Expensive 'democracy' indeed!

No body knows how long the standoff in the parliament will continue. Equally true is the fact that no body in Nepal has yet been able to appraise the colossal losses that the nation has already incurred due to this unprecedented mess in the Nepalese parliament. By the same token, no body till to day has been able to tell as to what benefits the nation will bag in the aftermath of the Prime Minister yielding to the dictates of the opposition. In the similar vein no Nepali analyst has so far told the population of the profit that would accrue from a new personality who is supposed to replace the incumbent Prime Minister. Finally, we the people have been tentatively forced to understand by the opposition that the summary ouster of Prime Minister Koirala will drastically change the face of the marginalised lot and that his ouster from the current chair augur well for the nation and her beleaguered population. A vague proposition indeed. However, the fact is that change or no change, the plight of the people will continue to be the same. Whether it is Girija or Deuba or even Madhav, the grievances of the lay men will continue to be neglected and rejected as usual. It is not for the first time that the people of the nation have seen Koirala as their Prime Minister. In fact Koirala has ruled this nation in the recent years for quite some time and that too mercilessly. Equally authentic is the fact that Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai too ruled this nation. However, in his case the people could not feel his presence but instead some one else in his name ruled the nation. Likewise, Sher Bahadur Deuba too came with a big bang. How he ruled the nation for all along eighteen months is still vivid in people's minds. In effect, it was he who brought all the ills into the system and finally became the victim of his own party machinations.

Going back a bit further, the nation also witnessed the rule of communist Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari. Most unfortunately, it was not Premier Adhikari but some of his polit bureau members were ruling the nation on his behalf. Later came the two veterans of the former regime who ruled the nation but collapsed of their own weight.

Changing of the guards at the center might have benefited some close relatives of the Prime Ministers and the hangers on, no substantial change in effect could be felt at the level where the change should have brought real change that is in the life styles of those destitute who really need a change to come to their doorsteps. The fact is that it is this lot which is forced to listen to the change at the center every time and finally consoles with yet another change and the process of change or for that matter the demand for a change in the central leadership is mercilessly going on and on.

The irony of the fact is that such disgusting practices have already corroded the beauty of this system and the order has become the hostage of a few fanatics whom we the Nepalese voted and made them our representatives. Equally disturbing is the fact that it is these 205 lawmakers who have looted and exploited the people to the fullest extent. The fate of the Nepalese population is in the mercy of these lawmakers whose fate itself hangs in a balance at times. How funny is it that we have decided to surrender ourselves to those who by no means were superior to us. Equally shocking is the fact that those who preach us sermons were number one corrupts and have looted the nation even at times when they do not allow the parliament to do business. This applies to both who were in the treasury bench and the opposition camp as well.

Finally, we wish to listen from the opposition point wise of the benefits from the ouster of the incumbent Prime Minister to what they have been forcefully demanding since a month or so. The same question could also be asked to the Prime Minister that whether or not his arrogance and stubbornness pushing the nation to the precipice? What would be the harm if the opposition and the ruling Prime Minister devise a mechanism which satisfies the ego of the both rivals? What loss the opposition will have to bear if they resume the House? And what if the Prime Minister resigns in the name of the larger interest of the nation and the system as well?

The crux of the matter is that both the opposition and the ruling portion care less for the continuation and the very consolidation of the system. They both have made a laughingstock of the system. It is the people finally who will have to elect them yet again should Koirala wish to throw the nation to yet another snap polls whose chances can't be ruled out. If that does happen would mean that we have opted for an expensive order whose "'maintenance cost" perhaps this poor donor driven nation can not meet ultimately.

Only the Almighty knows when this nation will get rid of such immature leaders and will be replaced by a set that provide loving care to the system and its followers. Not in our life time perhaps!

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