By L.D. Pulami
There is no doubt that the nation is facing dire problems not only politically but also socially and communally. But as the nation seems to be guided mostly by politicians, it is distressing to see the political parties themselves in a divided condition.
The common people enthusiastically supported the parties when they initiated the move to re-establish multi-party democracy in the nation. But right in the beginning, when multi-party democracy was first introduced in the country way back in the Nineteen Fifties after the overthrow of the dictatorial Rana rule, it was seen that this system did not suit this Himalayan country.
Internal rifts in the parties, division among the leaders, and their inability to rule the nation properly forced the hand of the then King Mahendra to oust the parties and head the government himself in 2917 BS after ten years of political chaos. It can be said that after the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah who united tiny principalities to make present-day modern Nepal, only the late King Mahendra had the vision and farsightedness for the development of this country and also save its independence and national integrity.
Exactly like after 2007 BS the nation and the people have been seeing only corruption and political uncertainty after the re-establishment of multiparty democracy and the present lot of leaders coming to power.
Once more, we are seeing political parties being fragmented and leaders, including the present prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, involved in corrupt practices and not doing much for the development of the country. It is a bitter fact that while thousands of youths, both skilled and unskilled, are leaving the country each day for better opportunities abroad, we have only liars, thugs, and corrupt people as leaders of the major political parties. It is no surprise that the majority of the people are frustrated with the present system, though they enthusiastically participated in the different uprisings for political change. The corrupt leaders and bureaucrats must be held accountable for this situation. Meanwhile, outside powers are happy to see a divided Nepal, as it makes it easier for them to interfere in this once peaceful and harmonious country.
Right now, the biggest political party, the Nepali Congress, is divided into many factions; the communists, like in the past, are also divided, no matter how much they talk of Leftist unity. It can be said literally that many of the top leaders are virtually slaves of foreign powers, and the so-called Maoists led by present prime minister Dahal, are also not above the same blame we give to other parties.
A lot of talk is also made about how the second generation of youth leaders can rule better, but this is also just a pipe dream, as they are no better than the present leaders who are guiding the majority of the top political parties. It is nothing abnormal that the top leaders of the political parties have been attacked by frustrated individuals on different occasions. The latest victims were former prime minister and leader of the main opposition party, the CPN (UML) K.P. Oli, who was attacked by an irate individual in Dhankuta of Eastern Nepal and upstart journalist turned politician Ravi Lamichhane who was hit by a corn cob while addressing a function in Pokhara of Western Nepal. The people are fed up with the politicians who only make false promises. The present prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former prime ministers Jhala Nath Khanal, Baburam Bhattarai, Sushil Koirala and present deputy prime minister Purna Bahadur Khadka have also been attacked. Meanwhile, both Oli and Lamichhane are talking about ‘Mission 84’, which means the election that will take place in the Nepali year of 2084. It has been just about one year since general elections were held in the country, but they are talking about winning the election to be held in 84. Isn’t this just greed for power? Furthermore, Nepal just can’t stay stagnant for four more years before it sees change and development and the people get some relief from the hardships they are facing now.
Forget the plight of the daily wage earners; it has become difficult for even those with steady salaries to make ends meet. As mentioned by this writer one week back, only the crooked politicians, bureaucrats and such people are getting richer, while the poor are getting poorer. Getting good health care and better education for their children has gone outside their grasp. Thus they need the attention of the government and the authorities fast to get out of their struggle to lead a comfortable life. But no, the politicians and bureaucrats seem only interested in making more money, staying in power getting better perks and going on foreign tours.
There seems to be no better hope from the so-called younger generations of political leaders as well. After all, they were recruited and trained by these same old leaders who are in power now. Starting from the late Girija Prasad Koirala, all the leaders in the main parties want to stay on at the top till they die. Can one imagine present prime minister Dahal, former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba or K.P. Oli stepping down from their positions in their respective parties and paving the path for a newer generation to take over? No. These people have not only destroyed their own parties but also sold the nation and taught others to follow a crooked and corrupt path, not caring whether the people suffer or not.
What the country needs now is real change, not only superficial political upheavals as per the scheme of outside powers who only want to chide Nepal’s bigger neighbor China which is their major target. We cannot expect any such miracles from the present political parties and leaders, perhaps a time has come for the country to get a real strong and patriotic leader who will not only keep intact the country’s independence but also listen to the majority of the people’s woes and take care of their problems.
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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