Political parties must trust King Gyanendra’s commitment to democracy

Banbari Lal Mittal

I beg to differ with the general analyses being provided by a set of select people as regards the Nepali revolutions that have taken place in the country at different intervals of time and its impact on the average people.

My contention has been that since the previous revolutions, or whatever it was, be it of the 2007, 2046, could only benefit a select group of urban elite or to those who have had already a exposure in the political circle and hence the revolutions as such remained meaningless for the lay men. However, what in effect happened is that the political leaders or the urban elite did provoke the aspirations of the people at times of the revolution which in real sense of the term were met with after they assumed power. The people were denied the fulfillment of their legitimate demands and aspirations which meant that the fruits of development did not approach to the doors of those who really meant it.

Cleverly enough, those who have had not yet been a part of the revolutions, for example, the Dalits, the Tharus, the Magars and etc. were very tactfully brought to the fold of the Maoists. The Maoists penetrated into those areas where neither the government nor the politicians had entered to offer solace to the men belonging to those neglected and rejected areas. These areas certainly lacked the basics that are demanded in a humane society: education, health, transport and on top of that the prevalence of extreme poverty ruled the roost. It was only but natural that when the people of those areas were denied their basics, they have had to make a choice and they opted for aligning with the Maoists.

The fact is that the Maoists cashed on in the government’s incompetence and the politician’s betrayal towards the people living in those areas.

To me, the Maoists phenomenon is a philosophical struggle. Their ideology demands the capture of state through the use of armed struggle. Unless the society and the state make effort in bringing about a shift in their ideological stance, as it was the case with the present day, UML some decades ago, the Maoists will not abandon their continuing struggle. It should be the bounden duty of the State to convince the Maoists that they too were the sons of the same soil and hence their fate too had been tied up with the fate of the state itself.

My humble suggestion to the Maoists. Please opt for a "peaceful-struggle" and address the people’s pressing concerns and if they are convinced, they will certainly, take it for granted, vote for you. This the government also tell the Maoists at times of the next talks. As a peaceloving citizen, I wish that the Maoists and the government patch-up their political differences through the means of a dialogue. What else I can suggest the two who are now at their daggers drawn?

Equally true is that the Maoists entered the jungles when they concluded that their demands will not be heard by the men handling this system. They had pushed their demands for its redressal when Deuba was the Prime Minister, I recall. Things would have been different if the then government had listened to their genuine demands. The system should listen to their demands.

Regarding the tussle in between the King and the political parties, well I wish to differ with the latter when they say that the King’s words and deeds differ. The fact is that the politicians are on record to have been changing their political stances as and when they wish that such double-tongued talks benefited them most. It is not the King to be blamed but the political leaders. Nevertheless, the fact is also that the King can’t hold power for long. We have to agree when the King speaks repeatedly that his commitments towards the system and the country remain solid as the Himalayas.

I am puzzled some times to see the behavior of the political parties. Instead of clamoring and exhibiting disgusting lust for power, they should have one-point agenda and that agenda being of "peace and development". However, this is not forthcoming.

To me, election to the parliament could be a single and sole solution to the current constitutional crisis. Let’s prepare ourselves to listen to people’s mind. The people, the final judges in any system, must be allowed to vote without fear and fraud. The leaders would do well if they face the elections.

I, for one, who is attached with the business community, think that we the men involved in this sector too need to bring about a change in our own traditional pattern of thinking. Mind you, we are living in a world that is of Market economy, the WTO, the SAFTA and more recently have joined the BIMST-EC. Our concepts should be clear enough to embrace the changing patterns in the globe.

We the Nepalese are capable enough. Let’s embrace competition and march ahead to compete the market with our quality products. Nepalese capabilities are at par excellence. Nothing to panic. Look at how we provided a new touch to the Tibetan carpet item. With effecting certain changes in the materials, we virtually captured world market in this special item. So could be said of the Nepali PASHMINA. The idea of Silk combination, exclusively a Nepali brain indeed, has made the world over the Nepali Pashmina famous. This should mean that Nepali brains are simply superb. At best, it has yet not been honored.

For example, rafting, trekking and the likes were our own genuine ideas. Not a borrowed or even a copied ones.

However, we have defects as well. The credibility factor is very low. We at times compromise on quality to make more money. On top of that, we, sorry to say, don’t value good-will.

To conclude, let me reiterate that a nation’s development depends on the very integrity and commitments of their leaders. If Haryana, India, can tactfully use the cheap labor from Bihar to enhance its prosperity, why we can’t copy such tricks..

If Nepal were to develop, we must concentrate on the following: need a strong leadership; massive investment in infrastructure building which we lack and march forward in providing quality education. Education, even if it were costly, should not make any difference, must be a quality one so that our sons and daughters can compete their foreign counterparts in any sector.

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