By P.R. Pradhan
There is a popular saying in Nepali, “Kahi Nbhayeko Jatra Hadigaunma” (Nowhere is the festival alike at Handigaun”. Accordingly, there is another saying, “Kaamkuro Ekatira Kumlo Boki Thimitira” “Going to Thimi with luggage when the job is elsewhere”. These sayings can be applied to the present activities of the political leaders in the country. Instead of fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges created by the pandemic, leaders in the ruling Nepal Communist Party and the main opposition Nepali Congress are fighting against each other within their own parties to secure their political positions. Neither they have time to listen to the health experts’ suggestions, nor are they doing anything to help those helpless people! It seems, they lack a sense of humanity as if they wish to let the people die!
The tug of war in the ruling party started since 20 April – after issuance of an ordinance related to split of the political parties – took the party on the verge of a split, and now, there is an interval along with the end of the Standing Committee meeting with an agreement in sharing power between the chairmen duo. In the last six months, not a single meeting was called by the ruling party to discuss on developing strategies to cope with the deadly virus, which has very badly affected all the sectors along with virtually halting all economic activities. All sections of people have been very badly affected and those low-income group people who were surviving on daily wages works are facing hand-to-mouth problem as they were compelled to stay at home due to the prolonged lockdown and prohibitory orders.
In a multiparty democracy, opposition parties’ role is important. It can put pressure on the government to take the right course. None of the political parties, including the main opposition party Nepali Congress is found serious about the present situation in the country. Talking about the main opposition party, the anti-establishment group has warned to stage fast onto death if the party president will not respond to its demand. It is really funny to watch the tug-of-war at the party for securing their political influence at the time of the pandemic.
The self-centred and octogenarian people have captured the political parties with the wish of taking the last breath while hanging on power. They all are on self-quarantine with the fear of the coronavirus infection. They believe, there left only some years for them, therefore, they are in a hurry to loot the nation as much as possible before their departure. They are thinking about a financially secured future of their family members. A true leader never thinks about their personal and family’s future and benefits, he always thinks about the nation and the people. Contradictorily, in Nepal, leaders of the day have not wished to dedicate their lives for the country and the people, instead, they are keen to contribute to their own family members and closed relatives. Comedians Madankrishna and Haribansha have composed a satiric lyric “Oh God! You gave everything to us, why you forgot to give a good leader!”. Indeed, we lack good leaders, and thus, we have become the sufferers.
At present, those cunning people, mostly from poor class, having a history of the struggle on behalf of the poor people, have been empowered. When they came to the power, they started to enjoy a luxury lifestyle by keeping other poor people permanently poor. They criticized the monarchs as a feudal, the reality is that King Birendra was found sleeping in an ordinary bed, whereas, revolutionary leader Pushpakamal Dahal was found sleeping in a highly expensive bed. Businessman Basant Chaudhary has commented that he didn’t see any branded or expensive watches on the Nepali monarchs’ hands but he is surprised to see revolutionary leaders in branded watches and clothes! He has questioned the revolutionary leaders’ capacity for purchasing such branded items.
Now, it is not a hidden fact that the Nepali monarchs struggled hard and contributed a lot for the nation and the people compared to those revolutionary leaders. Unfortunately, the people’s movement 1 and 2 empowered bad guys in politics. They all tried to act like a king with a lavish lifestyle but they didn’t try to follow simplicity that the kings had maintained and they didn’t try to follow the kings’ footprints. We lost one king — that too always dedicated to the nation — instead, we got hundreds of people acting as more than the king!
People’s Review Print Edition
Login to add a comment