The interim government signed agreements with various groups. The signatories should

keep their part of the bargain. Indeed, many accords have been inked between political parties, or between parties and government, over the years, but most of them were breached.

Non-implementation of one’s commitments will lead to mutual mistrust, and this does not

bode well for the creation of a climate of trust and cooperation among the parties concerned.

However, any such agreement may not bind non-signatories, all the more so, a superior

body. However, the signatories should remain faithful to the letter and spirit of their accords,

without resorting to misinterpretation to create trouble or extract unfair advantage later on. It is also important that an appropriate forum should be chosen for airing one’s grievances. When these basic rules are violated, conflicts arise. In this light should be viewed the various

pacts the Koirala government signed with several groups, including Maoists, Tarai-based

parties and Janajatis. Concerning such commitments, what can be immediately fulfilled should be fulfilled without much fuss. But even for this, a new government will have to take

charge first. But there are matters which only the CA can resolve, not any party or government. Therefore, the government or the major parties must rebuff any pressure for committing anything. The major parties must not yield to any coercive tactics, violent or otherwise. The CA must be allowed to settle any dispute within its exclusive preserve. It is not bound to honour any commitment of the government or the political parties, because it is sovereign. This sanctity of the CA must be upheld.

The political parties are supposed to take a stance in the CA and outside in keeping with the pledges they made in their election manifestos.

It is perfectly right, therefore, for the Madhesi parties concerned to speak up for One Madhes

One Pradesh as they fought the election on this plank. But, what is more important, they cannot go beyond the people’s mandate. If the three main geographical regions of the country were to be turned into three federal states, it would repress the aspirations of many communities with different linguistic, cultural and other features. The federal idea lies essentially in carving up smaller areas into states. All groups should be treated fairly. To protect this equality principle among groups and regions, the major political parties must be prepared to take any action, if need be.