By Shashi P.B.B. Malla
The former Nepali Congress member and currently MP for the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in the federal parliament from Tanahun [President Ram Chandra Paudel’s old constituency], Dr. Swarnam Wagle, has made a scathing attack on the present government in The Kathmandu Post (Feb. 12).
The Economy
In his interview to the daily, he clearly states: “The government is not delivering” [in the economic sphere] and rejects all claims that the economy has improved notably.”
More succinctly he said: “We are in a state of anomie, politically dysfunctional and economically stagnant.”
Governance
Dr. Wagle also said: “Governance has become hostage to a venal coalition that is inept and idle.”
However, he has a positive impression of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal after two recent meetings, who exhibited a drive to show results during this tenure.
He lays the blame for the country’s political-economic malaise squarely on the shoulders of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba “whose political incentives are quite perverse. Leadership that does not inspire confidence fuels public frustration.”
However, any neutral observer would be of the opinion that Dahal/Prachanda has been let off the hook too easily. As the head of government, he has the primary responsibility. The people’s impression is that he is the head of a failed government in every respect, and there is no way that he can be exonerated.
Federalism
Dr. Wagle rejects the notion that to be democratic or progressive, one has to adhere to federalism.
The RSP does not equate an inclusive liberal democratic order with federalism.
The RSP strives to retain the seven-province set-up, but is critical of the way the provincial layer has been designed – in fact, it considers the provincial layer as redundant. Above all, it is costly and burdensome.
However, the point is that if the provincial layer is cut away, the very federal structure falls apart like a house of cards. The RSP’s position is, therefore, contradictory.
But all said and done, the RSP is for retaining the republican form for the state. However, it wants to retain the Constitution, while abolishing federalism.
The RSP’s Mantra: The 3 Ds
The RSP wants to attain power (eventually) by harnessing the country’s demography, digilisation and diaspora.
Wagle and the RSP is banking on the youth of the country, but considering the massive brain & brawn drain, it is a pipe dream.
Metaphorically, Nepal is like the Aral Sea, becoming dry not of water, but of talent. Digitalisation will have tough go.
Considering the state of the country, it will be too much to hope that the diaspora will contribute in any meaningful way, or that those who have left for greener pastures will return –except for short visits.
The RSP will need a radical change of tactics and strategy to achieve any semblance of power. It also has no semblance of a time frame.
In this connection, the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is ideally situated to achieve better results.
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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