Don’t prompt the King to act unconstitutionally

The UML, which paralyzed the proceedings of the nineteenth session of the Parliament for all along fifty-nine days and that too uninterrupted is teaching the countrymen the basics of democracy. The UML which basically believes in converting Nepal into a republican state is preaching the norms and the values of a democratic system to the national population. The UML which has always believed in terror-politics is now lecturing as to how democratic countries should proceed. The UML whose election agenda ever remained anti-Indian and the party which has become more Indian then the Indians now is providing sermons on how to practice non-aligned policy. The party which from day one of its inception demanded the 1950 treaty be made null and void suggesting that the said treaty were a black spot on the Nepali face now appears reluctant in talking about the treaty even in private fearing that the party might lose its foreign power base if the party went against the will of the neighboring country. The UML which won the first two general elections raising anti-India rhetoric now prefers not to talk about the inundation caused by the dams constructed by India close to the Nepali territories in the Western region fearing that an annoyed India might damage the prospects of the UML bou8ncing back to power. Thanks the UML this time knew as to why former Indian Ambassador Rajan came to Kathmandu and why he stayed here till he became sure that Surya Bahadur Thapa would be made the Prime Minister of the country. The elevation of Thapa as Nepal’s Prime Minister must have opened the eyes of the UML and the Congress plus the agitating five parties as to how Nepali politics proceed. Shame on us all.

The UML party which a couple of years back dared to send some of its energetic and militant cadres to observe for themselves the situation in the much publicized KALAPANI where the Indian military personnel are stationed for decades and decades and created furore against the stationing of the Indian security men in Nepali territory appears now to have forgotten the issue itself fearing what no body knows? The UML which yet clings to its republicanism goal has become number one advocator of parliamentary democracy for reasons known to the Almighty only. The party which supported the sacking of Deuba’s elected government took a volte face when the party’s leader was denied the coveted post of the nation’s prime ministership. The party and its leader who oppose tooth and nail the formation of Lokendra or for that matter the Thapa government under Article 127 very much wished to bag the bumper prize and exhibited visibly that if the King made its leader even using Article 127, the party and its leadership wouldn’t mind which got reflected from the fact that the letter sent to the Palace by Madhav Nepal as a consensus candidate of the five agitating parties did not mention whether he wished to be the prime minister of the country through the use of the Article 127 or 128? This perhaps explains the real motive behind the prolongation of the ongoing movement of the agitating parties. Furthermore, the party which claims that the King has committed blunders by derailing the constitution prefers the King to commit further more constitutional blunders when it suggests the King to revive the dissolved House whose dissolution has already been uphold by the nation’s apex court. Neither the King can do nor he is empowered to do so. Even if he does, he would do so at the cost of the court’s verdict which ultimately would send wrong signals to the people within and without that is sure to damage the very prestige and the popularity of the King. The King must adhere to the stipulations of the constitution or else he would be criticized by those who now prompt him to act unconstitutionally.

The Nepali congress which claims itself synonymous to democracy must not press the King to act unconstitutionally. If the King is pressed hard and acts their way might encourage the King to act unconstitutionally for it would have already set a precedence. Unconstitutional precedence is sure to disfigure the beauties of the constitution and the parliamentary processes. It is this point which have got to be understood by the political parties now in agitation.

The UML must not prompt the King to commit yet another constitutional blunder to correct the previous constitutional blunder. It would tantamount to ridiculing the constitution and the King in his several messages to the nation, through the speeches or from the media, has assured the nation that he would not exceed his constitutional limits. But then yet the King must find some solutions to the present impasse. He is thus advised to summon a sort of round table conference of the agitating political parties and others as well and seek their clear and unambiguous suggestions on how to proceed ahead so that the derailed constitution and the parliamentary process come to its original track. The suggestion thus coming from the agitating parties will act as a guideline to solve the Maoists imbroglio. If found necessary, the suggestions of the Maoists could also be thought of. In the larger interest of the nation, the parties, the King and the Maoists all have to come together. Or else the country is sure to go to the dogs.

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