Civil society urges leaders not to lose focus

Kathmandu, October 25:

Members of the civil society have urged top leaders of the political parties to be result-oriented to put an end to the current political deadlock.

Human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar said the present deadlock seems to be more complicated than the earlier ones because neither side is ready for a compromise.

“Every day, we hear about meetings of top-notch leaders. But these meetings fail to

deliver. When they meet, they should remember the glorious history they created and

think what will happen if the situation goes out of their hands,” he told this daily.

He said that the nation could face an uncertain future the nation if the Maoists and the Nepali Congress continued to remain adamant on their stands on total proportional representation. “The leaders themselves are making speculations of a coup, king’s active

role and international intervention, but we cannot be assured that their (leaders’) way of

working is strong enough to keep such possibilities at bay.”

An activist of the Civil Movement for Democracy and Peace, Khagendra Sangraula, termed the ongoing meetings of political leaders to find a point of compromise ground “shameful”.

“Had the parties and leaders been sincere, they would not have gone to districts to celebrate Dashain. This is not the celebration time for those leaders, who have set off to make history,” he said.

He said that the issue of the total proportional representation is no longer limited to one party’s decision. Voices of other stakeholders should also be heard before making a decision. “The NC alone cannot make decide on the electoral system. Let Madheshis, Janajatis, Dalits, women and people from Karnali speak up. The leaders should listen to them,” he said.

He said that the crux of the present problem is that though all want a “new and inclusive” Nepal, those who have been enjoying political and social power for centuries do not want to share it with the marginalised communities.

General secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Mahendra Bista said that personal problems of some key leaders is behind the present deadlock. “They have all rights to show off their stand, but the people should not suffer from their conflict. The constituent assembly election is not only an issue of the parties, but is a matter of concern for the entire population,” he said.

He added that the people will not accept any other pretext for not holding the election and converting this parliament into a kind of assembly.

“We want to give them a new, fresh and realistic mandate. Those who are afraid of the election should give way to a new leadership,” he said.

Former chairman of the Nepal Engineers’ Association, Saroj Devkota, said that the leaders must sacrifice their egos to prove that they are leaders in the real sense. “Those leaders who sacrificed so much for the country should make sacrifices again for the sake of the country’s future,” he said.