Federalism and Secularism, a Suicidal Game

By Dirgha Raj Prasai

Secularism and federalism is not the issue of Nepal. In the context of Nepal, this will be a suicidal task. It will break the unity of the Nepalese people.

Actually, federalism means feudalism which can't give the solution for the lower castes and poor. Similarly, secularism also encourages religious terrorism. Due to secularism and federalism, the Constituent Assembly can't do anything; it will only be a missile to destroy Nepal. The Maoist model of federalism which is based on ethnicity can disintegrate the country. Racial federalism can never develop the norms of democracy.

In an article published in The Kathmandu Post (16 Mar.2009), Professor David Seddon of London (a keen observer of Nepalese perspective) states - 'Federalism is a big mistake, for Nepal. This is not necessary to defend the interests of majorities or the interest of minorities. The cause of women, or Dalits or Janajaties can be protected in other ways. The Madheshis - whoever they may be - can divide and be a relatively autonomous. But immediately, this will provoke movements against it. I would argue very strongly that there is no need for federalism, as it is undesirable, undemocratic and profoundly divisive.

The irresponsible party leaders want to make this country another Kashmir and Afghanistan. I think you have heard the situation of Sri Lanka. Since 1800 AD, Tamils were sent to Sri Lanka by the East-India-Company as workers in the rubber and wood farms from Tamilnadu of India. The King Ashoka had followed Buddhism in Sri Lanka since 2600 years ago. Sri Lanka became independent in 1948.

In the meantime, there were 70 percent Buddhists there and Hindu-Tamils were minorities. After 1971, religious and language discrimination between Singhalese and Tamils led to a confrontation. Then in 1979, the Tamil based terrorist organization LTTE declared war for an independent state under the leadership of the young Pravakaran.

Now, the 30 year long LTTE armed struggle is over. The separatists in Sri Lanka have been defeated by the nationalist army though the war claimed 75 thousands lives, including that of Pravakaran. Meanwhile several foreign-initiated 'peace talks,' 'peace force' and 'mediation' efforts failed in bringing about peace.

But the determination of the Sri Lankan people, president, government and army enjoyed victory. So, we must learn from the lessons of Sri Lanka.

South Asia is in turmoil as India is taking the policy of aggressive intervention against neibouring countries - Nepal, Bangaladesh, Srilanka and Pakistan. The Congress (I) government of India is working to destabilize these countries by mobilising it's notorious intelligence agency, RAW. RAW has long faced allegations of meddling in its neighbours' internal affairs. In 1987, New Delhi made a pact with the Srilankan government to send peace-keeping troops to the island and Indian forces ended up fighting the group RAW had armed.

In 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, prime minister of India at the time of the deployment of the peacekeeping force, was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber. It was a matter of regret for Nepal also.

Similarlly, RAW has been fomenting violent activities in Nepal. A scholar Dr. Shreen M. Mazari says - 'The ethnic crisis in Bhutan led by the people of Nepalese origin is also said to have been aggravated by RAW for the advantage of India. In Nepal, India has been intervening in the politics by promoting pro-Indian politicians.'

The Indian government is creating difficulty for Nepal to assert her sovereignty. The federalism with ethnic groups will cause of division. The ethnic division of Nepal will create only ethnic leaders, not national leaders. We are Nepali brothers and sisters, but the ethnic division will make us Bahuns, Chhetris, Gurungs, Magars, Tharus, Newars, Limbus, Rais, Tamangs and Madhesis etc, except Nepali.

Scholar Dr. Tilak Shrestha says - 'Ethnic marginalization has been exacerbated by the Maoists to weaken the center and get support especially from Janajaties. They have pressed our every social fault line without any regard to the negative effects on the nation. However, they do not have any solutions to it. Let us not forget our forefathers and mothers who left their legacy as temples, Chaityas, Chauth, Sundraras, Pagodas etc.' In fact, such traditional culture is the pride of sovereign Nepal.

Governments have two mechanisms: Political and Administrative, which manage and deliver services to the public by mobilizing the resources of the country.

In Nepal, the government is not accountable to the people. Due to the incumbent party leaders, now the Nepalese people are divided into many groups. The trained human resources in the administration are becoming defunct. The most unfortunate fact is that the majority of our political leaders (Congress, UML, Maoist, Madhesi) are Indian agents.

It is worthless to expect anything from them to save our nationality and independence. They are responsible to India and not to the Nepalese people. Unless such traitors and corrupt leaders are chased away, democracy and nationalism will not be secure in Nepal. There is no alternative to parliamentary democracy in Nepal. But it does not mean that we must follow Indian orders.

The despotic and culprit leaders - Girija Prasad and his agents, Madav nepal, Jhalanath and Bamdev and Prachanda, Baburam Bhattarai have never tried to correct their own mistakes. Now, after the resignation of the Maoist Prachanda as PM, the UML leader and the most opportunist and Indian agent Mr. Madhab Nepal became Prime minister following the hint of India.

Cordial relations at the people to people level between Nepal and India have existed since ancient times. We have to maintain friendly relations with India due to our similar cultural and religious traditions. But sadly, as the Indian Congress has risen to the power, it strives to destabilize Nepal through its intelligence agency 'RAW' and its Nepalese agents.

The Nepali Congress, UML, Madhesis and Maoist parties are now pressing for autonomous federal states on a communal basis. They want to push the country into disarray.

In Nepal, Indian leaders have been playing an active role to defuse the democratic aspirations of the Nepalese people. They have been instigating the Madhesi people (some puppets of India) of the Terai. The Indian ambassador has offered large sums of money for schools, hospitals, roads, etc in order to wean the masses away from the influence. The so-called party leaders also are ignoring the fundamental values of nationality and democracy.

It is unfortunate that during 1990 to 2008, parliamentary democracy was inhered in Nepal but the politicians have learned no lessons.

The King's rule was much better than the rule of the present leaders and the Monarchy is still popular in Nepal. One of the founding leader of Nepali Congress, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has said - 'The country has been facing a series of problems due to the mistake of abolishing the royal institution'.

So I believe the uncertainty in the country will end only after the reinstatement of the monarchy and Hindu and Buddha Kingdom. The Nepalese people desire a more energetic and balanced leadership within the people oriented monarchy that can completely practice the politics of unity.

Nepalese monarchy is the pillar of unity, nationality and security.