National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Conscience or Compulsion

Despite prevalence of conscience, Congress politics seems to be guided by compulsions

By KESHAB POUDEL

“The societies which set out to establish the “earthly paradise” always end in tyranny,” writes George Orwell in his article ‘The Intellectual Revolt’. Orwell writes, ‘the whole problem of Utopian aims is their tendency to end in tyranny.’

He claims that before Hitler came to power his essential work had been done for him by the German Social-Democrat and Communists, who had succeeded in breaking down the average German’s desire for liberty and independence.

Written five decades ago explaining the European society, George Orwell’s opinion seems to be closer to reality of present Nepalese politics when a liberal and moderate democratic party is following extremist path hoping to achieve democratic ideals.

Congress workers : Wavering stance of the party

From organizing mock parliament in the streets of capital to encouraging students to denounce traditional institutions like monarchy, Nepali Congress, a moderate democratic party, is vulgarizing democracy and parliamentary system on line with extremists – who has a history of discrediting the parliamentary system in the last twelve years stalling the parliament for months and weeks.

When liberal and moderate democratic force has completely sided with the extremists justifying all kinds of anarchies, return of liberal democratic process will be far away.

The past experiences have shown that anarchism simply breeds another fresh anarchism and such attempts to establish liberalism and equality always end in an authoritarian state

For a liberal democratic party, limited aims always pay but the Congress is embracing unlimited demands including Republican set-up crossing all the limitations of a moderate democratic party.

“As party president Girija Prasad Koirala could have played a role of bringing the Maoists, the monarchy and the political parties together. Unfortunately, he joined hands with forces, which are against the monarchy,” said Nepali Congress leader Shailaja Acharya. “Let us not poke our nose unnecessarily. So the five agitating parties should not grope in the dark that leads them nowhere.”

Had the Nepali Congress made limited demands, following its own course, the country would not have to face this kind of uncertainty and anarchism.

“Why should we go for 19 points demands along with five agitating parties? Our demand should be one point that is democracy,” said former deputy prime minister Acharya.

In the present set of politicians, former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is still a leader with conscience, seems to be compelled to lead agitation with extremists. As his party is yet to be united and his age is gradually running out, Koirala does have very limited options. Along with siding with the communists, Congress party has another disadvantage that is the charge of corruption.

After the split of party, the Congress, its student and youth groups are harping the republican agenda of communist parties. There is no sense of liberal democratic character among his young political workers.

His old age, disunited party, colleagues accused of corruption scandal and alliance with extremists, congress leader Koirala has all these disadvantages. And still the Congress leadership seems top believe that its alliance with the Communists can help them to achieve their goals.

Thanks to Congress alliance with the extremists, RPP leaders – who have a long legacy of Panchayat – have got the opportunity to rule the country as a well accepted moderate political force. Had Congress leader Koirala taken a moderate line, RPP leaders would not have got the present opportunity.

More the hardcore stand Nepali Congress – which is a sole party with principal based on moderate democratic ideology – takes, more the sympathizers and supporters the party will lose.

As long as the Congress leaders do not speak their own conscience and continue to follow compulsion, there is no hope for moderate democratic political process.

As it is said, in primitive countries political extremism is more likely to take the form of anarchism. In such a situation, people want security but generally do not realize equality, freedom of speech and of the press and moderation are of urgent important to themselves.