Kathmandu, December 12

Former President Ram Baran Yadav today said that the present crisis in the country should be resolved through democratic process, using the recently promulgated constitution as a medium.

Referring to the ongoing Madhes agitation and border blockade, Dr Yadav urged all the stakeholders, including the agitating Madhesi parties, major parties and government, to be serious about resolving the crisis.

The former President made such remarks at a function organised to launch “Lost in Transition: Rebuilding Nepal from the Maoist mayhem and mega earthquake”, a book authored by the former Assistant General-Secretary of the United Nations, Kul Chandra Gautam, in Kathmandu.

It was ex-President Yadav’s first public speech after retiring as the President in late October.

“Madhesi people and parties complain that the State has been indifferent towards them,” he said, “The State is guardian of all and it should listen to them all.” He, however, said border blockade was not the right thing to do and urged the Madhesi parties to give up violence and anarchy, and embrace a democratic path to get their concerns addressed.

“The constitution has some pitfalls. In spite of that it is workable,” he remarked.

Since Nepal has about 1800 km-long open border with India, he said, all the issues should be resolved through micro-diplomacy.

Political scientist Hari Sharma remarked that Gautam’s book was a political commentary based on the experiences of a seasoned international diplomat.

According to Gautam, he wrote the book while preparing memoir of his experiences. “I lived abroad for over 40 years but Nepal always lived within me,” he said.