Spirit calling

Three decades may not seem a long time in the history of the country, but going back can provide the insight that has shaped the present day national politics. The uncertainties that exist as of present with every political party considering itself as top notch cannot be eliminated unless each reflects on what events and how they have come to attain this position of recognition—for good or bad. Herein, it seems worthwhile going a little over three decades back, during the draconian days, when late BP Koirala made the all important decision to return to Nepal with the declared policy of national unity and reconciliation. It may have seemed that he was putting

his life and career at risk by returning, but it underscored the fact that it was in the country itself

that contentious issues could be sorted out. It was

the king then who did not give his ear to the voice of wisdom, Yet, BP made a mark in the environment then. The well-known policy may have remained dormant all these years except as a means of

allegiance, the present day scenario once again

harps for dealings on the same line albeit with the modifications that suit the times. It all brings up the very oft-used terminology of “consensus”. That term had been the foundation on which the Comprehensive Peace Agreement materialized, but the successful Constituent Assembly (CA) election was in a

way the beginning of the drift from consensus.

It is unfortunate, but admittedly the lack of a meeting point has been the origin of the people’s woes, the same people who had aspirations of transformation into a new Nepal.

There can be no disagreement that unity is more than necessary and that reconciliation can only emerge when the partisan hatchets are buried for the moment. Competitive politics is being touted even before the new constitution has been drafted. The wise leadership of the parties know that but they seem to be blind to the reality. It is on their shoulders that the future path of the country rests. However, they are bent on creating unnecessary hurdles for the dream of the people to come true through the democratic and all-inclusive constitution, the deadline for which is not even five months away. In all this, the UCPN (M) has had a definite role to play, but they are proving elusive, somewhat truant in the whole process by coming up with one or the other obstacle to impede the forward movement. They have been shouting hoarse over their self-designed “civilian supremacy”, and on to the fourth phase of their protest the signals are not encouraging.

Reality hits hard, that is the whole bogey of consensus must rope in the UCPN (M), the largest single party in the CA, but its hard-to-realise demands are a greater strain on the newly declared democratic federal republic. The people still are sidelined in front of the gargantuan mass of the parties. For example, the issue of taking the oath in one’s mother tongue is what is aimed at being gained through the seventh amendment in the Interim Constitution. The Maoists know that they have a role in the whole scheme, but they seem to be bent on their pound of flesh. Subscribing to the national unity and reconciliation ticket is a solution, but how?

Filthy war

Finally, the collection of garbage has once again resumed in the capital city after 13 agonizing days. Their collection and disposal were disrupted by various agitating bodies including the local body employees’ association and the disgruntled locals of the Sisdole landfill site. Records show that since the Sisdole Landfill Site came into use in 2005 garbage disposal there has been interrupted as many as mind-boggling 58 times. This has cost the residents of the capital dear because they had to bear the odious stench emanating from the piled up garbage. The trash must have also caused many to become sick. All these point out the need to ensure that the disposal of garbage from the city is not disrupted.

For this, those responsible for managing the garbage should be sensitive to the demands of the locals of the landfill site. The garbage should be dumped in a scientific manner so that awful odors do not emanate from them. Instead of resorting to the disruption of garbage collection, all concerned should attempt to have their genuine demands fulfilled through negotiations where there is no loser and no victor and no one suffers.