NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Unparliamentary Plea

The constitution does not envisage a national government, but it remains a favorite ploy among some politicians

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

National consensus is one of the most used words in the lexicon of Nepalese politicians. Nepali Congress supremo Girija Prasad Koirala is particularly fond of the two words. More interestingly, the former prime minister has the habit of calling for national consensus but never being able to actually forge it.

Koirala (right) with Nepal : Brewing instability

When Koirala resigned from the prime minister's post in July in the midst of mounting opposition from within his party and outside, it was after national consensus eluded him.

Now, when his one-time protÈgÈ and current prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba seems to have forged a broad consensus, Koirala is back in his old game by calling for broader democratic alliance and a national government. While the phrase itself sounds convincing, its reverberations are bound to have a destabilizing effect on the government at a time when the country is in a state of emergency.

Stranger still, the opposition parties, the very ones that treated Koirala like a pariah only a couple of months ago, are now joining his bandwagon. Surya Bahadur Thapa, the president of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, has already supported his call for national government. "The problems of the country are so immense that a government of single party will not be able to solve it any more," he says. Likewise, the main opposition Unified Marxist-Leninist, too, has lent a friendly ear to Koirala's utterances.

Interestingly, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 does not have any provision for national government. The proponents of this apparently unconstitutional idea have failed to convince the people the need for the national government. Deuba government was able to take all (Congress and opposition) along when it declared the state of emergency a month ago and launched strikes against terrorists. His move has been endorsed by international community, including Nepal's neighbors. Even the people are with him. "So, where is the need for national government? Does Koirala and his company mean that the relevancy of the strikes against terrorists have ended?" asked a political analyst.

For their own part, the opposition parties, mainly the communists, are sowing more confusion by making contradictory statements against the imposition of state of emergency. Initially, all were in favor of its imposition and now they are calling for ending it soon. "How can the state of emergency be withdrawn so soon? Do they mean that the army should withdraw before completing it task? If so, are they willing to take responsibility of the aftermath?" asked the analyst.

All this is happening in Kathmandu just when the security forces are engaged in a full-fledged battle with the terrorists. While the army and police are laying their lives for the sake of country and democracy, the politicians can't stop from messing around. "One would have thought that after 12 years of democratic exercise our political leaders might have gained maturity. But no, they can't refrain from engaging in petty politics even at times of national crisis like this," rued the analyst.

Although Koirala justifies his call for broad democratic alliance and national government as being necessary to sustain the campaign against terrorists and protect democracy, it has acted in the opposite manner.

Prime Minister Deuba criticized Koirala's call as "unseasonal melody" hinting that it was having a destabilizing effect on his government. Inaugurating the 28th general convention of Nepal Jaycees last week, Deuba asked what the world would say if there was a political game (to change government) while the police and army are in the battlefield.

As different media reported that Koirala was calling for the national government to replace Deuba, the Congress party president, in an interview with the BBC Nepali service clarified that he only meant that the current government include ministers from other parties.

Koirala's long time friend and Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has already castigated the call for national government. "I have never heard of any party that is in majority wanting to induct members of other parties," he retorted, adding that any move to destabilize the Deuba government at this particular time would send a very wrong message to the international community and could be counterproductive to the democracy itself.

After the initial warmth, even the main opposition UML seems to have balked at the call for national government. After the all-party meeting held on December 24 called by Koirala, which endorsed the need for the broad democratic alliance, the Drishti weekly ó close to UML ó stated that the party had turned down the offer of a national government.

Less than a month after the army went into the offensive against the Maoists, the politicians are back in their game. In the absence of matured leaders and judicious decisions, the politicking could put the country in a grave danger.