The acceptance of land donated by business tycoon Min Bahadur Gurung for the construction of the UML office undermines the commitment to eradicate corruption
The honeymoon period of the coalition government of the Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) has come to an end after it entered 100 days of its formation following their agreement to tie that unusual political knot which they had not done before, apart from during exceptional circumstances like fighting for the cause of democracy or promulgating the new constitution. Prime Minister K P Oli has claimed that he has achieved 70 per cent of his goals, which he said would be 100 per cent had the country not been rocked by unparalleled floods and landslides. The opposition parties, led by former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, have, however, labelled the claim as ridiculous and portrayed the government's performance as nothing but dismal.
The notion of 100 days in politics is a United States phenomenon based on incredible headways made by President Franklin D Roosevelt when the country was engulfed by one of the most critical economic set-backs in 1932, popularly known as the Great Depression. Roosevelt did not lose heart but ended up taking some of the boldest steps economically, politically and socially in American history. His speech, stating that Americans need not fear anything but fear itself, injected the much-needed confidence in the sagging American psyche.
The practice of observing the honeymoon period of a hundred days began in Nepal prominently after the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990. The government of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai of the NC had told the UML to have some patience at least for the first 100 days after the latter started to criticise and even launch protests immediately after its formation.
Roosevelt not only informed the public of the risks ahead but also told them how he intended to alleviate them. In the following weeks he told the public of the milestones that he had achieved in a small span of time. He introduced measures such as taking off the American dollar from the gold market in addition to forming legislation for the benefit of the farmers. Further, he initiated social welfare support for the unemployed. He also relaxed the prohibition clamped against the sale of beer and alcohol. The home owners also received support and access to capital.
Roosevelt's hundred days became so popular that it provided a kind of guideline for the newly-elected leaders for a successful term. Firstly, the leader should be transparent and inform the public about the economy. Secondly, he should offer solutions to the economic problems confronting the country. Thirdly, the leader should offer tax relief and incentive to the manufacturing sector. Fourthly, they should come forward with a welfare program for the people.
Prime Minister Oli recently highlighted seven steps that he had undertaken during his 100 days in office. These are firstly, swift response for the flood and landslide victims in the wake of one of the worst monsoon disasters in the country. Secondly, it was the facilitation of the release of outstanding payments to the construction companies. The third work was the innovative youth start-up loan programme. The fourth he said was the authentication of the transitional justice bill and the formation or a recommendation committee. The fifth one was the creation of an economic advisory committee to bolster the confidence of the private sector. The stride made in the health and social sector was mentioned as the sixth one. And finally, the trilateral agreement reached with Bangladesh and India for the export of 40 megawatts of energy.
The Prime Minister has not, however, been able to inform the public about the real sate of the economy. Economists opine that the economy of the country proceeds through extension, peak, contraction and turf with Nepal's economy hitting the later. But the Prime Minister has not presented a clear picture of the country's economy to the people even though some of his advisors have termed it as seriously broken. Neither has he come forward with fitting solutions. Tax relief has not been provided to the people apart from making lip service to the private sector. There are no welfare programmes for the people. This contrasts starkly with the initiatives taken by President Roosevelt.
The coalition government had made public a seven-point agreement where the amendment of the constitution was the most prominent. But 100 days have passed, and it has not been able to come with a clear blue print of it. It belatedly brought the common minimum programme after facing heavy criticism where, among others, it has committed to provide relief and rehabilitation to the flood and landslide-affected areas, including Manang, Lamjung, Gorkha, Bajura, Sindhupalchok and Saptari districts.
The coalition has time and again committed itself to root out corruption from the country. But the acceptance of land donated by business tycoon Min Bahadur Gurung for the construction of the UML office has made a travesty of this commitment. This issue has reached such a critical pass that the Supreme Court has issued a short-term interim order not to carry out any work, including transfer of ownership of the land donated to the UML by Gurung.
When judged against this backdrop, it can be said that Oli's government can at best be said to have achieved 30 per cent. It is no wonder then that the opposition has embarked on a spate of city protests. It could have attracted people in the streets had the opposition performed better while in the government. Oli's government though numerically strong is equally weak in view of its lethargic work performance, which was glaringly seen during the flood and landslide disasters that brought the country virtually down to its knees.
