December 11th, 2016
The PM of ‘that government’ said – I won’t take a shopping list with me. No request will be made. The visit will not be like that of ruler and ruled. In eye-to-eye contact; I will dialogue as of friends. Nations might be small and big based on geography and population but it will be clarified that sovereignty is equal, neither small- nor big. Remaining misunderstandings will bring to an end and trust will be expanded based on mutual benefits.
Government of the beyond past –
The first Communist party-led government was formed in 1994. The brighter side of the government of that time was that it was single party-led and efficient. Since it was single party-led, it had advantage to initiate any kind of work that it desires to doing. But as the main opposition had equal number of parliamentarians, there was copious possibility of toppling the government. The political environment of the past was different than it is now. The parties were bounded by ‘ethical’ limits. A lot of inter-party discussions used to take place in relation to which party should be taken into confidence to form the government. Therefore, the ‘government of UML of the past’ did not have the advantage to protect itself or create new in association with some other forces. Thus ‘that government’ was evolved with a fate of either “the party will be collapsed forever if it commits any wrong” or “the tenure of the government will end at any moment if it preforms the right thing.”
Discussions used to be held from different perspectives, on what sorts of works that government should do and what shouldn’t, in the ‘past’ as well. Wide-ranged subjects of such discussions from whether to continuing the broadcast of religious program of State-owned Radio to whether nominate the party’s cadres in political appointment.
Considering the time and mentality, the government of the past reached to the conclusion to ‘initiate change and reform in Policy level’ and not waste time only in ‘routine work’. It tried to establish some popular system that could have long-term impact over the life of people and the nation. In order to realise the Communist Party’s slogan– ‘the land to the tiller’ since long before, the Party took an initiative for scientific land reform by forming “High-level Land Reform Commission” that was famous by the name “Badal Commission”. It formed another Commission to solve the problem of landless squatter to manage shelter for thousands of those who were surviving under the sky. At the time when the people were unknown about where the tax-payers’ money is spent, and who is benefitted by it, the government initiated the campaign of ‘Build your village yourself” so as to make the people understand that the tax they pay is spent for the development of their own place. Village Development Committees, which never seen single penny, enjoyed hundreds of thousands of rupees; by the cash flow flown over villages from the Capital. It introduced ‘Senior citizen allowance’ for aged- people, perhaps first time in entire South Asian member States. It set an example that expenditure from National Treasury spent for the cause of people, does not empty national saving but increases and keeps on increasing.
Nepali Congress, which assumed power after the general election of 1991, annoyed more than 30 thousand innocent UML supporters with false charges. State-sponsored violence was spreading in the name of peace and security. But the new government maintained peace and tranquillity without even firing a single bullet. It demonstrated the model of how interior (home) administration is operated. Competition within People’s representatives started each other in local bodies in the work of development and construction.
Here, I wish to remember a letter by my colleague from Malaysia- Mr Tian Chua who is now the Vice-chair of the Malaysian main opposition party now.
“The news (of UML victory) was unexpected surprise for me. I must admit, before the election, I was rather pessimistic about the result. … Land reform requires a longer period to implement. It is difficult for the government looking majority to carry out drastic reform. Then. One doesn’t have to be hasty. Just concentrate first in the study. Then, the result of the study can be a platform for future and reform even if government could not implement it this term. It can be a platform to rally for larger majority to seek re-election. … My point is if no major structural reform can be enforced, the government should then focus its effort to lay the foundation for future work.”
Frankly speaking the then government did the same. And, the efficient and energetic government led by the then Party Chairman Comrade Manmohan Adhikari pulled down within the short tenure of nine months. People still remember that government of the past.
As a system, some aspects of social security, like allowances for elder citizen, were established. Those who were in the top of state apparatus realised basic lesson of socialism and welfare state that they should peruse various plans to provide protection for citizens at childhood, active age and old age. In village, a process of monetisation began; Village created market and market converted into town, and town into municipality. Though the government replaced by a new government; however, a competition started not to replace established system but to introduce similar other programmes.
In this way, the UML led minority government established a new standard of governance, how the government is operated. In the succeeding elections, people sloganeer – upcoming government of UML, not of minority but of majority.
That government –
The CPN (UML) repetitively assumed participation in the government after 1994. Many cadres/leaders became ministers. But all governments were overshadowed by the government of the past. It may be due to nature of coalition and its limitation, despite of relatively fair ‘performance’ of many ministers; people remembered the government of 1994 only. The governments formed prior to ‘that’ government before conclusion of a fight for democratic rights, caught in dilemma amid the struggle between the campaign of development and the fight for rights. People wanted to look at ‘that’ government formed on 11th October 2015 in the leadership of Party President KP Sharma Oli as the continuation of the ‘government of the past’. And said – Let’s see if Cde Oli will continue the legacy of Manamohan’s tenure who had become a successful Minister for Home Affairs even without sparing a single bullet.
Time had changed. Partners had changed. Positive side of this was – all left-leaning parties endorsed the government for the first time in history. The limitation of these ‘left’ was that all these parties had their own dynamism; there was no certainty about when and which party could bounce back to opposition. It was imperative to reach agreement with non-leftist parties to accumulate support so as to form the government. The party, which was not even provided one seat and was excluded from the government in 1994, that very party was the ‘rampart’ of government of non-leftist sides. The government was formed clubbing with 13 different parties ranging from leftist to non-leftist stream.
It must be recalled here – that government was responsible to meet people’s expectations like the government of absolute majority, shored up with contradictory partners by ideology, so as to bring back people in normalcy from the crisis of earthquake and India’s unofficial blockade. The main three agenda of that government was to complete the work of post-earthquake reconstruction, revive the dream of people who were inflicted with hopelessness and frustrated, and lead the nation towards the path of prosperity. On the New Year’s Eve, PM KP Sharma Oli stated “Those who stop dreaming will see that their path to progress gets stalled” and discussed about his campaign to revive the fainted-dreams. Targeting the policy/program and budget of his government in the same message, he described his dream in this way – “The dream of settlement that I have is not that of a village or city on retrofit, but of a comfortable smart city.”
A year back from 22nd September 2015, India imposed unofficial blockade on Nepal. Along with its end, the PM of ‘that government’ KP Sharma Oli went to state visit of India. Usually, such visits used to take place so as to request for loan or grants with a bowed head in national affairs. The PM of ‘that government’ said – I won’t take a shopping list with me. No request will be made. The visit will not be like that of ruler and ruled. In eye-to-eye contact; I will dialogue as of friends. Nations might be small and big based on geography and population but it will be clarified that sovereignty is equal, neither small- nor big. Remaining misunderstandings will bring to an end and trust will be expanded based on mutual benefits.
Nevertheless, agreements were reached on subjects including expediting the construction of Postal Highway, signature on the agreement letter determining priority in reconstruction so as to utilize Indian grant, expedited preparation of DPR of Pancheshwor Multipurpose Project, joint inauguration of Dhalkebar-Mujaffarpur 400KV Cross border Transmission line, signature on reciprocation letter for access to Vishakhapatnam port, use of Fulbari-Bangalabandha Highway and railway service facility in Singhbad. Every Prime Minister used to fell into controversy after returning back from India’s visit; the PM of ‘that government’ was praised in both India and Nepal.
The purpose of succeeding visit to China was focused on trade diversification. Access to sea in the northern side was imperative to materialize ‘Oli’s dream’. Therefore, agreements were reached on the issues ranging from upgradation of Ring Road to construction of Pokhara Airport and operation of 9 entry points in the northern border including Kimathanka-Koralla. Dozens of MoUs including the much-hyped Transport and Transit Treaty, Study on the Possibility of Free Trade, Kerung-Rasuwagadhi-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini Railway Connectivity, Construction of Cross-border Transmission Line, and Participation on mega hydropower projects, Petroleum Products Trade and their exploration in Nepal, among others, were also signed.
Honestly speaking, all those who love Nepal were inspired and excited with the achievements of the visit. On one hand, the so called intellects were hell bent on devaluing the achievements terming it as ‘windy daydream’, on the other hand, the PM and UML Chairman Cde Oli continued to wave his plans tirelessly that would even excel the results performed by the first UML-led efficient government where he himself was the Minister for Home Affairs. The youths who once used to be inspired by his backbiters also independently stormed in social medias with a slogan ‘I am with KP Oli’. They even came on the street with a placard of Oli’s pictures, which reads- “Oli for our brighter future!”
“Next fiscal year will be departure year towards prosperity. Next 5 years will be period of development. Next 10 years lead us towards prosperity. These all efforts will promote Nepal from its LDC status, and government is committed to progress into the range of meddle-earning countries within 15 years. The government will include UN-endorse Sustainable Development Goals in its annual programmes and set development goals and strategy by 2030.
These goals identified as ‘Oli- Dream’ can be accumulated in the following points in brief:
Connectivity through optical fibre with China along with Transport trade treaty has ended one-sided dependency. To construct East-West and North-South corridor roads, Tunnel road including other highways mentioned in the policy programme of the GoN, Nrs2,300 Crores has been allocated. Necessary budget has been allocated for expansion of railway and communication system.
And, this government-
With the growing popularity of the Oli-led government, the oppositions were scared of. The blockade was removed and relations with India were normalized too. However, the unscrupulous greedy and power monger characters were not sensitive with the damage that could be incurred through the instability in country. In the beginning of April 2016, the continued conspiracy against the government started to be exposed. The major ally of the ruling coalition, the Maoist Centre, itself actively and openly participated in the conspiracy to pull down the popular government; there was opposition next to the door waiting to welcome them.
Amid courses of revenge and conspiracies, the Prime minister resigned from the post on 24th July, 2016 and said, “I am worried much to the fact that leftist comrades themselves have seen in the role to weaken the leftist movement in this course of history. I am worried that the force that claims itself of being patriotic and progressive which is against the obstacles of national interests and impediments, have participated against national interest and progress itself. However, I would like to remind those who misinterpret politics as the game of possibility to be aware of their future too as the habit of changing colour like chameleon reaches us nowhere.”
And, after 11 days of his resignation, the incumbent Prime Minister Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal assumed the charge of his Office. Within this short period, it seems the government has been already trapped to serve the agenda, which is against national interest. For instance, the insiders of prime minister’s party saying- their leader has signed in the understanding that is inappropriate for national interest. PM Dahal’s former ally and ex-prime minister Dr Bhattarai has claimed, the PM slipped and made mistake at least in 6 places at 25 points Nepal-India joint communiqué released during his state visit. FSF president Upendra Yadav has commented that the PM made mistake by giving international dimension of internal issue of amendment in the constitution.
General public were not ready to provide benefit of doubt to this government. As morning shows the day, post India visit as the performance of this government is not reflecting positive indication. These days a quote of the spokesperson of this government is viral, which says- the Northern highway or railway that connects Nepal with china is risky and dangerous for environment. That’s why we should construct neither highway nor railway to connect North.”
It is obvious, these expression and behaviours neither helpful to make Nepal self reliant, nor it will transform Nepal from land-locked to land-linked status. There are sufficient rooms to suspect, that this government is further pushing Nepal towards instable client state trapped in vicious of constitutional crisis.
September 21, 2016; Kathmandu
(Translation by: S. Nepal from original Nepali)