Constitution having progressive spirits and its promulgation on time is

almost out of the question due to parties’ dillydallying. Performances of the ruling alliance and their attitudes are hinting at the possibility of repetition of the previous content in the new form, in case the new statute was also written. In addition, it is out of bounds to have

high aspirations from the Madhav-led government because of its weak political morale since it was formed some 10 months ago. The country has become a hostage of indecision due

to the leaders’ rigidity and reluctance to be contextual. The future may witness

the repetition of the bleak history, because of the irresponsible performance of the responsible persons; thereby, crippling the current political situation.

Now, regression is at the crossroads. The civil society woke up to its voices, experts on conflict resolution made their statements in the slogans of peace while pessimistic intellectuals are on a mass exodus to foreign lands in search of ‘security’. It is not a big surprise that a level of conscious citizen was enraged because of doubts of reemergence of conflict in the country. Citizens are never the bystanders of the ravaged democracy. It is the regressive forces’ foolishness to start hatching conspiracies against democracy thinking that people are passive

at a particular moment. It was proven that the Madhav-led government has

totally failed to justify its moral ground since its

inception, as it was formed with the parties of diverse colors, interests, ideologies and cultures with the responsibilities of drafting the constitution and translating the changes of Jana Andolan II in real life. Neither Madhav Nepal, individually, is solely responsible for its non-function nor should one curse him. The government’s gravity is weighed

on the ground of coalition partners’ and members’

cultural levels. The forward-looking forces and regressive forces are clearly visible in the eyes of people.

Either Madhav Kumar Nepal does not bother to think about the government’s spirit, ethics and moralities, or he is doomed to be a helpless figure after his fellow members in the cabinet defy his ‘orders’. The entire system of the country under the government has been running on ad hoc basis. Decisions on appointment of the governor and in other constitutional bodies, discussions on federalism and security affairs are some of the points. The government’s functions, structure and unity depend on the level of allegations and conspiracies against the Maoists and are regarded as guts and a weapon to elongate the days in the government. The prime minister seems very helpless in a sense that he does not have courage to take action against any of his cabinet members, though one is found breaching the code of conduct and has poor performance. The PM should either bind all the cabinet members on the basis of policies or should dare to sack them. What and who are correct and vice versa is the peoples’ main concern at present. The country is heading towards a complex direction as the dateline for constitution promulgation is nearing. What is almost certain is that the constitution within the slated time is next to impossible.

The parliamentary parties could not come up to address the existing problems truly by forsaking their status-quoist mentalities. The crux of progression is the agenda of state restructuring with scientific federalism by guaranteeing rights to the have-not groups and suppressed people. But they lack internalization regarding the country’s uneven development, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic reality because of their long rooted Singha Durbar centric psychology. A new culture will not develop until prejudiced and centrist perceptions were given up. But,

the tragedy of Nepal’s

politics is that politicians of a certain level never quit

the traditional attitudes

and mindset, let alone receiving the waves spread by the new thoughts and ideologies. Another aspect is the activeness and attitudes developed after the prejudiced thoughts.

Our social status, economic forms and relations are the combinations of modern and new contents while our culture is a blended form of feudal and modern thoughts. Feudal cultures can split but they can never be contextual. Ideologies have their own constraints and problems so the parties do have their own circle and interest groups. They need to show themselves being in modern ideals with progressive visions but do not dare to internalize culturally. This is the political influence imposed by our remix culture.

Every challenge comes with a new solution. The more difficult the problem, the more effective the solution. The main problem of the present time is lack of serious studies of the context by the traditional forces, while absence of artistic presentation and deliberations by balancing the conscience and emotions is the pitfall of the progressive forces. History neither shows sympathy upon us nor does it wait for our

convenience, as it never comes to a best form automatically, every problem needs initiatives for its successful resolution. The very attempt is a must in the present which all politicians should keep in mind.

Writer was advisor to

former information minister KB Mahara.