National 5 (Spotlight Weekly)

Confusing Confession

Congress leader Koirala's inability to express his term grand design has also confused the people

By KESHAB POUDEL

Congress leader and octogenarian leader Girija Prasad Koirala has everything to boast about. From a long political legacy to hard-earned political experiences, former prime minister Koirala is the only politician in Nepal who has been through all kinds of turbulences.

He had led a course of political negotiations with King Mahendra to release his brother B.P. Koirala from prison. Father of an only daughter, octogenarian leader was also a part of political agitation launched in 1990. From facing all round denouncement on charges of being the country’s most corrupt political leader to recognition as a supreme and model agitating leader, Koirala, who always stays at his nephew’s place, is also a man full of confusion.

Koirala : What is grand design ?

In his long political career, Koirala did not propound any political ideology but he has coined the famous words called Grand Design. In many occasions, Koirala himself seems confused about the interpretation of Grand Design he so effortlessly uses at every possible chances. Although failing to elaborate or clarify what he means by Grand Design, Koirala continues to utter those two words putting everybody, including himself, in confusion.

Whenever there is any political event, Congress leader and former prime minister Koirala uses the terms Grand Design to justify his arguments. He does not seem to care whether the flippant use of such heavy words might actually hurting his own credibility as a leader.

Koirala certainly seems to have something in his mind when he talks about grand designs. Although he seems to be ignorant, he might have clear picture about the actors and elements active in the grand design. What is lacking is his inability to express the words in a clear and definitive manner.

Having such a long experiences in politics, Koirala is the only remaining leader in Nepalese political circle, who is qualified to talk about the undercurrents and inside stories.

“I don’t believe that politicians like Koirala are confused about the word grand design. Koirala has something meaningful in his mind but he is unable to express it,” said a political analyst. “How can one believe leader like Koirala who was himself victimized at times, is in confusion regarding grand design. Had he been confused and unaware, he would not have repeated it.

Recently, Koirala termed the meeting between CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist leaders in Lucknow, India as a part of grand design of King.

Although CPN-UML leader Nepal is one of his main partners in the agitation against monarch, Koirala has, however, remained silent on how he can move shoulder-to-shoulder with a person who is a part of grand design of King.

If Koirala is correct then the agitation which he is leading with the support from a leader who is a part of King’s grand design, will also be a part of the same grand design.

In every occasion, Koirala has used the term whether it was the announcement of state of emergency or the division in his party, Congress leader Koirala said ‘grand design’ during Royal Palace massacre, which had occurred when he was the elected prime minister of the country.

When former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was expelled from Nepali Congress under his own decision, Koirala termed it as a part of his famous words. He said the same two words when the Maoists came to negotiate with the Chand government and the same words applied when they broke the ceasefire.

“It seems that Koirala himself is very much confused about the word grand design and it is his own design to fool other people,” said a political analyst. “No other political leader can dare to interpret the words as Koirala can.”

In the last seven years, former prime minister Koirala has changed his stands several times and broke many different alliances but he continues to stick with the word grand design. Whatever the political situation appear, Koirala’s first response would invariably be the word grand design.

Whenever media persons ask Koirala to elaborate about his grand design, he dismisses it saying they know what it is all about.

Confused and misguided, Congress leader Koirala is unable to interprate the grand design which has many meanings.