Who should be held responsible?

Who is to be blamed for the overall calamity that has gripped the country over a decade or so? Who should be penalized for the anarchy that the country has been forced to witness over these years? Are the political leaders, the radicals or for that matter the constitutional monarchy be blamed for all that have been perennially ailing the nation? These were some pertinent questions that demand answers from those who knowingly or unknowingly pushed the nation to this state. Inquiry could also be directed towards the namesake civil society as to what these "pressure-groups" did to avert the national crisis wherein the country is in at the moment?

The political parties are to be blamed to a large extent for the country's present sickness for they concluded and exhibited through their foul deeds that national interests came only after their party's interests. In doing so the political parties even twisted the constitution they drafted to go well with their political or at times individual interests. In the process the constitution suffered tremendously which facilitated the political parties in power to interpret the constitution in a manner they preferred. The people's genuine issues were either shelved for good or were accorded less significance thus leaving the people to deduce that the system of governance were neither feasible nor desirable for this country. One of the best systems in the world was provided a very bad name in Nepal. The system was made defunct to the extent that majority of the population developed a sense of distaste for the existing democratic order. A fault not of the system but those who discolored its worldwide prestigious image.

The rebels too must be held responsible for all what they did over these years. The manner they mercilessly devastated the developmental projects of the country here and there and created a sense of fear among the lay men too has to a greater extent brought the country to this state. The Maoists can't escape from charges. One wonders as to what political gains they bagged from the demolition of bridges, repetition stations, office buildings and electrical installations in the countryside and elsewhere? Prior to coming heavily down on the national assets the rebels should have thought that the properties being damaged belonged to them as well being the citizens of the same soil. In the process, the Maoists have weakened their own bases in the areas where they have demonstrated their negative valor. If this process continues for long then it would be no wonder that the lay men who were considerate towards their cause might develop a sort of hatred against the insurgency as well. Any political party that claims that violence and terror tactics and the bundhs in series and the regular blockades were aimed at uplifting the causes of the poor and the low-paid workers in the factories should understand that in doing so they were hitting hard the earnings of the poor as bundhs and blockades in no way going to serve the interests of those for whom the insurgency claims to have been working so far.

The King too can't escape the blame for the deterioration of the country's situation. With due respect and honor to the constitutional monarch what we would wish to inform Him that what he did Monday evening should have been done some two years ago. The process initiated by the monarch this Monday if were held some years ago would have tentatively brought the situation of the country back to normal. However, this did not happen for reasons better known to the monarch only. The King should have thought well after he sacked the Deuba government that his quiet diplomacy and his regular interactions with the political parties would have yielded better and positive results for the country. However, he did not do so for unknown reasons. Nevertheless, monarch's Monday meet with the ruling coalition in government will definitely send positive signals into the Maoists' court.

All put together, it is the political parties, the leaders, the Maoists, the successive governments formed after October 4, 2002, and the King all contributed to the deterioration of the situation in the country. They can't escape from the charges.

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