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POLITICS |
Need For Moderation Political forces are
following the suicidal course of extremism By KESHAB POUDEL Had the country’s popular moderate
leader B.P. Koirala burnt tyres in streets chanting extreme slogans, what would have been
the reactions of his younger followers who wish to become future B.P.? Can extremism of
this kind be taken as a suitable course for a moderate party like Nepali Congress?
Whatever they say, the present set of
Nepali Congress leadership including Girija Prasad Koirala seem to be justifying
extremism. In his long political struggle, B.P. Koirala - the ideologue and
legendary leader of the party - had never followed extremist path nor provoked students to
disrupt normal life of people in the streets. Despite some extreme utterances of his
colleagues like Ganesh Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Koirala always stuck to his
policy of moderation all his life. It was not the burning of tyres or running
behind torch rally that made BP Koirala one of the most popular political leaders of
Nepal. He became what he became because of his unflinching belief on moderation and
national reconciliation. Although there were very limited sphere for expressing his views
during then undemocratic regime, Koirala declined to join hands with extremists and
totalitarian forces whatever the cost he had to bear. In his last leg of political career,
Koirala was very concerned with the country’s interest rather than his own interest. Past experiences have shown that political
change cannot be possible through burning tyres and chanting extreme slogans. For a
liberal democratic party like Nepali Congress, violent actions in the streets of capital
are impossible to justify. Observers see that time has come for Nepali
Congress to make up its mind on what it wants to stand for? If Congress wants the support
of common people in their quest to revive liberal representative democratic system again,
they must follow the policy of moderation. Two Years of Agitation Following the dismissal of the elected
Deuba government by King Gyanendra in 2002, Nepali Congress has been waging nationwide
agitation against regressive step calling general strikes and disrupting normal life of
the common people at the street but neither regressive steps taken by king has been
corrected nor has any positive sign emerged in the horizon.
Contrary to the Congress claim, the
programs organized to defend the rights of people have obstructed the freedom of common
man. Agitators are denying the freedom of common citizens to walk, move, work and study. Despite their two and a half years of
violent agitations, nothing substantial has changed in the political arena. Three
governments have already been formed but there is no sign for return of representative
democracy any time soon. If so, for whom their programs are
directed? If a liberal democratic party follows the violent path like the extremists, what
is there to distinguish between a liberal democratic party and an extremist party?
Stalin’s tyrannical party and Hitler’s authoritarian party can justify such
violent acts by terrorizing common people, not a liberal democratic party like NC. “Congress’ first efforts should
be to encourage common people to protect their own interests. It is unfortunate to say
that Nepali Congress is relying on an old woman and regularly hired party workers to win
the hearts and minds of people. An aged woman and hired workers cannot inspire common
people," said an analyst. B.P. Koirala who was isolated for not
taking part in these kinds of agitation proved that moderation will ultimately make a
party’s causes popular. The moderation also helps to improve the relations between
the monarchy and the democratic forces. Monarch And Democrats Democratic forces and monarchy have many
points of common concern for unity rather than the points of disunity. The King’s own
interest lies on the continuity of crown and protection of nation and liberal democrats
are not enemy of these two basic principles as their ideology requires stability. When the road to mobilize and unite common
people is blocked, there will appear a kind of misunderstanding between these two forces.
What democratic forces want is a fair play ground or elections to organize people and
unite them. A liberal democratic party can taste their popularity in periodical manner and
get mandate to run the country though elections. In the process of elections, people stand
as a guarantor to nation as well as the crown. Royal conspirators and cliques do not want
election since they don’t have a role in elected representative system. The electoral
system is open and transparent where people choose their own representatives. Unlike
conspirators and coteries, common people cannot betray the nation and the crown for
personal gain. “The King must not bow down to the
pressure of a handful of political leaders. It is a popular institution,” said a
strong monarchist. "The King has to take strong steps against them.” The King has to understand who will come to
defend nation and his own crown at the time of crisis. Conspirators and cliques do not
have any responsibility and obligation like the monarch has. “Monarchy also needs to follow
moderation. Other forces - which encourage monarch to follow extremism – do not have
anything to lose,” said an analyst. Political Solution The priority must be given to find out a
political solution. Since both forces have many common interests, they can easily narrow
down their differences. As soon as moderation prevails in both sides, the country will
find a long lasting political solution. How long can the political parties continue
to rely on students who are supporting parties like trade union workers by calling general
strikes? Democracy is a system based on tolerance and patience. In their absence,
democratic system cannot function. Just like on the side of democratic forces,
hardliners are also on the side of the King. These coteries and cliques do not care for
the popularity of monarchy but are more concerned about their own personal interests. As
long as the King and moderate forces continue to lock horn, coteries and clique will
benefit. Extremism neither restores democracy nor democratic culture. As long as B.P. Koirala was there, he
championed the reconciliation between traditional institution like the monarchy and
democracy arguing that they are compatible forces rather than competitors. “I want political solution. Once the
House of Representatives is reinstated, our differences with the King will be over,”
said leader of Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala who is pushed to corner whenever he
speaks on political moderation and national reconciliation. A few months ago when Koirala
spoke on reconciliation, threats were issued from media and extremists to ruin his
political career. Two Sided Affair This is not one side affair. A realization
of moderation is required on both sides. If they narrow down the differences, they can
broaden their alliances. As the country has been passing through a very critical phase,
broadening alliance will help to find out a political solution. In the last two years, Nepali Congress has
been advertising democratic ideals through - what appears to be way out of
imagination of a liberal Democratic Party - the path shown by Hitler or Stalin who
justified whatever actions they took. Common people - who have been suffering
from regular blockade of a violent political group – have been further compelled to
suffer from similar kinds of political programs called by Nepali Congress. On Monday
(January 17), Nepali Congress-led four agitating parties called a valley bandha giving
trouble to common people. Two years have already passed since the
Nepali Congress initiated the agitation but nothing has improved. Nepali Congress is
itself losing its demand for the restoration of democracy. Nepal has a five-decade-long experience of
running modern democratic government through periodic elections. There are institutions
like Supreme Court, legislative and executive to support the modern form of government.
The elections commission has already proved that it can hold the elections impartially. What Nepal needs now is politics of
moderation as well as the unity among the country’s major political forces to
overcome the present political crisis. Extremism will widen differences between political
forces. This is not in the interest of country and democracy. |
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