[For Nepal, federalism is being considered as the only solution to solving all types of problems like: the suppression and suffering of the indigenous and other water-untouchable peoples who are also fashioned as Dalits nowadays, women, inequality, poverty, illiteracy, price-rise, other hardships faced by the peoples and you name any other problems of the country. This I believe is a totally wrong concept and also think it is a propaganda of politicians with vested interests and its supporters without going deep into the reality that exists in the country.]
By Kalyan Dev Bhattarai
For Nepal, federalism is being considered as the only solution to solving all types of problems like: the suppression and suffering of the indigenous and other water-untouchable peoples, who are also 'fashioned' as Dalits nowadays, women, inequality, poverty, illiteracy, price-rise, other hardships faced by the peoples and you name any other problems of the country. This I believe is a totally wrong concept and also think it is a propaganda of politicians with vested interests and their supporters without going deep into the reality that exists in the country.
Yes I do agree that there are many successful governments in the world that have become able to solve the problems of many of such federal countries - like USA, India etc. However, to follow federalism blindly without understanding the real problems and its roots with false notion that it will solve problems in the country will be a big mistake.
I am afraid, instead of solving the problems of the country, federalism may end up dividing the country into many tiny states and open an avenue for internal struggle, enmity, and misunderstanding between and among the states. A free choice without an external intervention for the right to self-determination may be the principle of the federalism but in fact , not only the annexation of some states but the assimilation of the Terai belt, known as Madhesh, with India could happen.
I would like to agree that there are many problems in the country at present but federalism may not be taken as the solution to all of them as envisaged by the corrupt politicians who are there for power grab and misuse of authority. In Nepal, if we honestly evaluated political development without any bias, we can firmly say loud and clear with no hesitation that corruption and lust for power of the so-called political leaders are the source of all these problems.
Power lust leaders and their ambitious cadres are fooling around Nepalese people that the problems of the country can and will be solved by federalism. It is not only a false notion but betrayal to the citizenry of the country also because they know very well that federalism can and will not solve the problems of the country uniquely seated in between two giant neighbours of different political principles.
The limited quota of one Prime Minister and 40-50 ministers is not enough today for the corrupt leaders and ambitious cadres of different political parties and as most of them want to be ministers – not to develop the country with any realistic plan or indigenous idea but to loot the country as they are doing since 1946 i.e the movement for initiation of democracy. The much hyped federalism may fulfill requirements of the power grab and corrupt politicians only but will not solve any other social, political or economic problems of the country, as they will have more than 18 Chief minister and 30-40 ministers in each of the states as they have proposed today.
To solve the problems like: poverty, price-rise, oppression or suppression, transparency, impunity, accountability etc, requires the involvement of the marginalized people in the decision making process. All have-not groups must be given enough power and authority to decide their priorities or needs and involvement in the decision making process which certainly will not be approved by the present day corrupt so-called leaders of the country.
The advocacy for federalism is only to fulfill their ambition to be in power and I would like you to tell all , please to explain to me how any of our present day problems like poverty, corruption, suppression of the marginalized people, illiteracy, price-ise impunity, etc. will be solved by the federalism. Equally serious constrain is the economic status of the country as Nepal is very poor to sustain the 14 states, its parliament, judiciary, legislative, police and may be militaryetc also.
Other equally important reality is that geographically Nepal is too small for federal state restructuring, as we know many single states of the country like USA and India are bigger than Nepal. Federalism is a success and is able to solve problems in such countries because they are economically sound and geographically bigger enough also.
Our experiences show how we demolished the monarchy of 250 years and re-established the 'new 25 kings' and in the name of facilities, medical treatment and other perk, they are looting the country’s treasury which shows they are no different than any 'professional dacoits' and are in politics to loot the country. The other serious danger in the federalism based on the cast and creed, as proposed by these corrupt leaders, is spoiling present day harmoney: existing mutual cooperation, respect and understanding among the different peoples of the country. The feeling of the hatred against each other based on their caste and creed, language and religion etc. will be beneficial to some leaders only as such feeling will give them one more issue in the name of which they will have a chance to continue looting the nation at their will as they are doing so today.
Analyze the present day problems of the country like poverty, illiteracy, suppression of the poor and marginalized by the rich people, the have-nots, the bureaucrats and their attitudes towards the citizenry of the country etc. and none of these problems can be solved by federalism as they have no direct relationship with the federalism. Federalism itself is just a means to achieving some goals, which essentially depends on honesty, dedication, vision, long term realistic planning and transparency, end of impunity, accountability and feeling of responsibility towards the people. Our experiences since 1946 people’s movement for change and development show that the leaders have no such qualities and they have not changed their notion that they are the masters of the innocent law abiding people and are in politics to loot the country’s treasury in different pretext and can fool the people all the time.
I here would like to call the propagators of federalism in Nepal to explain logically how it can solve any of the present day problems the country is facing with and their feasible road-map which can provide required trust and confidence to the people that it will not create further unwarranted problems but will solve all of them. It is as clear as broad-day light that the present advocacy for federalism is only to fulfill their lust for power so that they could loot the country’s treasury in the name of democracy as they lack any other professional capabilities to live a better life.
Finally, to solve our present day problems what we require is strong will power, political honesty, ideological clarity, dedication, minimum ethics, realistic vision, good homework and the realization that the term democracy is to fulfill the requirements of the people but not to fool them around. I consider it will be an intellectual bankruptcy to trust the same corrupt leaders who have cheated Nepalese people so many times by lying them and looting them and federalism is their new tool to deceive Nepalese people again for few decades so that they could loot the nation as they are doing in the name of interim period.
Related links:
a) DEBATING FEDERALISM : ‘IS DIVISION HALLMARK OF NEW NEPAL?’
b) NEPAL: FEDERALISM, DEMOCRACY AND 'CO-EXISTENCE'
Related links:
a) DEBATING FEDERALISM : ‘IS DIVISION HALLMARK OF NEW NEPAL?’
b) NEPAL: FEDERALISM, DEMOCRACY AND 'CO-EXISTENCE'
***
THARU BODY BRINGS THARUHAT ZONE TO STANDSTILL
[Due to the bandh (shut down) vehicles except emergency services—press, human rights, ambulance and fire engine - on the East-West Highway (Mahendra Rajmarga) remained off the road. Likewise industries, educational institutions and factories remained completely.]
@ The Himalayan Times
NEPALGUNJ: Normal life in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Dang, among other Tharuhat zone was thrown out of gear due to an indefinite bandh called by the Tharuhat Federal State Council on Friday.
Due to the bandh (shut down) vehicles except emergency services—press, human rights, ambulance and fire engine - on the East-West Highway (Mahendra Rajmarga) remained off the road. Likewise industries, educational institutions and factories remained completely closed.
Security has been beefed up in the bandh affected zone.
The bandh supporters are staging a protest chanting slogans against the deal made between the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML.
Laxman Tharu-led Tharuhat Independent State Council accused the coalition and the MJF of inking what it termed an anti-national pact for the sake of power.
The council chairman Laxman Tharu claimed that the agreement is a plot to decimate the Tharu people.
The council had said that they would continue its protest until the deal is scrapped.
***
INDIA GOVT AGREES TO ANNA HAZARE'S DEMANDS ON LOKPAL BILL: REPORTS
[A three member team, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh, had met the government representatives and it is believed that government has relented to Anna Hazare's demands. ]
NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare's crusade against corruption is believed to have won the battle on Friday with the government relenting to the demands made by the veteran social activist, TV reports said.
However, Hazare on Friday night announced that his fast has not ended and further added that he will take a final decision on Saturday.
A three member team, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh, had met the government representatives and it is believed that government has relented to Anna Hazare's demands.
According to reports, Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be the chairman and Shanti Bhushan to be the co-chairman of the proposed joint committee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill. The draft of the Lokpal Bill will reportedly be formally notified.
Anna Hazare had demanded the appointment of a chairman and a co-chairman for the proposed joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill and rejected the government's offer of setting up of the committee by a letter of the law ministry.
He also said there should be no "tainted" ministers in the joint committee comprising civil society members and ministers.
The government had sent a draft on Friday afternoon, following which Hazare sent his draft. "We replied to it and spoke to the three ministers (Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal, law minister Veerappa Moily and minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid) about it," Swami Agnivesh, one of Hazare's three emissaries had said.
Earlier on Friday, the three emissaries held talks with the government on the proposed formation of a committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill.
@ The Times of India
[Due to the bandh (shut down) vehicles except emergency services—press, human rights, ambulance and fire engine - on the East-West Highway (Mahendra Rajmarga) remained off the road. Likewise industries, educational institutions and factories remained completely.]
@ The Himalayan Times
NEPALGUNJ: Normal life in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Dang, among other Tharuhat zone was thrown out of gear due to an indefinite bandh called by the Tharuhat Federal State Council on Friday.
Due to the bandh (shut down) vehicles except emergency services—press, human rights, ambulance and fire engine - on the East-West Highway (Mahendra Rajmarga) remained off the road. Likewise industries, educational institutions and factories remained completely closed.
Security has been beefed up in the bandh affected zone.
The bandh supporters are staging a protest chanting slogans against the deal made between the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML.
Laxman Tharu-led Tharuhat Independent State Council accused the coalition and the MJF of inking what it termed an anti-national pact for the sake of power.
The council chairman Laxman Tharu claimed that the agreement is a plot to decimate the Tharu people.
The council had said that they would continue its protest until the deal is scrapped.
***
INDIA GOVT AGREES TO ANNA HAZARE'S DEMANDS ON LOKPAL BILL: REPORTS
[A three member team, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh, had met the government representatives and it is believed that government has relented to Anna Hazare's demands. ]
NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare's crusade against corruption is believed to have won the battle on Friday with the government relenting to the demands made by the veteran social activist, TV reports said.
However, Hazare on Friday night announced that his fast has not ended and further added that he will take a final decision on Saturday.
A three member team, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh, had met the government representatives and it is believed that government has relented to Anna Hazare's demands.
According to reports, Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be the chairman and Shanti Bhushan to be the co-chairman of the proposed joint committee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill. The draft of the Lokpal Bill will reportedly be formally notified.
Anna Hazare had demanded the appointment of a chairman and a co-chairman for the proposed joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill and rejected the government's offer of setting up of the committee by a letter of the law ministry.
He also said there should be no "tainted" ministers in the joint committee comprising civil society members and ministers.
The government had sent a draft on Friday afternoon, following which Hazare sent his draft. "We replied to it and spoke to the three ministers (Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal, law minister Veerappa Moily and minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid) about it," Swami Agnivesh, one of Hazare's three emissaries had said.
Earlier on Friday, the three emissaries held talks with the government on the proposed formation of a committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill.
@ The Times of India
