By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

The apologists of the Himalayan Republic go to any length to defend the present political dispensation.

On the one hand, most are clear that much is rotten in the current republic; but on the other, they are not willing to entertain that the system must be fully overhauled.

They argue that regime change is not necessary.

There is indeed great faith in the system being able to transform itself – ‘self-correcting’ --and, of course, the current leaders being capable of a change of heart and condition.

Critique from within

The federal parliament is supposed to be at the centre of the Himalayan Republic’s federalism agenda, but it is not functioning properly at all.

The government organ The Rising Nepal, which can be seen as a staunch regime supporter writes: “Contrary to popular expectations, the federal parliament could not endorse important Bills required to implement the new Constitution” (April 6)

[Actually, it is nearly a decade old!].

On the one hand, the newspaper claims that the country has achieved political stability with the formation of the new government comprising the two largest parties in parliament.

At the same time, Ritu Raj Subedi, the Deputy Executive Editor has the guts to admit that “desired outcomes have not come from the much touted economic reform agenda.”

Hridayesh Tripathy: “A tale of a failing state”

Hridayesh Tripathy, a former minister and the president of the People’s Progressive Party, is no friend of the Shah monarchy.

However, in an essay in The Kathmandu Post, he has shown rare qualities of leadership woefully missing in most other so-called Nepali leaders – self-reflection and self-critique.

He points out fundamental flaws in the Constitution.

He writes: “Federalism, as it stands, simply translated into an evolved form of administrative division” (April 4) and “The political division of the country has yielded decentralized corruption.”

In fact: “Corruption has become institutionalized in every echelon of the government, from local to provincial or federal.”

Tripathy concludes that the Himalayan Republic is inexorably on the path of a failing state and that the leadership of the country has failed [He does not exclude himself. We should salute the man! ]

The current government of the Himalayan Republic is carrying on business as usual. It does not see any necessity to act to counter:

  • The dire economic situation
  • The ‘brain’ and ‘brawn’ drain
  • The intense pollution.

Increasing air pollution keep’s Nepal’s health sector and people’s life expectancy at stake (ANI/Asian News International, April 7), but the Himalayan Republic’s leaders are either oblivious or don’t care at all!

The overall consensus among independent Nepali analysts and observers is that the Oli/Deuba government (or any other combination) is utterly incapable of delivering credible governance and sustainable economic development.

And the most indubitable fact is that the popular support for the current political dispensation has been hopelessly eroded.

How and for how long can the Nepalese people be kept at bay from their inherent rights and aspirations?

The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.