Let’s not forget, ‘Nepal’s nationalism and democracy is the result of the collective effort of the people and the king.’ One cannot imagine Nepal as a sovereign and independent country without the existence of the monarchy. Nepal has been suffering the pains of foreign interference since the country was unified by the King of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah (founder of greater Nepal).
It was because of the connivance of foreigners and their conspiracies that the Rana oligarchy was established in Nepal. In 1951, it was because of the collective effort of King Tribhuvan, who risked his throne, and martyrs like Sukraraj Shastri, Dharmabhakta, Dashrath Chand and Gangalal that democracy was established in Nepal. King Tribhuvan is not a martyr, but he helped create martyrs and he has a great role in ushering democracy in Nepal.
As soon as democracy was established in Nepal, Indian politicians started cheating Nepal by taking advantage of their friendship with the leaders of Nepali Congress. The sovereignty of Nepal being in danger, King Mahendra dared to take the step of 1961. King Mahendra used to say, ‘Irresponsible leaders of parties not only divide the people but also the nation’.
So, King Mahendra implemented the Partyless system (Panchayat) and protected Nepal from foreign interference by maintaining a balance between India and China.
We, all Nepalese, king and the political parties wish to strengthen nationalism and establish a democratic system in the country. The people of Nepal and India always have had cordial relations, but it is the Indian government (Congress I), which, instigated by some donors, have been trying to create nuisances to Nepal’s effort to strengthen its nationalism and democracy.
It’s not good for India to make Nepal and the Nepalese suspicious with them. Forgetting Nepal’s background of Hinduism and Buddhism, a democratic country like India should not work to create anarchy and establish terrorism in Nepal.
All leaders, after 1951 have only betrayed the people wearing the cloak of democracy, we have not yet come across any leader who can establish and institutionalize nationalism and democracy in the country. Nepal is in need of a dedicated, true and honest leader who is a patriot and who can save the norms and values of the country.
The so-called leaders of the Nepali congress, UML, Maoists & Madesis are not responsible for the democracy and country. After the king restored the House of Representatives (2006), the leaders of the so called big parties, including the Maoists, should have focused on national interests. But no country can find a way by stifling the fundamental policy and principle? How can democracy survive when the leaders give only lips service but become despotic in practice and trample the democratic principles?
Now, Nepal, which is suffering from a gamut of troubles and tribulations, cannot save its nationality and democracy, unless the king and the people join hands and stand strongly against foreign interference and the traitors of the country to follow a strict disciplinary policy. If the United Nations, United State of America and the European countries failed to realize this, unrest and terrorism will be institutionalized in Nepal.
The despotic leaders of Congress, UML, and Maoists talk a lot about Loktantra (democracy) but on the contrary they have institutionalized anarchy. Their government is mobilized by looters, murderers, kidnappers, commission mongers and foreign agents. And they work only for them.
Once the political parties came to power, they were indulged in fight for posts and positions, which leads them into amassing incalculable wealth through ulterior means. So, how can a country solve its problem, when the party leaders served the interests of their kith and kin and sycophant? The parliamentarians, who are supposed to serve the people, got into robbing the national coffer in whatever ways they can. Absolutism has become the common agenda of the so-called big party leaders and they want to ignite a civil war and fulfill their desires.
On May 28 2008, how & why did the so-called big parties’ leaders declare a republic? Was it constitutional? NO, IT WAS NOT! It would be against the principle of natural law to deprive the King of the right to speak on his defense. The Nepalese people will not support the forceful systemization of illegitimate totalitarianism by depriving the king the right to defend himself. With the help of corrupt leaders, India had been investing in establishing a republic. But, now the result has been just the opposite for India.
In communist countries, the nation runs as per the policy of the communist parties. But, there is neither communism nor a parliamentary system in Nepal. A Nepalese scholar, Mr. Shashi Malla says, “The Maoists want to establish a totalitarian Stalinist state and isolate Nepal from the international arena in pursuit of their antiquated ideology. If nothing is done to stop them soon, our country will be thrown back decades. The Maoist conception of an ostensible federation based on ethnic communities will spell the death-knell of national unity.”
Similarly, the editor of the Peoples Review, Mr. Puspha Raj Pradhan writes, “The Maoists are doing the politics of caste which is in the interest of India to disintegrate the Tarai region from Nepal. The Maoists have been used by India in this way. The Maoists are fooling the Nepali people by serving Indian interests and, on the other hand, distributing the slogan of nationalism to the Nepali people.’ In such a situation, can one find solution to a problem by throwing stones in the dark?
The 12th Convention of the Nepali Congress on Sept 17th-22nd, has held. Actually, the Nepali Congress’s Convention showed a
sea of humanity with flags of NC. But, without ideology what can the party and their followers do for the country? The NC party has given up its political ideology of the founder of NC BP Koirala, Ganeshman Singha and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.
On 24, April, 2006, the people’s uprising came to a stop after an agreement was reached between the monarchy, NC and UML and Maoists. The agitators were pleading for monarchy as an alternative force in times of crisis. An agreement was reached to reinstate the House of Representatives, which was dissolved under NC recommendation four years ago, although the monarchy did not posses the right to reinstate it. The monarchy reinstated the parliament and appointed Girija Prasad Koirala to the post of premiership. The oath of office ceremony of the Prime Minister was administered by the king himself in the royal palace premises.
Gradually, the agreement reached with the king was broken and the royal institution was attacked, which is a huge betrayal. A political agreement on 24 April, 2006 was a political betrayal. So, nobody can think highly of a good future of the Nepali Congress. Yes, Congress has had a long history to establish democracy with the king. But now, due to their great mistake, NC has fizzled out. The Nepali Congress deceived not only the monarchial system but also the life of congress.
But, the founder of NC BP Koirala used to say: “The state of Nepal cannot remain without monarchy and even socialism can co-exist with monarchy in Nepal.”
One of the founder leaders of the 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.”
Uncertainty in the country will only end after the reinstatement of the monarchy. In this context, former PM Bhattarai refused to attend the Convention and denied the invitation forwarded by the president of NC, “because the NC-party went for fake norms and deviated from the path of BP Koirala the constitutional monarchy, democracy, and nationalism.” A lawyer, Balkrishna Naupane says “They (traitors) are talking about how the people had stood (2005-2006) against the King. But, the Nepalese political parties in close collaboration with the Indian regime had then lured/seduced the Nepalese even by spreading false rumors which worked to a greater extent.”
Similarly, on a discussion about a republic in Nepal, senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party Lalkrishna Advani had said: “The framework for constitutional monarchy in Nepal should be consolidated because monarchy is the symbol of Nepal’s identity and sovereignty.”
Nepal should have an active and dynamic multi-party democracy. But we in Nepal are trying to dig up a well when there already is water in our rivers. The Nepali Congress cannot run like this, carrying the flag and showing the masses – any party and institution can move without ideology.
Now NC is running, carrying the agendas of Communists not of democracy. So, it is a matter of sadness that BP’s own brother Girija has ditched BP’s ideology. A Hindu and Buddhist state, the national language of the Nepali and the Royal Institution can be the network that would keep national unity intact.
We know this: Republic = Fragmentation, Secularism = Terrorism, and Federalism = Feudalism. So, the concern of Nepalese people is how to get rid of the real issues. A Republic is not a way out of the problems. Terrorism would take over the nation in absence of the royal institution. Now, the nation is in danger. Without monarchy (the alternative force) Nepal can’t be saved.
If NC decides to choose a political path, it would be a balance between Mahendra’s nationality and BP’s democratic socialism after 1976.
So, it is now clear that democracy cannot sustain itself without the principle of tolerance and coordination. For this, all parties should think with a cool mind. The Nepalese monarchy is the pillar of Nepalese identity and sovereignty. The Royal institution of Nepal is, for its people, a force that fought against the imperialists. So, as things have gone terribly wrong, there is no alternative other than, all the forces coming together in the mediation of the King. Nor, should the Nepali Congress join hands with Maoists.
This country would have been prosperous if the king, political parties and the people had worked together.
The mandate of the people’s uprising is to establish a full democracy, not a republic or authoritarian rule and communism. Corrupt leaders of NC, UML, Maoist & some Madeshi are continuing to seek Indian support to rob the nation of its sovereignty. The Nepali Congress is in danger of peril after opting for the republic to take revenge on the King. If we Nepalese want to save Nepal’s sovereignty and identity, all the political parties and the nationalists should realize that the country can move ahead only with the concerted effort of the political parties, king and the people.
It is now clear that democracy cannot be sustained without the principles of tolerance and coordination. For this, all the parties and others should think with a cool mind. The Nepalese monarchy is the pillar of the Nepalese identity and sovereignty. The Royal institution of Nepal is for its people and a force that fought against the imperialists. So, as things have gone terribly wrong, there is no alternative other than, all the forces coming together in the mediation of the king.