5 Questions
My presence this week in Biratnagar encouraged me to
invite timely comments from the local intellectuals for this week’s 5 Questions
column. In the process, I met one political scientist, some English language veterans,
management expert and finally one politician belonging to the UML fold.
In doing so, I think I’ve done justice to the Biratnagar intellectuals who remain
ever ignored by the so-called Nepal’s "democratic press". Those who have
offered their comments on quick notice deserve deep appreciation. I hope that the
observations made by the local literati will be appreciated by the regular readers of the
Telegraph within and without. Below the results: Chief editor.
Nepali economy can’t withstand such bundhs’
Dev Raj Shrestha, Chief, Management Campus, Purwanchal
University,Biratnagar
TGQ1: As a responsible citizen of the country, how
you think of Nepal Bandhs? Can a country like Nepal and its meagre economy withstand such
regular bandhs?
The regular Nepal bandh program perhaps is one of the most undesired and unfortunate
events that the Nepalese people have of late been force to endure. Otherwise who knows
what would happen to those who do not comply with the dictates of the bundh sponsors.
Things may depend on the mercy of the organizer. At this point it seems difficult to
assess the role of the concerned body. Also the value of such a bandh depend on how
positively the concerned body takes it.
It seems the bandhs are conducted largely at the cost of
common people’s interests. The bandhs may have their origin from the politically
unsatisfied minds. They should, however, think from the perspectives of the common people.
The bandh is only serving one-way communication; the organizers call for the bandhs, the
people comply with that. The politics of bundhs’ must also think on how to boost the
socio-economic conditions of Nepalese people in general. Nepal and its meagre economy in
no way can withstand such regular bandhs. This may be equally applicable to other
economies as well. A day’s bandh means a total bandh in the overall economic
activities of all productive organizations, working people as well as entrepreneurs.
Indirectly there may be several thousands of people involved in that loss. The total
effects are well reflected in the budgetary performance of government in terms of
development and welfare works. In a nutshell, the bundh should not be only for bundh. It
should not be
fashion like and a primary tool to exercise or show one’s influence. There may be
alternatives to these bandhs. It is necessary to secure voluntary participation of people
in such bandhs. It is now, high time to rethink and assess the usefulness and
effectiveness of such bandhs.
Army deployment may cause reverse result
Bishwa Raj Pandey, Reader, Department of English, M.M. A Campus,
Biratnagar
TGQ2: Should the military be deployed to contain the ever-growing threat of
the Maoists? What do you think of the option-dialogue?
Deployment of military to contain the ever-growing threat of the Maoists may
cause a reverse result. There is a likelihood of more tense situation throughout the
country. It can bring the atmosphere of civil-war or the opportunity for terrorism which
will be a great misfortune to all Nepalese, irrespective of any place or profession.
Therefore, the deployment of military to tone down the Maoists should never be done. It is
sure to jeopardize the whole country. Surely, in such context option-dialogue seems to be
befitting in accordance with time and situation. Maoists in Nepal are "dissatisfied
politicians".
Such politicians are to be invited for political dialogues rather than suppression by
military deployment.
The bundhs’ wouldn’t be costly for society
Ramesh Poudel, Mayor, Biratnagar Sub-metropolitan city, Biratnagar
TGQ3: How your party, Mr. Mayor, could justify the three day Nepal Bundh in
series that is sure to paralyze the whole nation both politically and economically?
Don’t forget the fact that you are not only a party activist but the head of a town
that is the economic base of the nation?
As a responsible opposition, my party, these days is fighting
against increased corruption, deteriorating economic condition, increased unemployment,
violence and insecurity. The main focus is against all type of corruption at least at the
topmost policy level.
The nation, these days is in a position of always undeclared bundh. It is not sure that
when that scenario will be changed. So this three days bundh is for the shake of warrnaty
for never bundh.
Biratnagar , due to lack of proper decentralization policy and government attitude seem to
be always bundh. So I don’t think that it wouldn’t be too costly for the whole
society. Let us hope that the movement will create an healthy environment for economic
prosperity based on social justice and
trasparent policy decision making leadership for the benefit of the Nepalese people.
King should advise the present day leaders
Jiveshwar Lakhey, Reader, Mahendra Morang Campus, Biratnagar
TGQ4: What you think of the role of the Constitutional monarch in handling
the present chaotic situation. Should he intervene or let the things go as it is?
At the outset I would like to state that the present problem is the result of our
past blunders or our efforts to find out the short-sighted solutions to tackle the serious
situations. We never cast upon
the goal of the distant future and the larger objectives. We always went for immediate
gains. It is the duty of the Chief of the Executive to come with proposals acceptable to
all in the larger interest of the country and the people.
Statesmen should always, it is said, think of future generation, not of the next election.
If situation so demanded all should be prepared to have even certain novel amendments in
the constitution. A constitution stands for the people and not the people for the
constitution. So keeping his constitutional position in consideration, His Majesty the
King should advise all quarters to have proper solutions failing which history will take
its own natural course whatever may be its consequences. Read the writings on
the wall.
Civil society must try democratizing policy procedures
Rajendra Prasad Gupta, Reader, Mahendra Morang Campus, Biratnagar
TGQ5: Nepal has become already unstable politically. What the "civil
society" should do from its part to press the establishment and the opposition so
that the nation takes a smooth course?
The present political scenario is the result of the lack of
political foresight in the political parties in general and among the leaders in
particular. The advent of democracy in 2007 BS brought many hopes
to the uneducated but conscious people of Nepal. The 2017 BS setback came so suddenly that
even the political leaders became paralyzed. The three decades of the dark Panchayat
brought the pleasant memories of the eighteen-month of democracy afresh to arouse the
people as a whole to revive the parliamentary democracy. The success brought a dazzling
morning, but it was so bright that it blinded the leaders. The unstable political
situation is because of the blindfolded moves, plans and policies of the political parties
and the governments. Democracy needs and allows criticism for which the critical
sense is required. But the people have not been allowed to develop critical approach to
introduce real development that can strengthen the system and consolidate stability.
The "civil society" should think of this and make
the people aware of the political activities that cause instability. Besides, stability of
a democratic system depends on the democratization of the policy-making procedure, which
has never been thought of by any of the governments since
the revival of democracy. Policy making procedure can be democratized by making the people
aware and conscious politically. Hence the civil society, the treasury and the opposition
benches must think of training the people politically to democratize the policy making
procedure to help the country get stability. |
