Bury the hatchet

EDITORIAL

The Nepali Congress (NC) is now embroiled in a bitter feud leading to 16 leaders from the Sher Bahadur Deuba camp resigning en masse. This latest development of the infighting in NC cannot have come at a more critical moment in the country’s history. The people have always looked up to the NC which is one of the oldest political parties with impeccable, democratic credentials. However, this set of leaders of the democratic institution have let the people down by not acting on their behalf. The people are desperately looking for consensus amongst the political parties so that a new constitution could be written. This requires that the NC put up a united front and to become strong. But, the hopes of the people have been dashed by the irresponsible activities of some NC leaders. Now, we are witnessing intra-party and inter-party wrangling in all the major political parties, and the NC is no exception. The disputes amidst the top brass of the NC are percolating to the cadres at the grassroots level leaving the political party rudderless. This is all the more unfortunate when we take into account the developments of their rival parties who have formed a 20-party federalists’ alliance.

Thus, the NC faces the danger of becoming isolated. Therefore, the need of the hour for NC is to set its house in order by settling the disputes that have led to the intra-party wrangling. How can we expect the NC leaders to deal with the contentious issues confronting the country and to arrive at a consensus, when they are jockeying for power within the party itself. The cause of the disputes can be put down to their struggling for the coveted posts. Nepali politics, unfortunately, has witnessed power struggles of the worst kind, and those who ultimately suffer because of these are the gullible people. The political leaders know this only too well, but they seem to be unable to resist the lure for power.

It is high time that the NC leaders in particular settled the disputes that have surfaced amongst them so that they are able to confront the challenges confronting the country and provide leadership to extricate the country from the quagmire that it is now saddled with. We should take the NC as a democratic institution belonging to the people and not to any single person or group. As such, the NC leaders should realize this and behave more responsibly instead of indulging in petty power politics. The NC is an institution which is expected to safeguard democracy, but the present tussle within this political party is not helping the cause in any way. The present dispute in the NC is not without precedence. Such animosities amongst the NC leaders go back a long way. Therefore, it would be in the broader interest of the country and people if the leaders of this democratic political party buried their hatched and started anew united. A strong NC is in the larger interest of the country and its people. The NC remaining united can rightly tackle the threat posed by the coalition partners to isolate the democratic force. Only by doing so would the rights of the people be secured.

Time to work

In response to a Public Interest Litigation, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to provide special allowances to people with disabilities. The directive comes as a result of the apathy of the government to do the needful about its responsibility for the people with disabilities. It is worthwhile noting that the differently-abled are also able to contribute their mite for the society and the country. Yet, what is being observed is that they are not receiving the opportunities that they deserve. Encouragement and disabled-friendly policies and programmes are of utmost importance to see them walk and work at par with the other citizens.

The SC order has rightly pointed out the need to conduct a survey of the people with disabilities in the country to get the right picture of the population that needs special attention. Moreover, there are certain legal provisions in existence which need to be implemented to the full extent. The country has seen differently-abled people as wonderful writers, painters, teachers, technicians, etc.. The country has to tap their potential. It is not sympathy that is needed, it is clearing the path for their progress and prosperity that matters.