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By Rabi Raj Thapa   

Isabel Hardman wrote a book, “Why We Get the Wrong Politicians” intersecting the wrong political practices of Great Britain. She wondered, ‘How could a prime minister have got it so wrong that he ended up being ambushed by his own laws?’. Maybe, this is the right time for all concerned Nepalis too to be concerned and think over Nepal’s deteriorating political landscape before it is too late.

One of the examples cited in the book is the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. On 12 April 2022, Boris Johnson was fined by the Metropolitan Police for celebrating his birthday with colleagues during a lockdown that he himself had imposed; using laws written by his ministers. Now, compare how many laws Nepali Parliamentarians have formulated and implemented honestly. Take the birthday celebration of the Nepali prime minister K P Oli’s birthday and that of Boris Johnson’s. In February 2020, Nepali PM K.P. Oli celebrated his 69th birthday at his birthplace Athrai, Terathum, flying there on a chartered helicopter with other three choppers following with his followers. There, he was presented a Birthday Cake sporting Nepal’s map reportedly gifted by the big business were cut into pieces and eaten by all with fanfare and gusto. And look at all Nepali who took that celebration as a great national event, massively covered by all types of news.   

It is needless to say Nepal’s politics is getting bad to worse day by day. Individually political leaders are losing respect, trust and credibility and Nepali people are getting hopelessly disappointed day by day. Government institutions are turning a deaf ear to public outcry. Civil servants and elected leaders themselves shamelessly violate institutional norms, standards and etiquette. Nepali people feel government functionaries live like parasites on state funds; squeezing from tax-payer money, foreign aid, and remittance as well. Now it has become clear that these political leaders will remain in power as long as they live; no matter how many elections are held in the coming years.   

When will Nepali people realize that the time for change has come?

Today, the architects and political masters of federal Nepal must be feeling that they are drowning down to the highest possible low esteem. Since Nepal got a federal system and constitution, it has shown a special type of disrespect for all history, glories and achievements without any substantial evidence. Its stalwarts have busied themselves with historically low-level political motives, high cost and low public services. As a result, the majority of disenchanted Nepali youth have taken risks and left Nepal for an unknown future. There is no shame, sense of guilt and desire for any introspection and correction by any means. This is the dilemma unfortunate destiny that Nepal is facing today.  

It is disheartening to witness all stakeholders including police, civil services, political leaders, members of the Parliament and even ministers and prime ministers lacking contentment, and compatibility from the same federal political system of their own making. When will they learn to be sincere and stick to their commitment whether it is zero-tolerance to corruption or timely and adequate amendment of the Constitution?

It is but natural when we entrust a mixed bag of literate or semi-literate, elected or favorably picked-up proportionate representative MPs to set Nepal’s destiny by writing real meaningful laws. Just one example is the laws and regulations related to police services that shake and move like a pendulum. The formulation of police acts and regulations is not a joke. But if it is left to ministers, and secretaries who have the least knowledge, experience and understanding of public safety and security, people will find what they deserve. MPs naturally have a taste for holding up legislation until it works and maybe even for writing laws. Nepalese MPs are all good only in talking, but not changing.

It is time to think seriously about where our polity and politicians are going wrong before it further harms Nepal’s wider national and social fabric.