National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Turning Into Irrelevant

With the announcement of common agenda, agitating political parties close the door for political compromise including the revival of House of Representatives

By KESHAB POUDEL

Nepali Congress leader and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala had earlier announced that the ongoing political struggles were aimed at the revival of the dissolved House of Representatives, but his recent actions show that Koirala has backed out from his earlier stance.

Nepal (left) and Koirala : Clueless or calculated?

After unanimously endorsing the 18-point common agenda of the five agitating political parties with resolutions demanding secular state instead of Hindu Kingdom, limiting the royal title of ìShree Paanchî to the King, the Queen and the Crown Prince, calling for changing the national anthem, public disclosure of property of the crown and abolition of Raj Sabha and clamoring for bringing the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) under the control of the parliament, the parties have effectively closed the door for reconciliation with the monarch.

In a meeting of the members of the dissolved House of Representatives representing the five political parties, dominated by the communists, Congress president Koirala endorsed the common agenda.

It took nearly a year for Koirala to convince other political leaders that the revival of the dissolved House of Representatives was the most appropriate political way out to end the impasse in the country. Following the appointment of Surya Bahadur Thapa as the prime minister, the government has publicly declared that it is open for negotiations on all matters including the revival of the dissolved house ñ the issue that was not entertained by Chand government. Likewise, other communist parties, too, had bowed down to Koiralaís call and had said they would support its revival. Clearly, Koirala was beginning to win.

Unfortunately, Koirala, knowingly or unknowingly, pulled out of his own stand by putting together many other unnecessary and unreasonable demands, thereby, making it impossible for the King to revive the House of Representatives, which could have paved the way for political settlement. What prompted Congress leader Koirala who has sacrificed his long life for the sake of democracy to push such counter-productive demands is a mystery.

If Koiralaís demands are accepted now, it will be equivalent to the major constitution amendment or fulfilling the demands of the Maoist to hold the elections of Constituent Assembly. Not surprisingly, the ten leftist outfits including the Maoists were quick to term the common agenda as positive. It showed that Congress leader Koirala is either unaware or is coerced to accept such proposals, which are contradictory to his own ideals.

What rationale is there in limiting the royal title of ìShree Paanchî to only three persons? Why not only one or ten? Though Koirala had said that his agitation is also aimed at strengthening the institution of monarchy, no body can gauge the rationale behind the demand to change the national anthem, which hails the institution of monarchy not an individual King.

Most controversial of all demands is to turn the country into a secular state. When India was under the rule of secular parties, Nepali Congress never raised this issue. How can it propose the amendment to secular state when there is a powerful pro-Hindu lobby ruling in India? Koirala's anti-army stand is understandable and he seems to be raising the issue for someone else.

Already divided on various ideological and other bases, Congress president Koirala's demands for the secular state will further split the nation and push it towards greater turmoil.

Chaired by the Congress leader Koirala, the second meeting of the members of the dissolved House of Representatives, showed that they are not serious in settling the political matters paving the way for the reinstatement of parliament. Neither they are concerned about the present plight of the country.

Although Congress is still the largest party, it seems to be under the dictation of three other communist parties. The Congress leaders are slowly and steadily losing their utility proving themselves as irrelevant in the political arena.

On the other hand, general secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has shrewdly kept both the options open since he has a joint front with ten other leftist parties as well.

If the elections of the House of Representatives cannot be held, leaders of five parties will have to bear the responsibility.

In terms of political game, no one has to loose anything but Congress leader Koirala, who has a long political history at stake. He will have to take all the responsibility of the political instability, which is pushing the country into darkness.

With the recent announcement of the agenda, Koirala's claim to bring the country back to the right track proves to be hollow.