By Sharachchandra Bhandary
Kathmandu, 8 July: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s statement at a recent book launch event has become controversial to the extent of disrupting Parliament. The main opposition party CPN-UML has demanded his resignation for the same reason and have halted the proceedings of the both houses of Parliament. There are varieties of ways of protesting for the opposition, it is quite irresponsible act to obstruct the Parliament
Prime Minister Dahal while showing his closeness and affection with the author of the book revealed that the author “went to Delhi several times” to “make him the Prime Minister”. From this statement of his, it seems that the meaning that ‘India makes the Prime Minister of Nepal’ comes out, and controversy and opposition have been raised.
Prime Minister Dahal’s intention may not be exactly the same. The official interpretation of the meaning of his expression is the same as he has clarified. However, the sense conveyed by the expression is equally important. Therefore, it is natural that there is a controversy in Prime Minister Dahal’s statement.
In reality, that controversial statement of Prime Minister Dahal is ‘politically incorrect’. At least a person in the position of Prime Minister should not have publicly revealed the ‘secret’ that should be disclosed only through private conversations or memoirs.
As a person, if Pushpa Kamal Dahal had exposed the bitter reality of Nepal’s politics, it would not have been a subject of objection. But, now Dahal is the chief executive of the country. Therefore, he is not allowed to make any ‘politically incorrect’ statements. The demand that the prime minister should not become irresponsible cannot be called injustice. However, this does not seem to be a ‘crime’ to the extent that Prime Minister Dahal has to resign. Also, it cannot be justified to obstruct the parliament and encircle the government. There are countless other issues related to people’s problems to bring the government to court.
Almost all party leaders including Prime Minister Dahal have been accusing India of interfering in Nepal’s politics. This time, Dahal spoke as if he had Indian support to become the prime minister. There is no reason to make a fuss about this. In this context, a part of the hypocrisy of Nepali political leaders has also been exposed. They say whatever they like, but think others’ such statements offensive and irresponsible. This hypocrisy in the collective subconscious of the Nepali society has now been revealed again.
Unfortunately, due to the opposition to Prime Minister Dahal’s lighter-vein statement, the parliament was not allowed to proceed, and the ordinance regarding the victims of usury became null and void. The government is also to blame for this, but the opposition gets most of the blame. Isn’t this protest to block that ordinance?
Despite the sit-in in Kathmandu for months, the poor victims of urury have been ignored. Seeing that both the government and the Prliament seem indifferent to their problems and both ‘together’ appear to halt the ordinance, doubts automatically arise about their intentions.
Therefore, Prime Minister Dahal himself should take steps to clear this mess that he has caused by adopting measures such as an apology and an explanation in Parliament. In addition, it would be justified to negotiate with them and proceed to break up the sit-in by ensuring the legal system for the victims of usury. The Prime Minister does not have the facility to slip !
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