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Search For Points Of Agreement
Vice Chairman Dr. Giri calls all political forces to search for points of agreement to end the political stalemate
By KESHAB POUDEL
Although he has a reputation of being a hardliner politician of erstwhile Panchayat days and reportedly a man of rigid ideology in the present cabinet, vice chairman of the Council of Minister Dr. Tulsi Giri’s recent press meet, however, began with a tone of reconciliation.
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| Dr. Giri : Laying down points of unity |
“There are areas of agreement and disagreement between the monarchists and democrats. The time is very crucial now to find areas of agreement sidelining the areas of disagreement,” said Dr. Giri, who was in his 30s when he was established as a powerful politician in Nepalese politics. “Can't we find the areas of agreement?” he asked. “If five political parties can come together, why can't they do the same thing with the monarch?”
Vice chairman Dr. Giri’s – who worked as a foreign minister in B.P. Koirala’s cabinet and later was appointed first vice-chairman following the dismissal of Koirala’s government in 1960 - one and a half hour long press meet was full of excitement as he used all kinds of political jargons. In fluent Nepali, Hindi and English, Dr. Giri explained the present state of politics emphasizing the need for unity between the monarchy and the political forces.
Proposing the four tentative points of agreement - on war on terrorism, reform in bureaucracy, transparency in fiscal arrangement and humanly possible anti-corruption drive - Dr Giri stressed the need to overcome the areas of disagreement. “There are areas of disagreement among us but the country’s ongoing situation demands us to concentrate on the areas of agreement,” Giri said. “We can discuss our areas of disagreement after we reach preliminary agreement.”
Showing the sign of retreat on certain issues, vice chairman Dr. Giri also offered a fresh look on all issues including corruption. “We can forget the past to begin a new chapter of politics of agreement,” said Dr. Giri, who himself was victimized in a major carpet corruption scandal in 1978.
The 78-year-old Dr. Giri - who resigned as a prime minister in 1977 - at the age of 50, appeared more mature politically this time. Although he was blunt and straightforward in his replies, Dr. Giri was clear headed on the issue of terrorism.
“Give any name to rose, if it smells rose, it is rose. Terrorism is terrorism whatever its manifestations. Whether it is Nepalese Maoists, Indian Naxalites, LTTE of Sri Lanka, Lashkar-e-Toiba or Al Qaeda, they are the same,” said Dr. Giri laying down his stand on terrorism. He criticized the previous prime minister for sharing dais with Maoists leaders and agreeing to limit the mobility of Royal Nepalese Army in five kilometers. “There is no question to start dialogue as long as they hold the guns. The state has already shown maximum flexibility. If they want negotiations, they must give up arms,” said Dr. Giri. Unlike his senior colleague and another vice chairman Kirti Nidhi Bista who - in the past - had even hailed Maoists as being nationalist and pro poor, Dr. Giri seemed clear regarding the forms of terrorism. “Terrorists have no political or social goals."
Replying to a query regarding India’s role, Dr. Giri said, "India is aware of the presence of Nepalese Maoists in its territory,” said Dr. Giri, who did MBBS from Darbhanga Medical College in Bihar. "The Maoists have links with the LTTE, People’s War Group and Naxalites. How can India be oblivious of this?”
Addressing a jam packed crowd of journalists and flanked by his colleagues including another vice chairman Kirti Nidhi Bista, Minister for Information and Communication Tanka Dhakal and other senior officials of the government including Royal Nepalese Army’s senior officers, Dr. Giri began his press conference asking all political leaders to discuss on points of unity.
He also coined words like “robot and remote control” describing the developments of political situation in Nepal. “As a human being, we must be free to think and express but I observe politicians, journalists and all of us appear remote controlled,” said Dr. Giri.
Pointing the state of emergency as temporary measure targeted against the terrorists, Dr. Giri requested political leaders to explore points of agreement. “If they don’t want to talk with me, they can do with Kirtibabu. Once we outline the points of agreement, then only it is useful to meet with the King.”
However, before Giri made his remarks, his own cabinet colleague Minister Dhakal spent half an hour raising areas of disagreements and widening the gap between the monarch and organized political forces.
Whatever vice-chairman Dr. Giri said, it is indeed a Herculean task now to bridge the relations between the monarch and the organized political forces of divergent opinions.
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