No child’s play

Being in the opposition, or rather the vitriolic brand that adheres to the UCPN (Maoist), the Friday mass meeting in Kathmandu was reverberating with its chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal going out full, and mincing no words, in announcing that a new movement was around the corner if the ruling parties, namely CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress, failed to fulfill the demands put forth. What marked the speech is the direct singling out of the major ruling parties with some of the choicest expletives, which are not what a former head of government relies on for getting the political messages across to the people—for Maoist cadres it might have been exciting. It comes as the lowest ebb in the political culture—which should have reached newer heights in reality. However, instant gains and bulldozing one’s way seems to be the way that the main opposition has seen about going its way, whether while leading the government or out as the opposition. That such a party in mainstream politics has taken the help of degrading language in reference to the incumbent prime minister (the facts are not manipulated, of course), a person who they had agreed to make the Constitutional Committee head earlier, seems to be born out of frustration at not having the way that dictates their action plan. What the leaders of UCPN (M) have forgotten in the meanwhile is that the decorum of Loktantra has to be held with respect, and despite all the differences the political competitive edge ought to prevail—not personal slanders or the use of brute force.

The personal reference has irked Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal so much so that he has hit back at this at every venue that he had gone to. Whatever that may be, it stands to reason that the relations among the major political parties have reached the lowest level possible, which gives basis for problems with the constitution drafting work. Without getting the main

opposition UCPN (Maoist) into the fold, the hopes

of the statute being ready for the May 28, 2010

deadline is dim. More than the major tasks mandated for the CA, it has been more of a warfare of words, and the basic thrust to see that the people’s aspirations achieve fruition has been lost in the backseat. This is the grimmest aspect of present day politics that is being witnessed, increasing the frustrations among the people. Maybe, the Maoist underlining the “revolution” aspect has something to do with the pulse of the mass. The expectations that the people have whether it is relief in any sector that one can think of is missing.

Anyway, at least this proves that, despite the all round gloom, democracy is at work, and alive. This is what has to make us wary of any attempts to destabilize it. And, this is where the political bigwigs of every party have to tread carefully, watching the effects of the negative lines of thought that only undermine the basis on which the republic is going to fulfill what the people desire in earnest, not the bickering and mud-slinging antics of the so-called role model parties. The only sincere wish remains for all the parties to get the statute writing task moving and the peace process reaching the goal.

Closed again

The students of private Plus Two colleges again face another closure. These colleges have been closed numerous times this year alone. The shut down has been announced by the students’ sister wing of the Maoist party. Trouble started brewing after the Tribhuvan University officials made their intentions known that they would phase out the Proficiency Certificate Level from this year. However, the varsity authorities had to back down after stiff protests from student unions. The public campuses were compelled to enrol students at this level. The protesting students have several demands and grievances against the way the Plus Two colleges are being operated and managed by the public sector. They want the standard of education imparted here to be comparable to those provided by private colleges.

This demand appears valid and needs looking

into. Also the demands of the students are that the higher secondary schools be provided with the

necessary infrastructure and teachers. In any

case, attempts to politicize education should meet with determined resistance. The students should not be made victims under the guise that the demands are of the academic nature.