Editorial (Spotlight Weekly)

It has become most imperative that the vicious and volatile situation in the country be resolved without further delay. The violence and vandalism, the extortions and lootings, the murders and killings, the kidnappings and abductions, the blockades and barricades and the bandhs and hartals are only leading the country to the ignominious situation of a “failed state”. It has become the prime and inescapable duty of every patriotic Nepali to come together by sinking all their personal and partisan differences and work for the early restoration of peace and normalcy so that the derailed democratic process is brought back to track. And this needs a free and fair general elections where all leaders are welcome to test the love and respect they command of the electorate. No leader or political party should now believe that they would be able to influence the outcome of the hustings by conducting them while in office. This is one thing King Gyanendra will never let happen. Since the leaders of all the bigger political parties have proved beyond a ray of doubt that their agitation against the so called regressive actions of the King is nothing more than a ploy to grab the chair of authority. If they think they have won the support of the poor people of Nepal, they are living in a fool’s paradise. Indeed, only a handful of mercenary intellectuals who have become influential through amassment of wealth by mysterious means are supporting them. But the overwhelming majority want to see them in the right place they deserve to be for pushing the country to this unenviable situation. As far King Gyanendra is concerned he has made repeated commitments to stay a constitutional monarch. And there is no reason to doubt his pronouncements. We know, he is fully aware of the situation and does not want to turn the clock back because it will not work. But all the perfidious propaganda if the interested politicians to paint him as an authoritarian King is nothing but expressions of their utter frustrations. Consequently, the poor people of Nepal must use their own judgment and not be led astray by the corrupt and discredited politicians. Even the Maoist leaders must give second thoughts to their unrealistic policies and prepare the atmosphere conducive to holding early general elections by entering into a dialogue with the establishment to restore peace and normalcy. There is no time to lose. Let the newly elected parliament decide about the constitution. King Gyanendra has been incessantly trying to find what the overwhelming people of the country want. Because he not only knows but is fully convinced that the country cannot turn away from the democratic process it has adopted. But the sad experiences of the last fourteen years have made it clear that the nation needs a new set of honest and dedicated leaders and only a free and fair general elections can produce them. As such, he should form a government which represents all sections of Nepali society immediately and empower it to hold the elections in the stipulated time. There is no other option.

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The political drama that is unfolding in the neighboring country after the surprise defeat of the ruling BJP-led NDA government has gripped the big nation in a haze of disbelief and dismay. The leader of the victorious Congress-led alliance, Sonia Gandhi has denied her claim to become the prime minister of a big and powerful country like India. It was, indeed, unthinkable that anybody would deny such a big honor. What prompted her not to lead a country like India we do not know. But we know that two illustrious prime ministers belonging to the house of Nehru-Gandhi have met tragic and untimely deaths. Despite being in the wilderness for more than a decade the charisma in the name of Gandhi that Sonia enjoyed carried the day for Congress once again. It has also proved that the Indian electorate is becoming more responsible and conscious of its rights and the gullible politicians can no more take it for a ride. Whoever heads the next Indian government, India’s smaller neighbors, specially Nepal, expect a more realistic, understanding and sensitive policy towards them. Harping on cultural or religious affinity have not only become antiquated but the most unreliable base for building and strengthening bilateral relations. That India is the prime factor that can help Nepal get over the vexing Maoist problem is indisputable. But, unfortunately, why India is following a double standard in this regard is not only distressing but generating dangerous and damaging misgivings in patriotic Nepali minds. Even this scribe tried to make his humble contribution towards mending fences for better understanding. But, it seems, all the pleas have fallen on deaf ears. But there should be no despondency. We must keep in trying. Anyway, we would like to take this opportunity of extending our expression of sincere felicitation to the new government in New Delhi and hope it will usher in a new era in Nepal-India relations.