Constitutional Monarchy & Hindu State:
By Shashi P.B.B. Malla
It is refreshing and encouraging that Nepal’s mainstream is slowly taking notice of the massive opposition against the present entrenched political system.
It is no use ignoring the only opposition against endemic corruption, downright incompetence and woeful governance.
The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP/National Democratic Party) has now become the vanguard of the people’s voice crying for urgent change.
In an interview with The Kathmandu Post, the RPP’s chairman Rajendra Lingden laid out the party’s political agenda (Dec. 11).
RPP’s Political Roadmap
Lingden made it clear to the Kathmandu Post’s Thira Lal Bhusal that the current political system is unsuitable for Nepal – metaphorically speaking, neither for the Nepali soil, nor the Nepali genius!
That is to say, the RPP rejects the entire constitutional paraphernalia – the so-called republic, federalism, secularism.
Not only the political system, even the current leadership is outdated and must be thrown out.
RPP’s vision is: ‘Democracy with Monarchy’.
If the current political establishment, is unwilling to reform a corrupt and dysfunctional system, it must face the consequences.
The RPP is willing and able to take to the streets and demonstrate “people’s power”.
Will Street Protests Suffice?
Journalist Bhusal was skeptical whether street protests could topple the current system.
However, Lingden, who already has garnered valuable experience organizing mass protests and demonstrations, was quote optimistic.
In the first phase, the party intends to run awareness campaigns for two months starting mid December to lay the groundwork for an uprising.
In the second phase, the RPP will organize hundreds of mass gatherings in all districts and local units.
In the next phase, the party will conduct a Mechi to Mahakali Tour.
Finally, some Kathmandu-centric demonstrations are contemplated.
Lingden is fully aware that it will be a difficult task, but he and his likeminded friends are confident that it is achievable.
Cooperation with Others
Lingden and the RPP are open to cooperation with other persons and groups – but with limitations.
They cannot accept extreme demands raised by some groups just because they have raised the issue of reinstating the monarchy. Lingden thus brushed off the party’s parliamentary chief whip Gyanendra Shahi’s participation in Durga Prasain’s Kathmandu protest as of no consequence.
Growing Support for Abolishing Secularism?
Lingden, of course, welcomes the growing voices against ‘secularism’, as such.
However, it is crystal clear to him that some political parties like the Nepali Congress are raising the issue of restoring the Hindu State not out of conviction, bur because this issue is becoming popular and could be used to secure votes – a purely electoral ploy.
Role of Former King Gyanendra
The RPP wants to restore Constitutional Monarchy and reinstate a king of all Nepalese, not only of the RPP.
Unlike the President of the Republic, who is a slave of the political party that installed him [ like all presidents of the present republic: Yadav, Bhandari and Poudyal ], the monarch would be an independent institution, not taking the side of a political party.
[ The republican president – in the Nepali context – is like the ‘three wise apes’ (in an inverted sense) : he sees no evil, he hears no evil, and he is not capable of speaking out against evil! ]
A monarch would be a genuine guardian of the country and a force for stability, that is above day-to-day politics.
Considering the dire state of the nation, King Gyanendra has been forthright in pointing out the plight of the people from time to time.
Lingden says that the former king is right in not commenting directly on the restoration of monarchy, nor should he participate directly in protests. It is enough that he stands ready to heed the call of the Nepali people to protect their sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
[However, former King Gyanendra cannot be an idle bystander when so much is at stake. He could, for example, address the gathering at key points during the landmark Mechi to Mahakali Campaign].
Reviving the 1990 Constitution?
Lingden is not in favour of reviving the 1990 Constitution. He does not want to take backward steps or maintain the current status quo. He is for making new arrangements.
This means amending the current Constitution regarding republicanism, secularism, and federalism as per the will of the people. Lingden did not express it explicitly, but he was hinting at a referendum, which was denied when the monarchy was abolished high-handedly.
Lingden was asked whether he favours ceremonial, cultural or constitutional monarchy. He logically chose the constitutional variety as the ceremonial and cultural aspects are part and parcel of limited monarchy – as in the United Kingdom – which has to function within the constraints of the Constitution.
As in the UK the rule of primogeniture will prevail, but without regard to gender.
Lingden also spoke out against retaining the provinces/states in a future political system as they have proved a hindrance to achieving development.
Resistance of the Mainstream Parties
Lingden conceded that once the RPP’s movement gains momentum there will be polarization between the forces of change and those of retrogression.
However, in spite of mistakes and failures in the past, the RPP looks forward to a favourable outcome.
External Interference
Lingden insisted that the RPP is a home-grown party.
The RPP does not seek the support of any external force – like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — to achieve its agenda.
Of course, it welcomes goodwill and will establish dialogue with well-wishers; but the RPP will constantly insist on non-interference.
Without Comment
The words of Pushpa Kamal Dahal, currently the ‘Don of Dons’, speak for themselves:
- His government “has effectively liberated thousands of individuals from the agony of centuries-old feudal oppression.”
- “The forces against the system are panicked.”
The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.com
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.
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