politics and there were a number of aberrations. But I feel that the conspiracy hatched against me within a few weeks of my swearing in has prompted political instability and proved as an obstacle to good governance.

Why do tides of instability arise whenever the government takes steps against rampant corruption, moves towards the direction of good governance and initiates cordial discussions with the opposition to lead the country to the path of development? I have not been able to understand this. Why does a no motion proposal surface at a time when the Maoists, who launched the so-called People’s War in 1996, have agreed to sit for peace talks? The indices of economic growth rate, export trade, market price and foreign exchange reserve during the last ten months were encouraging. We are on a process of establishing Human Rights Commission. Meanwhile, the talk to end the decade-long headache of Bhutanese refugees’ problem has shown some progress. What does the haste for leadership change indicate at a time when Nepal is going to be elected president of the United Nation’s Human Rights Commission, when Norway established its embassy in Kathmandu and when the PM of a democratic Nepal has been extended invitation to visit friendly country of France? My visit to the United Kingdom that resulted in the increase in British Gurkha’s pensions, the imminent visit of Nepal by British Foreign Secretary, the grand success of 8th South Asian Federation Games in Kathmandu, the recent improvement in environment and price control have uplifted Nepal’s international image.

Till when would we Nepalese suffer from cursed history of Bhim Malla and Bhimsen Thapa, when patriotism was punished? Since last half a century we Nepalese have been devoting ourselves to establish value-based politics. Until true democracy is established and democratic norms and values become our personal behaviour our country will never develop. It is my firm belief. Since last 60 years I have been incessantly struggling for my beliefs. I have suffered several plots and been made victim of conspiracy and sabotage on my stand to become true democrat and nationalist. However, I am not upset. I would continuously carry out my responsibility to lead the future generation towards positive direction. Politics of principles is my life value. If politics of ideology and value, and politics of principles and ideal is displaced, I would say, there is no future for the country and democracy. Therefore, I caution all the democrats, specially friends from Nepali Congress and all the other political parties to be aware about us loosing our mission and identity.

I propose that leadership is handed over to the new generation, therefore, the country takes a new direction, and the poor people of this country feel relieved. Fortunately, we have a generation of leaders who never learned to compromise democratic values and who never were derailed in search of alternative to democracy. The generation sacrificed its youth for democracy; they have also proved their mettle to carry out responsibilities given to them with efficiency, sincerity and faith. If this campaign for democracy has any future, it has safe future in the hands of this generation of leaders. We can count out the people who have no faults. The leaders who are tested by history are on many occasions attempted to be present lightly and degradingly, which, I caution, is a conspiracy against Nepali Congress to destabilise its leadership.

My intention is not to stick to the premiership, but to give a new dimension to the mode of thought, for which I am willing to pay any price. Similarly, I am ready and willing to sacrifice anything to ensure Nepali Congress’s continuous involvement in the path of campaigning for democracy and democratic exercises. In the past also I have suffered insult and bitterness in my attempt to ensure party unity. Today I before this House, which I feel is my duty, to defend myself against the attempts to defame me. However, I do not have ill feelings against anyone, therefore, I request you not to misinterpret my address.

My innermost wishes are that we work together dutifully and with our full commitments to nationalism and democracy. If the change of leadership of government is a must for this, I am ever ready to comply. I spent my life for value based politics and I am still ready to defend democratic norms. My only intention and ambition is to ensure Nepal’s pride and democracy.

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