By PR Pradhan pushpa-columnThe birth anniversary of Lord Shiva, popularly known as Shivaratri is being observed as the Army Day by the Nepal Army. This year also, the Nepal Army observed the day by organizing different programmes. Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Gen Rajendra Chhetri, addressing a special programme at the Nepal Army Headquarters, said that the Nepal Army is always in a ready position to defuse the groups who are threatening to raise arms with the aim of destroying communal harmony among the people and organizing separatist activities in the country. Earlier, at the meeting of the Division Commanders chaired by CoAS Chhetri also, the country’s security situation and possible threats were analysed. The Division Commanders had remarked about the possible security threats from those who are trying to destroy communal harmony, campaigning for separatist movement and the armed underground forces are also active in the country. From the above analysis of the Nepal Army, we can easily understand how serious is the situation! What about the leaders in the government? Are they too serious about the situation? No, we don’t think so. Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal is trying to prolong his tenure by pleasing his bosses in Delhi, whereas, NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba is planning to become the next prime minister by pleasing his bosses in Delhi. Both of them are in the race on how to please their bosses in Delhi just for the chair. In the meantime, another key player, KP Sharma Oli is trying to get benefit from the race for the power between Dahal and Deuba. Those leaders in power are busy in daylight looting. They have undermined the constitution, political ethics and moral norms and values. The very leaders had coined the word “loktantra” and in the name of “loktantra” they are looting the nation from all sides. They have introduced politics of “Bhag-Banda” or say quota system to share lucrative posts and thus they have distributed in a partisan basis all important organs. We just saw violation of the Nepal Police chain of command in the process of promoting a person as the Nepal Police IGP. The government shared the ambassadorial posts through a quota system. We know, the post of IGP is important to establish law and order and peace. If the Police chief will be assigned on the basis of political loyalty, he cannot perform impartial roleand the political leaders are least bothered about it. Accordingly, an ambassador represents the nation in the country where he has been assigned. If he belongs to any particular party, he will serve the party interests rather than the national interests. More than that, the NC leadership is facing criticism for selecting some names on the basis of financial give and take, which is unfortunate. Most unfortunate is that the opposition camp in the NC has criticized the party leadership for nominating non-party-members to the ambassadorial position. One should understand that to become an ambassador, one should get a membership of some big party.When an ambassador’s post or an IGP’s post is on sale, what can we expect from the leaders who are driving the nation! Instead of leading the nation with greater vision, the leaders are running behind their petty interests. In the last 26 years since the introduction of the multiparty democracy we have witnessed the demolishing of one after another institution which were essential to run the country. Nepal is a small nation having enough natural resources to make the country economically prosperous, unfortunately, the political leaders made Nepal one of the poorest country.Personally, they have become rich by making the country poor. If the present trend will continue, Nepal will be regarded as the No 1 corrupt country in the globe. The leaders have invited foreign powers and they themselves have become slaves of the foreign powers. Along with the political change in 2006, Nepal has become an undeclared colony of India and the situation has become worse. Our sovereignty, independence and indivisibility are under serious threat. If the political leaders will continue to think themselves above the law and act as per their own wish, Nepal will reach to the stage from where nobody can rescue this country. In conclusion, the nation is heading towards a hopeless scenario and the Nepalese people are still living with hope in the hopeless situation. If this processis not stopped, we cannot assure our future generation whether we can secure them the Nepali identity or not! Only one institution, that is the Nepal Army, remains intact till date. If the situation will further deteriorate, the Nepal Army also cannot take into control the situation. Debates have already started of the Nepal Army role. Of course, a military coup cannot be the solution, nevertheless, the Nepal Army should not remain silent by watching blunders committed by the political leaders. As the Nepal Army is an organization run by the taxpayers’ money, it is the duty of the Nepal Army to think about the taxpayers’ betterment and to save the nation. In this regard, the Nepal Army should play the role of a monitor to alert the political leaders in the government on their wrong decisions. Furthermore, perhaps the Nepal Army has also analysed how foreign powers are involved in micro-management in this country! To counter such a practice, the Nepal Army should help promote an alternative party having a patriotic stance. As we know, our political capital has been shifted to Delhi, the Nepal Army should play the role to return back the political capital in our own country. The question is that can the Nepal Army do this? To add, in India, although the army is not involved in politics, the political leaders cannot go beyond the army decisions. Therefore, in spite of many serious internal problems including separatist movements in some of the states, India has remained united. In Bangladesh also, army is the key factor of its strength. In Nepal, the NGOs are inoperation with the foreign fundingagencies, however, in Bangladesh, such NGOs are being supported by the military forces. We can find many civilian research organisations in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, among other countries in South Asia which are directly funded by the military organization and advocating for patriotism. The Nepal Army can also follow such a practice to bring the political leaders on proper track.