DEMOCRATIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The Kathmandu Post
3 August 2018
DEMOCRATIC
RESPONSIBILITIES
The main opposition of the ruling
Nepal Communist Party, Nepali Congress (NC), staged nationwide protests against
the K.P.Oli government on Tuesday accusing it of running the government in an authoritarian way (“NC stages nationwide protests” August 1,
Page 3). As NC claimed, the nationwide
protests were not to replace the government but to warn it to correct its
wrongdoings-from its attempt to muzzle the freedom of media, to not following
the constitution and to not fulfilling the promises it made to its citizens.
Nepal has passed through much
political turmoil following the restoration of democracy in 1990. None of the
past governments were able to run the country for a full term due to inter and
intra party political bickering. A decade long Maoist’s insurgency against the
state was another impediment for the country to grow. As a result, the country
and its people had to politically, socially and economically suffer. Nonetheless,
the country has now entered into federal structure following the promulgation
of a new constitution and completion of three tiers of elections. The federal
government and six provincial governments are now in the hands of leftist party
formed after the merger of the UML and CPN-MC. PM Oli enjoys a two thirds
majority in Parliament. He also boasts to be the champion of people’s democracy
and promises to meet the aspiration of the common people with his popular
slogan “Prosperous Nepal and Happy Nepali”. However, despite tall promises the
performance of his government in the last five months is now in question:
facing widespread criticism and condemning for some of its recent undemocratic
acts.
It seemed that the NC was
successful in holding mass protests across the nation to deliver this very
message to the government that NC is doing its opposition’s democratic
responsibilities. And as responsible citizens, we must hold anyone accountable
should their actions be against the interest of the people-be it the ruling
party or the opposition.
Rai
Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2018-08-03/democratic-responsibilities.html
