HELLO NEPAL

The Kathmandu Post 30 th January 2015 LOSING TRUST It has been normal routine for the common people to be anxious to know as to whether the ruling and opposition parties are now prepared to sit down and continue deliberations on contentious issues (“Ruling bloc invite Maoist, Madhesi parties for talks” 28 Jan, Page 1).   It was really sad and disheartening to see the CA II also fail to fulfil its mandated task. Who should be blamed for this? Was it the ruling parties who tried to push forward their agenda in the name of numerical strength in the CA or was it the opposition that do not want to budge an inch from its petty political interests? It is the prime responsibility of the ruling parties to bring the opposition into the board and make an effort to forge consensus. However, for this, both sides need to be politically sincere towards the nation and its people and rise above their petty political interest. Nonetheless, it is encouraging to know th...

The Himalayan Times 19 January 2015 No to bandh It was a huge relief when the political parties once announced that they would not go for any kind of bandh i n Nepal in the future. They kept their words for some time. Now, they have come back on the streets forcing the common people to abide by their forceful bandh. It is their right to air their dissatisfaction over the disputed issues of the new constitution with the ruling parties. However, calling bandh and using threats and violence to enforce them is totally against the democratic principles.   Why don’t they seek other alternatives to show and express their concerns and dissatisfaction? Why don’t they use their common sense and act accordingly rather than forcing the people to stay at home? Any kind of destructive protests and bandh will directly affect the economic activities of the country making it more vulnerable. Why don’t the so-called political leaders realise this and be sensible towards the...

The Kathmandu Post 18 January 2015 DO IT ALREADY Leaders of all the parties should ditch their petty political interests and resolve contentious issues by keeping the nation and its people in focus (“Tuladhar-led Janajati front plans further stir” January 9, Page 1). Otherwise, chances of political chaos remain very high. If senior leaders continue to engage in egoistic politics, the chances of forging consensus look dismal. If they fail to draft the constitution by January 22, one can only imagine what will happen next. So it can easily be ascertained as to why the people’s participation in both Nefin and Tuladhar-led protest in Baluwatar and Baneswor were low. The common people do not want to be involved in such unwanted activities where the people are forced to engage in ethnic violence. Rai Biren Bangdel

The Kathmandu Post 4 th January 2015 BE BOLD T he efficiency of Subash Nembang was questioned in the erstwhile Constitution Assembly (CA) because of his weak leadership and poor performance as a facilitator (“CA Chairman seeks power to bring out prelim draft”, January 2, Page 1). He let the major political parties undermine CA’s role by deliberating outside it in the name of seeking consensus. The same scenario seems to be repeating itself as major political parties drifted on their own when they were supposed to be heavily involved in deliberation inside the CA. Eleven months have lapsed in the name of forging consensus. As the constitution writing deadline draws close parties have started blaming each other widening the political gap and creating mistrust among themselves. Nembang should have heavily engaged the lawmakers in a series of deliberation on the disputed issues by exercising his constitutional rights. He should have strictly followed the CA calendar ...

The Himalayan Times 2 January 2015 Weak role Time has come for CA Chairman Subash Nembang to exhibit his political wit as he has given the parties three options. His role was questioned in the erstwhile CA because of his weak leadership and poor facilitating role. The same scenario seems to be repeating letting the major political parties move in their own when they were supposed to be heavily involved in deliberation inside the CA. Nembang should have heavily engaged the lawmakers in series of deliberation on the disputed issues inside the CA by exercising his constitutional rights and strictly sticking to the CA calendar rather than depending on the senior leaders to play ambiguous roles. The political parties do not seem to budge because of their petty political interests.   Rai Biren Bangdel Maharajgunj

The Himalayan Times 29 December 2015 Come together It has been high time that the major parties engaged in the serious deliberation to forge consensus on major constitutional issues. Otherwise the country will be in a precarious situation. In the past couple of days, the senior leaders of some parties have traded barbs against each other spoiling attempts at reaching consensus. This is the time to build trust not animosity. We have suffered a lot due to destructive politics. If the parties do not realize the mistakes they have committed time and again their relevance in politics will cease to exist. The general people have now become more socially and politically sensitive than ever. If the 19 party alliances continue thinking of taking to the streets, it could be politically counterproductive as the people have high expectation of getting a new constitution by January 22. The democratic process of deciding the issue through voting cannot be ruled out if ...

The Kathmandu Post 26 th December 2014 JUST DO IT Some leaders from the opposition deserve an applause for their seriousness towards drafting the constitution whose deadline is around the corner (“Not the time for stir, Shrestha tells Dahal” 24 Dec. Page 03). Narayan Kaji Shrestha seems to be working hard to convince UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal not to deviate from constitution drafting process. It is high time senior leaders of all the major parties completed the constitution in time rather than engaging in destructive politics. The country has suffered a lot due to the destructive politics and blame game played among irresponsible political leaders. If they do not realize this on time and act sensibly, they will lose all faith of the people. So the so-called senior leaders must engage in work to seriously complete the new constitution. Otherwise, it might be too late to correct their blunders. So, it is good news that Narayan Kaji has warned Da...

The Kathmandu Post 21 December 2014 UNPRODUCTIVE DELIBERATION The concern expressed by the Members 0f Parliament (MPs) from different political parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA) regarding contentious issues of the constitution seems natural in terms of their party affiliation (“MPS divided over statute procedure” 17 Dec. Page 2). All the major parties in the CA have their own understanding of issues and interpret the key constitutional issues differently. This has complicated the constitution drafting process and will continue to affect it unless and until they will rise above their petty political interests and put their sincere effort to forge consensus. The constitution is the compilation of laws and principles according to which a state is governed and said to be the document of understanding and compromises of different stakeholders. On the one hand, politicians never get tired of talking about consensus on major issues but on the other side but, on...