Call
For Consensus
DEPUTY Prime Minister
and Minister for Local Development Badri Prasad Mandal clearly and rightly emphasised the
need for forging a broad national consensus in order to end the crisis the nation is
currently facing. Answering the questions and concerns raised by members of National
Assembly at a meeting the other day he said that His Majesty's Government is seeking
national consensus on every national issue and is even prepared to fix the dates for
elections if political parties reach a conclusion. His Majesty the King, while forming the
present Council of Ministers, had clearly entrusted the cabinet with five main
responsibilities, which include, among others, holding the general elections in a free,
fair and peaceful manner. Deputy Prime Minister Mandal's remarks are the reiteration of
the commitment and responsibility of the government to accomplish the duties it was
entrusted. Free and fair elections are the hallmark of democratic polity. At present the
country is without elected representatives. In this situation, elections are a must.
However, one thing all must take into account is the fact that the elections had to be
postponed because of growing violence and terrorism in different parts of the country.
Unless violence and terrorism are brought under control, elections may not be held in a
completely free and fair manner. It is, thus, the duty of all political parties and all
responsible citizens to cooperate with each other and play an active role in restoring
peace and security in the country. The violence and terrorism have created a sense of fear
among the people and seriously damaged and derailed the development process. Control of
violence and terrorism is necessary not only for the elections but also for restoring
peace, creating a sense of security among the people and accelerating social and economic
development of the country. In fact, the nation is in crisis. The country can be rescued
from the crisis and dangerous situation, only when all people, irrespective of their
ideologies, work together and cooperate with each other for the common cause of nation
building. The tendency of mud slinging and putting blames on others alone cannot solve the
country's problems but divide the society and push the nation towards further crisis.
Thus, as said by Deputy Prime Minister, national consensus is urgent to solve all the
national problems and give the nation a new direction towards progress and prosperity. The
partisan interests and the lack of consensual politics were partly responsible for the
creation of the present crisis. This should serve as a lesson for all of us in order to
ensure that the same stupid mistakes would not be repeated in the future.
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