Stop the Tamasha please!

All is not well with Nepal’s experiment with parliamentary scheme of things. It is altogether a different matter that the real villains for the current mess seen in the parliament are those who championed for the inaugural of this system during the early months of 1990. One is reminded of American scholar Samuel P. Huntington’s advance prediction that if the third wave democracies witness a reversal would be solely caused by those politicians who remained instrumental for the ushering in of this system. Corrupt practices, immoral behaviours and gross neglect of the people’s grievances by the leaders of the democratic order(s) might embolden some quarters for effecting out a reversal of democratic system was what in essence Huntington predicted some ten twenty years back.

Looking at our own scheme of things as it stands to day, what could be guessed that we have been facilitating or say preparing the grounds for such a reversal of the system now in place sooner or later. Undoubtedly, who will bring in such a reversal or will be told to do so is any body’s guess.

The present deadlock in which the Nepali parliament is in for well over five weeks or so could be seen in two ways: democratic and undemocratic as well. The opposition demand for a summary resignation of the "accused" Prime Minister in the procurement of the most infamous Lauda air deal is definitely a democratic one in the sense that in a democracy the people can demand and possess the right to demand such resignation through their representatives in the parliament. The opposition demand is rather fair and modest in the sense that if they do not do so as what they have been doing at the moment then it would set a very bad and ugly precedent in the future that will only embolden the would be Prime Ministers of this nation to go in for a loot-spree thinking that the position of the Premier will shield him or her from any frontal attacks from the opposition. What the opposition has been doing is perhaps within the boundaries of the norms and the procedures of the democratic system and processes. The opposition has the right to force the chief of the executive to yield to their dictates. Such practices abound in various democratic nations around the world and hence nothing to panic from the opposition’s demand and the procedures acquired by them for the ouster of the accused Prime Minister. However, one thing is clear. If the Prime Minister yields to the opposition demand would mean that Nepal’s leaders have come of age and would definitely send positive signals around the world. On moral grounds if the Prime Minister resigns, it would also facilitate the process of the fate of the latter which is hanging on a balance at the competent authorities that were probing into the matters of the Lauda air deal and the alleged involvement of the chief of the executive in the procurement of the said air.

The other side of the process acquired by the opposition is equally disgusting. It is unacceptable in the sense that the procedures adopted by the opposition , for example, if forces the Prime Minister to resign under threat or duress would mean that the future Prime Ministers of this nation will have to beg for the mercy of the opposition. The position of the chief of the executive would then remain intact only if the opposition so demanded or desired. Any minor difference in between the opposition and the ruling Prime Minister will could sow the seeds of the threats of the sorts wherein Koirala is at the moment now. This notwithstanding, the Prime Minister too has his rights. He is the Prime Minister and commands majority in the parliament. If threats become the norm for seeking the ouster of an elected Prime Minister commanding majority in the parliament then the whole democratic process will go to the dogs. The system will thus crumble under its own weight. If the opposition possesses the right to threaten the Prime minister then the latter too possesses a right not to resign for obvious reasons. Several constitutional processes still were under the sleeves of the opposition, which could be tried for the forced resignation of the Premier. For example by summoning a special session of the parliament and moving the most popular move of no confidence. However, in our case this is not forthcoming. This is surprising indeed.

The current mess in the parliament is a kind of show of ego currently being displayed by the two warring rivals that is the opposition and the ruling party headed by Koirala himself. This unwarranted tussle bodes ill for the entire nation undoubtedly. The majority of the national population has become tired of this mess. A mechanism that allows this stalemate a safe landing is the need of the day. How it has to be done the warring parties well inside the parliament understand better.

The declaration, however, of yet another mid term polls could in no way be a solution to the current impasse. Or else this democracy would be considered an expensive one that might send negative signals about the system itself. The message should be loud and clear.

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