For Nepal's Prosperity
Everyone's Support Necessary

By Prem N. Kakkar

IT IS three months since Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand took up the stewardship of the admnistration. A clear cut direction was spelt out on the outset itself. With a need to have people with clean images to be included in the Council of Ministers special attention was paid.

Expectations

The people's expectations are always there. When multi-party polity was ushered in 1990 the people's aspirations were immense and the need was felt that the democratic government that would follow would see that they are fulfilled. Democratic system is the best of the political systems in the world. But, unfortunately, things did not go as expected. The main reason was the intra- and inter-party conflicts that were more concerned with partisan interests rather than the overall welfare of the people.
The people who manned the successive governments since 1990 were the same who had undergone great sufferings in the past. Their sacrifices must be acknowledged but this does not mean that they could commit mistakes without doing their homework properly. Calling oneself as a leader of the people is easy but the norms as such should be followed. They should play a role model as far as the people are concerned.

The politial leaders as such must be respected as they have a vital role to play. They are to be very much concerned with the welfare of the people rather than capitalising on the people's trust for minor gains.

In this context, many events have unfolded in the past few months. It started with the dissolution of the House of Representatives followed by the removal of the government headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba. This all indicated that the country needed some radical changes for it to move in the right direction. There have been criticisms by the very people who did not act according to the spirit that conforms to democratic ideals and norms to the fullest possible extent.

For democracy to deliver the goods it is the political leaders who have the big role to play. if they play their roles properly, there is no doubt that they will be respected by the people and that is the biggest of achievements for them. It is a matter of being responsible and aware of the duties that they have to discharge.

The Royal Address a little over three months ago should be seen in the light of events that preceded it. It shows how the situation had not become conducive. The formation of the government led by Prime Minister Chand must be seen from this angle.

It is not an easy task that the present Council of Ministers has on its shoulders. The two foremost tasks that it has to accomplish is the return of peace and normalcy in the country together with holding the next general elections. The general elections will pave the way for the party that receives the people's mandate to take up administration charges.

The government, as has been reiterated by Prime Minister Chand, is willing to sit with the leaders of the political parties so that a date could be fixed for the next polls. This is an important demand of the time. The people too feel that it will be an opportunity for them to exercise their rights in a democratic manner to choose their representatives.

Despite a call to the political leaders to support the government in its initiative to usher peace and announce the poll dates, there has been minimal response. There may be reasons for this. But whatever the difficulties or reservations, it must be clearly spelt out. Without speaking the mind in a rational way nothing can be understood. This is where our leaders fail. They must be clear and forthright in expressing their feelings, analysis and ideas. Changing tone now and then is confusing.

This must be especially discussed in the backdrop of His Majesty's address at the Royal Civic reception in Biratnagar recently. A clear cut message is present in the address is that Constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy must go hand in hand if the country is to make the necessary strides towards prosperity. The progress of the country is not the responsibility of one person or the other person, it is everyone's.

Support

For any government to succeed in its mission, support from the political parties as well as the people in general is more than needed. This makes it imperative for all to join hands so that next general elections can be held at the earliest opportune time. The delay can be averted if the political parties and their leaders understand the urgency. It is consultation and exchange of ideas and views that can create the right platform for agreement. Even His Majesty is clear on this point. The response must come at the earliest. The political leaders owe the people a duty, after all.

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