To encourage the young members of Nepali Congress with a round about perspective of doctrines, policies and development, Dr. Jayaraj Acharya organized a one-month long training programme for the Congress youths. This training bestowed knowledge upon the participants that could come handy for them to lead a political forum.

Twenty members from the Nepali Congress registered for the program. We were trained on leadership development by diplomats, economists, security experts, development experts and other important personnel of international standard. A lot of topics were analyzed in detail including Nepali Congress’s manner of running the state followed by the circumstances the country has had to face up till now.

The sessions on the future polices and political action plan the Congress needs to initiate turned out to be fervent given that Nepali Congress is the only authentic follower of loktantra in the nation. As the spirit of loktantra is well absorbed by the Nepali population, nobody now can challenge its existence in Nepal. In the same manner, there is no alternative for the Congress other than to develop and ensure the safety of loktantra. Therefore, it is essential that Congress overcomes its internal party turmoil and reforms the party starting with a leadership of a new era which can competently guide and progressively work with the new generation.

This leadership training made evident the haphazard way the Nepali Congress has traversed the path in all the years, since the changes of 2046 B.S., in presenting itself before the country and the Nepali population. The trust and faith bestowed by the people upon Congress in 2048 B.S. seem not to have been well acknowledged by it. Similarly, the leadership has not been able to be accountable to the party members. Nepali Congress’ international policies had been nil

and its economic policy had miserably failed. In the background of this precarious emptiness and failure within the Congress, a politics of violence had a chance to prosper in the country. The same politics of violence gave birth to the Maoists. It is a reality that cannot be denied.

The current Constituent Assembly has over 6o per cent of the representatives following communism. The reason why the percentage has gone up is directly linked to the failed socio-economic programs taken up by the NC. Currently, the NCseems to be devoid of agendas. Even the agendas being advocated since

2007 are not to their credit anymore. These have been the basis of the growing communist leniency among the Nepalese.

An important person training the NC youths was Dr. Seri Ulf, an American citizen. She apparently was a person who had first hand experience of being involved in active American active politics, with administrative knowledge

as well as a person understanding the importance

of diplomacy. She presented herself to us very diplomatically. She emphasized

that any loktantrik political party must have three

traits: transparency, accountability and a participatory approach.

The topics of Constitution and Federalism have not been adequately discussed within the Nepali Congress. That is why Kalyan Gurung (President of the Student Wing of Congress) had been prioritizing the federation as North-South division, keeping in mind national security after federation. In Terai-Madhesh the protest has all along been in demand of East-West federation. According to the

census, Terai-Madhesh is more populated than the pahad or Hills. Will the country get fragmented? To make this query simpler, Dr. Seri Ulf referred to it as a decision that she would not be able to make on behalf of the Nepalese.

She, however, suggested that if Nepal is federated along North-South division, the entire border of the nation will be subject to a federal state. If the country is federated along East-West division, the entire boarder will not be subject to one federal state. This way, the federal state won’t have a separate international boarder and will be less likely to get fragmented. All of us felt that her example was quite knowledgeable.

The Nepali Congress leadership is not active in party reform. An important knowledge our training gave us has been that professional involvement of international agencies within the country should be well monitored and not all of their aspects be granted immediate or full autonomy. In Nepal, we are currently facing an example of how a country goes down the path of a long term peril in exchange of short term economic benefits.

With the intention of giving a new life to Nepali Congress and with genuine concern for Nepal and the Nepali people, along with Dr. Jayaraj Acharya, we are now 21 more capable of discussing and analyzing the hope and possibilities. This shall transform the Congress party. Loktantra which is on its way to get institutionalized in the nation, shall also be strengthened.

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