On/Off the Record
By P.R. Pradhan
From the beginning of the restoration of the multi-party democracy in 1990, we have been continuously alerting the “democratic” governments for their involvement in bad governance, irregularities, corruption, commission and other anomalies. Despite our continuous efforts for introducing democratic practices, every government formed either under the multiparty democracy or the present “loktantra” (the corrupt and anti-national leaders describe it as an offensive move), has ruined the country to a very miserable state.
Decades ago, when Girija Prasad Koirala had become the prime minister, our consultant editor M.R. Josse, criticizing the role of the political actors, had written many commentaries describing anomalies performed by the government in the name of democracy. He had coined a new quotation for the Nepali model of democracy, “of the politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians”.
US president Lincoln for the first time had defined democracy as “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Then Royal Nepal Airlines’ marketing director the late I.K. Pradhan wrote a series of articles on how the Koirala-led government intended to finish the existence of the national flag carrier, which was already flying to the European countries and Japan in the east. Lok Deep Thapa, the then The Rising Nepal chief editor, had written in his penname that if not checked perversion in the economic sector, one day, Nepalis will be compelled to pay thousands of rupees for a cup of tea, which was available at just five rupees during those days. Professor P. Kharel, the late Shrish Rana and many other columnists attempted to alert the governments against their mistakes but they didn’t listen to us and they were less bothered for correcting their mistakes. There is a saying among the Nepalis that the political parties will become leaderless if the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authorities and other corruption control bodies will initiate an impartial operation against corruption.
Social networks are full of remarks against the present political system. “It has become clear that the present loktantra was introduced to loot the nation by removing the institution of monarchy, not for making the nation”, the social network users have remarked.
The Maoist insurgency was the result of such anomalies created by the political parties. The Maoist “people’s war” was launched for an overhaul change in the country on the multiparty democracy. After the murder of above seventy thousand innocent Nepalis and the destruction of the physical infrastructures nationwide, the Maoists not only joined the peace process but also got the opportunity to rule the country. What change could commoners feel, it is open to us today. The Maoist leaders also followed the same path as other political parties. Now, Maoists have become the brothers of the Nepali Congress and UML. The Maoist leaders in the government are performing the very worst character.
From the time of the election of the constituent assembly and later proclamation of the 2015 constitution, we have been continuously advocating against federalism, republicanism and secularism. Still, we believe, this foreign-imposed political system is going to destroy Nepali identity, sovereignty and independence.
Foreigners wanted to introduce such an expensive political system with seven provincial governments — if possible, increasing it to 14 provinces – with the plan of destroying the Nepali economy. Today, it has been confirmed that the government is unable to pay back the instalment of the foreign loans, and the country’s revenue collection has declined superficially, therefore, it has started to cut down expenditure on different titles and raise domestic loans for managing the government expenditure. Still, those political leaders involved in daylight loot are advocating for the present political system.
Everybody’s bad economy and the helpless state of the nation have become the talks of the town, however, those party cadres are unable to speak against federalism, secularism and republicanism. Mainly, the present “loktantra” popularly known as “loot-tantra” is responsible for the present worst state of the nation.
We conclude that if the present political system will continue further, the country cannot sustain and remain a sovereign nation and we will be unable to save our Nepali identity.
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