Democracy can’t march forward without the real and open participation of political parties

-Krishna Joshi, Litterateur, Kathmandu

Mr. Krishna Joshi is a former bureaucrat who served the nation for well over three decades. A retired Joshi is concurrently a renowned Nepali litterateur as well. He has several novels and poems to his credit. Some of his creations do create ripples in the hearts of youngsters as and when Radio Nepal broadcast his love-songs.

Not only this, Mr. Joshi has several books to his credit on the topic of Management studies. Mr. Joshi is a lyricist, a novelist, a poet and a social worker as well.

While in the government job, he was awarded a scholarship to study in Beirut for well over a year.

Mr. Joshi during the course of his stint in the bureaucracy has traveled to many districts of the country.

Last week, I approached this multi-faceted intellectual for an interview. Below the results: Chief editor.

TGQ1: What you Mr. Joshi say of the King? Is his stoic silence justifiable or otherwise? What is your comment?

Mr. Joshi: In the context of Nepal, monarchy is the symbol of our historical, cultural and national unity. The King, to me, has been playing the role for national development and trying to unify the nation which he has been saying on several occasions.

The role of the King in the present context also appears to me is directed towards the upliftment of all Nepalese citizens. He has expressed in his all-previous declarations that he will be a constructive monarch. The King is also our apex point and it is this factor that makes us to believe that the King must be believed. So the steps taken of late by the monarch should not be taken otherwise.

TGQ2: The agitation sponsored by five parliamentary parties is in its ninth-phase. How you rate their agitation? Your opinions please!

Mr. Joshi: The agitating parties, as you said, are in their ninth-phase. In a democratic system, no political parties could be neglected. This has already become a norm all over the world. Moreover, political parties’ voice the concerns of the people. Political parties, to me, through this agitation wish to seek their role and place in the society so as to safeguard the constitutional and the democratic order. Let’s not forget that political parties are the backbone of a democratic system. Democracy, as such, can’t march forward without the real and open participation of the political parties. Therefore, in order to establish a democratic state, the voices of the political parties must be provided due recognition and due consideration.

However, what is also important in this context is that the political parties must also not be party-centered. The people form parties’ and thus the parties’ should always dream of the overall development of the country and its people.

TGQ3: The Maoists are hell bent on their mission. The Old-Regime is up with the Unified Command against the New Regime. The laymen want solace from this conflict. What you say Mr. Joshi?

Mr. Joshi: The Maoists, to me, also were the sons of this soil. They are Nepali citizens as much as we claim for ourselves.

However, they must not continue the spree of killings of the innocent peoples and damaging the development infrastructures. Damaging the basics of the development are not the solutions and such acts can’t achieve their goals. Neither it could enhance good governance in the country.

Deconstruction always gives negative impact to the country and its people. NO political force could be sidelined in the democratic system. Therefore, we want to see the Maoists sitting on the negotiating table with the government.

I don’t think there are problems in the world which can’t be sorted out through negotiation sitting across the tables. Initiation of the process of dialogue could bring positive results.

TGQ4: Do you see any role of the third party, the UN for examples and the likes, in mediating the government-Maoists talks? Your comments please!

Mr. Joshi: The kinds of problems we are facing today were our problems exclusively. Nepalese are known all over the world as most patriotic persons. I don’t think our issues can’t be solved on our own. Our nation has contributed a lot in establishing peace in different parts of the globe. Our intellectuals, diplomats, the army and police personnel have done their best to manage peace in conflict prone zones of the world under the aegis of the United Nations. So I don’t think any third party mediation we need in order to settle our problems.

Maoists issue is our own issue. The issue we are facing at the moment is linked with our own socio-economic-political conditions and happenings. These problems differ from country to country. So do the methods or for that matter the approaches to solve the problems. I can not imagine that we will not be able to sort out this issue given seriousness prevails on both the sides..

TGQ5: Have you any thing more to add Mr. Joshi?

Mr. Joshi: The news of damage and killings has become a regular feature these days. It has to stop.

So let’s pray the Almighty that we are provided with only good news and not the otherwise. It’s enough. Enough is enough.

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