LOSING PATIENCE
The Kathmandu Post
7th
December 2014
LOSING PATIENCE
The people are confused, as the major
political pasties are still at odds over contentious issues but have declined
to publicly say that the constitution will not be drafted on time (“Oli
steps up unity govt talks” 3 Dec. Page 1). CPN-UML leader KP Oli has
started playing another dubious political game luring the Madhes-based parties
and UCPN (Maoist) to join the national government at a time when they need to
be focused on constitution drafting. Oli’s motives are not clear. There had
been talk of unity government after the Constituent Assembly (CA) election was
over but it had failed fizzled out.
What happens if the political parties fail
to write the new constitution within the promised time? Are they going to
extend the CA’s term for another year, as they did in the previous CA? Are they
trying to hide their political incapability now talking about the formation of
a national government? Why don’t both the ruling and opposition parties become
serious in resolving the political differences through serious deliberations
and speed up the drafting process?
Unless and until they rise above their
petty political interests, there does not seem to be any possibility of
political reconciliation. If they continue to stick to their guns, the prospects
of drafting a new constitution by the stipulated time seem dismal. Time is
running out for them to forge consensus on the major issues and fulfil the
promises they made to the people during the November 2013 CA election. If they fail
to do so again, they will definitely lose all political credibility among the
people.
Biren P. Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
