By Ankit Thapa
There are critics, experts, and commentators who frequently appear on interview programs, mostly blaming the old political parties for the disturbing developments that have taken place in different parts of the country. They may be right, but there is no doubt that many NGOs, INGOs, and even foreign powers have also played a crucial role in sparking the tensions that have virtually ignited a religious conflict. Some scholars even blame India’s clandestine intelligence agencies for being involved in instigating certain local political leaders.
Any form of religious conflict was once unheard of in Nepal, where people of different faiths lived peacefully and respected one another regardless of their religion. Yes, caste discrimination existed in the past and, to some extent, still exists today. However, hardly anyone imagined that Nepal would one day witness religious conflict.
For example, Christians were warmly welcomed and were free to practice their religion wherever they wished. Schools such as St. Xavier’s and St. Mary’s, besides providing quality education, also taught aspects of Christianity not only to their students but also to people living in the surrounding communities.
Even today, there are two large mosques located in prime areas of Kathmandu, and Muslims are completely free to offer their Friday prayers without any disturbance. Similarly, Hindu communities have long respected Buddhism, which is perhaps why statues of Lord Buddha can be found in many Hindu temples. This is why the author believes that Nepal was once a peaceful and harmonious country where people respected one another without being divided by communal or religious beliefs.
The disturbing reality is that divisions among the people emerged after the political parties came to power. In particular, many people blame the Maoists not only for creating chaos and displacing thousands of people but also for dividing citizens along communal lines. It was this party that introduced provinces, which many people now consider unnecessary. It also distributed more than four million citizenship certificates, reportedly to many people from neighboring India. Many believe this is one of the crucial reasons behind the present turmoil. Had the Maoists not displaced so many people, Kathmandu would not have become as overcrowded as it is today.
Leaders from almost every political party speak of restraint, tolerance, and good governance. However, these are ideals that the public has rarely experienced, regardless of which party has been in power or who has led the government. Even the present government has informed the public about its ambitious long-term plans, but what people need now are immediate improvements in healthcare, education, and, above all, effective control of inflation.
We are not suggesting that the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah is not trying to perform better than the previous governments. Many media outlets and political analysts argue that the older political parties were primarily engaged in corruption, nepotism, and power struggles. This was evident in the political maneuvering of veteran politicians such as Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who repeatedly forged alliances, sometimes with the UML and at other times with the Nepali Congress. He deceived both parties, and in return, he was also deceived when the UML and the Nepali Congress joined hands to topple his government. Not many people were unhappy with that development.
In fact, many of the problems Nepal is facing today are consequences of the greed and lack of vision displayed by the country’s older political leaders. Their primary ambition seemed to be becoming Prime Minister and appointing members of their close circles as ministers or to other lucrative positions. These appointments often included relatives, cousins, spouses, and even children. Everyone knows that such decisions proved disastrous for the nation.
Apart from such nepotism and favoritism, the greed for money and the favors extended to wealthy individuals who allegedly financed political leaders, along with the middlemen who facilitated such deals, further disappointed the public.
Besides these questionable actions by senior political leaders and their close associates, which have pushed the nation toward a dangerous situation, there are other issues that deeply concern the people.
At present, one of the most alarming developments is the emergence of conflicts between religious groups in different parts of the country. This is why many analysts and commentators believe that the spark that has ignited the dangerous fire of religious conflict in what was once a peaceful nation did not occur by accident.
Readers should not be surprised that this article echoes many of the views expressed by analysts and commentators in recent days. However, it is also true that the country’s recent political developments cannot be attributed solely to the old political parties. It may be an uncomfortable truth for some, but many believe that several foreign powers—including one of Nepal’s neighbors—have also played a role in creating divisions among the Nepalese people.
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