By Sunil KC

The country’s politics looks embroiled in an unending cycle of protests and agitations. On Tuesday alone, there were half a dozen protest programmes in Kathmandu. The RPP held a protest programme at Balkhu against secularism and for the restoration of the monarchy. Similarly, there were protests against the ouster of Kulman Ghising as managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority.  Then, there were teachers agitating for the issuance of a school education act, and protests by the victims of cooperative and microfinance fraud. Similarly, Chitra Bahadur KC of the Jan Morcha party also staged a protest against federalism.

Thousands of people gathered at Balkhu, Kathmandu on Tuesday, April 8, called by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), the party fighting for the restoration of constitutional monarchy. Rajendra Lingdel, chairman of the party, said they will remain vigilant and alert against any unscrupulous element to stir trouble at the protest programme. There was also a massive deployment of security forces to avert any unwanted situation. A similar protest two weeks ago at Tinkune had resulted in violence and mayhem with two killed and properties destroyed. That incident is still talked about in the news and on social media.

However, the government is reluctant to call for judicial inquiry and investigation into the unwarranted use of force and shooting at the protest programme at Tinkune. New information pictures and videos circulating in social media indicate that the uncalled-for use of shooting, baton charges and use of tear gas had worsened the situation leading to the deaths and the destruction of the properties.

RPP said that it will continue with protest programmes throughout the country until a constitutional monarchy is restored in the country and the declaration of Nepal as a Hindu state. The other demand of the party is the abolition of the federal structure of the country saying it has been a massive drain of the country’s resources.

As if political protests are not enough, school teachers all over the country are agitated demanding the issuance of the School Education Act. The Federation of Teachers’ Unions, which brings together teachers’ unions of all political parties, have been staging sit-in agitation and rallies in Kathmandu since last Thursday. Their one-point demand is the prompt issuance of the School Education Act that would guarantee permanency to school teachers and staff, timely and timely promotion and other perks and facilities. Hundreds of school teachers from all over the country have come to Kathmandu to participate in the protest.

The school education, under the present constitution, is put under the jurisdiction of the local government. But the teachers are demanding that school education must be put under the jurisdiction of the federal government arguing that there is too much politics in play in terms of funding, appointment and transfer of teachers and staff under the local government. So, to change this, the constitution has to be amended. But the school teachers are unyielding and are saying they will not go back to classes until their demand is met. That means the schools may not reopen in time for the next academic year, and also affect the checking of the exam papers of the recently concluded SEE examinations and publication of the results. They have rejected the government’s call for talks and dialogues saying successive governments in the past have failed to implement the agreements and understandings with the teachers.

In another development, the legal entanglement of Ravi Lamichhane, president of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has increased after the superior court of Tulsipur reversed the decision of the district court to release him on bail. Instead, the superior court ordered Lamichhane to be put in custody until his case of alleged fraud and misappropriation of a cooperative’s fund was finalized. This means Lamichhane could be put away behind the bar for an extended period. This has led to questions about how the party will proceed ahead without its controversial yet charismatic leader. Maybe this is what the big three political parties want to nip in the bud the emerging political force. The RSP had scared the main political parties in the general election in 2022 when it won 20 seats to become the fourth largest party in the parliament and garnered 11 per cent of the popular vote. Lamichhane may appeal at the Supreme Court, but if the Supreme Court does not expedite Lamichhane’s case, it might take several months before the court delves into his case and even then if it upholds the High Court’s decision he will be out in the cold in the country’s political scenario. And without Lamichhane, many analysts see the aura of the RSP could be significantly reduced because no one could generate the vibe in public.

The case of Ravi Lamichhane has opened a Pandora’s Box of fraud and irregularities amounting to hundreds of billion rupees with hundreds of thousands of people losing their savings. However, the government has chosen to close its eyes to the pleas of those people. Records show the total cooperative fraud has reached almost 8600 billion rupees and the government has remained almost disinclined to investigate those cases.

Yet, what many political watchers say is that the government is targeting any opposition to its authority. With Kulman Ghising of Nepal Electricity Authority being sidelined and Ravi Lamichhane of RSP being put out in the political wilderness, the Oli government, they accuse, is now targeting Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah. Recently, a complaint was filed at the Commission for the Abuse of Authority, the country’s highest corruption fighting body, against Balen and his personal secretary Bhupadev Bhatta, accusing them of financial irregularities during the purchase of 35 ambulances. The KMC had bought those ambulances to donate them in several districts in the far west. Also the government has sent back chief administrative officer Saroj Guragain, who was debarred by Mayor Balen from entering the KMC for alleged financial misappropriation while issuing a license in the construction of Kathmandu Tower. The KMC has been requesting the government for a new chief administrative officer for the last five months.

The continued protests and agitations are clear signals of extreme disapprovals and active resistant against the political parties and the present political system. It remains to be seen how KP Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prachanda along with their and other parties deal with this overt challenge to the present political framework.