| Username |
Post |
| SIWALIK |
Posted
on 08-Oct-02 03:52 PM
Girija invited an all-party meeting to counter the royal move. Deuba faction was not there. Was that a right move? After all, the EC has recognized it as a legitimate party and has its own election symbol. Was it a prudent move to exclude the NC (Democratic) or was it self-serving on Girija's part? Did it serve the democratic cause at all?
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| smr |
Posted
on 08-Oct-02 10:05 PM
Siwalik:
This is a Nepali brand of democracy --everyone demands it but a very few understands it.
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| ??! |
Posted
on 08-Oct-02 11:31 PM
Although EC recognized Deuba's party as a new party, it does not stand anywhere in the party politics. Not a single election to determine its status. Deuba's party is not much different from Narayan pun's party or all other new parties which were just registered at the EC. Deuba did not break up the NC with 40% MPs to be recognized as fractional party either.... So, in my view, Girija did not do anything wrong technically....... manchhe le je sochne ho tyo ta sochi nai rahanchhan.....
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| dirk |
Posted
on 08-Oct-02 11:58 PM
Though your logic is perfectly sound ??!, do you really think that it was wise for Girija to alienate Sher-e-Nepal ( Deuba) at this juncture rather than extend an olive branch and call for truce. Deuba still has substantial backing amongst the Congressi-wallas. All this animosity and one-upmanship could be detrimental to the whole so called "democratic" institutions or organizations as such. Ke Kasso?
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| orion |
Posted
on 09-Oct-02 09:14 AM
I think it was not prudent of the Nepali Congress to exclude Deuba's party but perhaps this is a pressure tactic the Congress is using vis-a-vis Deuba because it knows Deuba is cornered now that the Kig has "betrayed" him. I think Deuba should go back and merge with the parent party. The Congress needs to let by gones be by gones ( like the UML) if it wants to survive the present crisis.
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| VillageVoice |
Posted
on 09-Oct-02 10:48 AM
I don't think it was a wise move. Deepak Gywali has given a name to this trend - politics of exclusion (The Nepali Times) that, according to him, also gave way to Maoist insurgency, our number one poblem.
Quite so. Just look how far these people can go: Govinda Raj Joshi, a short while ago, sacked Ramchandra Poudyal, a politician who enjoys a far greater legitimacy both inside and outside the party ranks, from Congress' (Koirala) Tanahu district committee. (Pls correct me if I got my facts wrong). I mean what are these leaders upto - soon (hopefullly) they will turn around and find out, well, nobody's following them, and they got to start all over again.
Why can't these people see only 10 years ago the Palace used to be tharkaman when they spoke a single word: Khabardar. Now? It's the other way round. What caused the turnarund? Can one be so apathetic to public opinion?
On a different note, I think the Deuba Congress will gradually lose its steam. Two of the party strongmen, Khum Bahadur Khadka and JP Gupta -- big-time dadas who owe their standing in the party more to money and muscle power than anything else -- could be hopelessly marginalized, if CIAA (or the King) continues to pursue the current anti-corruption drive against them. And I sincerely hope it will, if the cournty is to banish this ugly face of dada-ism from Nepali politics, and replace it with a value-based politics. And Chiranjibi Wagle faces a similar problem.
And without leaders, and government, at the center, the deuba outfit could just lose its momentum.
I don't necessarily agree with the agrument that the Congress is in crisis and because of that, the two factions should join forces under (who else but) Koirala, who, as the party leader, is largely resposible for the current ills. but unfortunately i see that happening. the status quote will continue unless koirala too is sidelined through corruption charges of gigantic proportions. And I bet this man, as the sitting prime minister for years, has blood stains in his hands.
Back to the party politics. It is his refusal to institutionalize the Congress (I suspect he doesn't even realize the damage he's done due to that), and his continued reliance on "personality cult" that have driven Congress precipice. To blame deuba for the split would be misleading. If it was not deuba, there would be seuba, kheuba or teuba.
Hi Orion, let me add, I was quite impressed with your comments the other day on the thread "Deuba replaced" started by Ashu. A salute to your level-headed tone and a strong belief in demoracy ::)
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| VillageVoice |
Posted
on 09-Oct-02 11:26 AM
Re: Deepak Gywali's article - "Shed the politics of exclusion," Nepali Times, Sept 20-26.
The thread in question is "Deuba kicked out."
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| orion |
Posted
on 09-Oct-02 08:29 PM
Village Voice - I am flattered by your kind words. I think you too kick rear on this forum and do a good job with it. Yes, I read Deepak Gywali's article with great interest a few days ago. He is right that inclusion is the golden rule in politics. That is what I have been arguing for a long time, both in this and other boards, about how that principle needs to be apllied whenever practical to national issues like accountability, Madesi and Janajati problems and the strengthening and consolidation of democracy in Nepal.
Which is why I think King Gyanendra is making mistake by shutting out the parties. Likewise I think, and I know you disagree, that the two Congresses should kiss and make up like the two UML before them. Exclusionary and divisive politics are generally bad politics and those who practice them invariably end up becoming the vicitms of the same.
Cheers.
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| VillageVoice |
Posted
on 10-Oct-02 12:53 PM
Tks, Orion.
Haven't seen you much on sajha? But am impressed by whatever little I have seen of you. But then I am not a regular, regular myself :)
I am definitely keeping a close watch on how the king treats the political parties, embodiment of popular sentiments - regardless of their supposed fall-out with the middleclass population *inside* kathmandu.
And I deeply regret that their request has been stonewalled by the kiing for two straight days - as if the dashain rituals were more important than the grave task before the nation. Another instance of politics of exclusion ???? It's neither in the country's overall interest nor the Monarchy's to antogonize democratic forces.
While the king should continue to provide stewardship to the current anti-corruption drive, he will do well to allay fears of royal takeover and exta-constitutional adventurism. Once revived, it will be very hard to bury the ghosts of Panchayat and 2017.
The image of constitutional Monarchy, so carefully guarded by King Birendra over the years and Gyanendra himself for the last one year, has taken a serious pounding since last Friday, both inside the country and outside.
As for the anti-corruption drive, I take it that it's in the right direction, now that even the army officers have been asked to submit their property details.
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