Narayan Prasad Ghimire
16 Sept, Kathmandu: More than six-decade long aspiration of Nepalis to have constitution through the Constituent Assembly is coming true very soon. The Constituent Assembly, the largest body of people’s representatives, is all set to promulgate new constitution on September 20. Till Wednesday 1 pm, 237 articles of the new constitution bill were passed by the CA, making these the constituents of the new constitution. With this, most of the important articles have been endorsed. As per the endorsements, Nepal is now an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive democratic socialism-oriented federal democratic republic. Full press freedom is guaranteed in the very preamble. The most pressing demands of all and the need of time- inclusive democracy-is fully adopted by this constitution.
It must be taken as the achievement of all Nepalis from diverse communities from the across the country that the socially backward, indigenous, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslim, minority groups, people with disabilities, gender and sexual minorities, backward class, peasant and labourers, oppressed community, citizen from backward regions will have the right to employment in the state apparatus and public service based on the principle of inclusion.
These are really salient features and broadminded provisions that incorporate the demands of different communities. The richness of the diversity of the country is clearly reflected here. Importantly, such features are very helpful to cope with the adversity created by the unemployment and poverty, which indeed are the enemies to Nepal’s development.
Even the friendly countries including neighbour India and the US have begun welcoming the ongoing constitution writing from the CA. Hailing the ongoing constitution writing, Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, John Kirby, in his statement, said the US believes that the new constitution would ensure and honour fundamental rights of Nepali people like gender equality and freedom. The US also urged all to get their demands met in peaceful and non-violent ways.
Similarly, India puts it, “We welcome and commend the recent progress achieved by the Constituent Assembly in the constitution-drafting process wherein several contentious issues have been resolved.”
Needless to mention, the CA is the largest ever forum with representation from multifarious communities in Nepal. Numerous agenda were raised and discussed. Despite this and the salient features mentioned above, some Madhes centric political parties have quit the CA process igniting agitation in the southern plains forgetting their responsibility. Instead of putting forth genuine demands in a peaceful way, the agitations in the southern plains led by the leaders quitting the CA process have turned marauding and violent.
To substantiate here, on a daily basis, half dozen journalists on duty are subjected to intimidation- manhandling, assaults, death threats- at the hand of agitators in the southern plains of the country for some weeks. To the meanest and abominable form of attack on press freedom and freedom of expression, former lawmaker Baban Singh on Monday categorically threatened three journalists of taking their lives in gun fire or by setting them on fire. Singh is also in the agitation. Equally worrying is that the common people are at the receiving end. The general strike and the prohibitory orders have almost paralysed their day to day lives. Leave aside how much loss the factories and industries are incurring.
Gathering a huge chunk of unemployed youths from rural settlements afflicted with unawareness, illiteracy, un-education, superstition and importantly the entrenched poverty, the political parties in the southern plains –Madhes/Tarai- are waging agitation breaking every limit of decency, honesty and human rights. Poor unaware youths are sold cheap dreams and made to take on homemade weapons, killing security persons, committing arson and destroying private and public properties. Such disgusting activities are going on for a month beginning from the far west of the country and gradually moving to the east. It is quite depressing and bleak scenario.
It was quite despairing to find a leader from Tarai/Madhes in agitation, Upendra Yadav, saying, “The agitation can be continued even for 35 years.” He views as if he is the sole representative and savior of the Madhesi people, and only he has the panacea to address every demand disregarding what they are for the poor people. The Joint Democratic Madhesi Front is waging agitation in a way that that only its followers are Madhesis who are suppressed, as they argue, by the State for long. The agitation is flared in such a way that the line between politics and crime has been blurred.
What must be noted here is – the number of the CA members attending the ongoing constitution writing is more than those leaving the CA process. Among 255 CA members representing the Tarai/Madhes, there are 197 CA members advocating for constitution and engaging in the CA process with meaningful participation. Similarly, out of the total 31 political parties in the CA, 21 are for the constitution through the CA; and out of present 598 CA members, 57 have quit the CA process. The present representation is enough – more than two-third- to issue the constitution.
Analysing all these, it may not unfair to say when you’re in government, you’re happy and your every demands are met; but once you’re out of the government, your rights are breached, you feel the citizens are dying of rights. Similarly, when people give you more votes, you’re the superman, once people defeat you with meagre votes, you’re split and your rights are seized. This attitude is a biting reality of Nepali politicos which is now being percolated to innocent people through violent agitation in the southern plains of the country. The agitating Madhesi leaders as Upendra Yadav and Rajendra Mahato fit this scenario, because when they grab the ministerial posts, they forget every malady of Madhesi people; but as they don’t get space in government, then they are furious and turn saviour of the Madhesi people.
It is quite disappointing that no political struggles in Nepal are linked to country’s economic development and elimination of poverty. The political parties and leaders who are very clever to sell the cheap dreams to the people always whetted the demands, and made hue and cry for rights, forgetting their responsibility to create the atmosphere and the country’s capacity to address grievances. Present mob in Tarai/Madhes is the example of it.
Conclusively, to accelerate the economic development, establish peace, and usher in prosperity in the country, new constitution is a must. As the constitution is not the stone inscription, it can be amended as per the need. Encompassing every minor demand from every ethnic community is not practical to Nepal where there are more than 125 ethnic communities. Therefore, the agitating parties need to adopt the peaceful politics, return to the CA process respecting government’s frequent requests for talks. The agitation has not only blurred the line between politics and crime but also eroded parties’ confidence on people.
