Man Of Several Incarnations
The CPN-UML firebrand leader Bamdev Gautam is a man of mysterious character
By KESHAB POUDEL
Like all other extremist Stalinist leaders, the standing committee member of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Bamdev Gautam, too, has certain unique character in Nepalese politics. From raising extreme nationalist slogans to anti-democratic and from anti-monarchist and pro-democratic to pro-monarchist, Gautam – who split the party on the ground of his party’s decision to back Mahakali Treaty in 1996 – has worn different hats at different times.
Following his party’s decision proposed by general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to support Mahakali Integrated Treaty, Gautam and his ilk including present Minister for Education Radha Krishna Mainali broke the CPN-UML and floated a new party called CPN-ML.
The CPN-UML general secretary Nepal had then blamed Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka for all the conspiracy (leading to the split of the party). Gautam who led the CPN-ML as its general secretary for a couple of years re-entered his mother party again.
During the infamous Hr ithik Roshan episode in 2001, Gautam played a key role to fan the anti-Indian riots. In the last fourteen years, Gautam led all the anti-Indian movements including March to Kalapani, a disputed border area between Nepal-India. Although Gautam took extreme anti-Indian stand, his efforts did not safeguard Nepal ’s own interest. From Kalapani to Laxmanpur Barrage and Khudalotan embankment, there continues to exist problems. Gautam’s extremism did not last long.
As soon as his party formed minority government in 1995, Gautam had declared that he would bury the Monarchy, Nepali Congress and other political forces in a same pit.
Whatever actions and reactions Gautam has made, he seems to be blue boy to all. The way CPN-UML leader Gautam was treated by Indian officials and Indian leaders last week when he traveled to New Delhi is an example. When his comrade Jhalnath Khanal – who is considered to be moderate and persuasive - was stopped by Nepalese police at Tribhuwan International Airport when he tried to travel to New Delhi ; Gautam managed to cross the border.
Interestingly, former deputy prime minister and home minister Gautam – who is accused of rigging the local elections though the coalition government formed under the prime minister of RPP leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand, was able to enter India by bus.
As soon as Gautam entered into India , Indian comrades and other politicians seemed to have forgotten about his past posture as a diehard anti-Indian leader. Gautam met leaders of Indian communist party and former prime minister I. K. Gujral and others during his stay in India .
Gautam – who is known as a strong leader in the party – was also diehard opponent of Nepali Congress and its leader Girija Prasad Koirala. In recent past, he has already warmed up to NC. For some present brand of Royalists, Gautam is still counter balance to Nepali Congress as he was nationalist for them till few years ago.
After his visit to India , Gautam has now declared that the Constituent Assembly is not an exclusive demand of Maoist. “Constituent Assembly is our demand now and CPN-Maoist does not have any monopoly over it,” declared Gautam at a recent meet the press program. “Country’s political solution can find the way out only through a constitution drafted by Constituent Assembly,” he thundered.
Gautam played a role of dissident group within UML for a long period of time but he has switched to the pro-camp now. In his several incarnations as a politician, Gautam’s own achievement is that he is still trusted by all. What a quality.
It is surprising to see how easily a person with extreme stand can be accepted as a friend by all his enemies including officials of Nepal ’s southern neighbors.
One of the enduring qualities of Gautam is that he is a person with actions and he does not read and write like his other comrades in the party.
