Be serious and sensible

Be serious and sensible

The Federal Alliance (FA) has decided to intensify its political struggle by launching relay hunger strike from June 7 to July 15 in Kathmandu and other districts to exert pressure on the Oli led government to fulfil its political and constitutional demands “FA cadres, leaders to launch relay hunger strike” (THT, 31 May, Page 2. It is their democratic rights to stage peaceful protest against the state which does not seem disturbed by the FA’s ongoing agitation. It is said that the relay hunger strike is the highest form of peaceful movement in a democracy which should be seriously taken by the ruling parties. However, looking closely at the PM Oli’s working style; it does not seem that the ongoing political tussle in between the FA and the government will end soon.

The FA’s Kathmandu-centric agitation has been going on peacefully. No serous incidents have occurred so far which indicates that the cadres of FA and security forces are showing maximum restrains in order to avoid human casualties. Otherwise, Madhes based political agitation during the last seven months remained to be more violent causing a huge number of human casualties. About 50 innocent people lost their lives due to excessive use of security forces as claimed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) during its field observation. If the Oli led government continues to undermine the FA’s agitation, as it is doing now and did in the past, there does not seem chances of coming to political consensus in near future which could be very unfortunate for both the political parties and the nation.

On the other hand, Chairperson Upendra Yadav continues to saying that the constitution should be rewritten through a third people’s movement which does not seem politically palatable “Upendra Yadav warns FA will issue new statute” (THT, 31 May, Page 5). However, it is high time for the ruling parties to be serious and sensible to bring the agitating forces on the negotiating table to forge consensus on political and constitutional issues at the soonest possible. Otherwise, the chances of going out the ongoing political movement of its hand seem very high if it is not properly and timely handled. It is not only the Madhesi out in the streets. Now, the Janajati and disadvantaged groups have also joined the agitation. The level of frustration and dissatisfaction among the agitating forces towards the apathy of the government is gradually increasing which might be politically very expensive for the Oli led government in the days to come.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj