Nepal Diary: Statesmanship in Deficit

British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) had said, ‘The tragedy of one successful politician after another is the gradual substitution of narcissism for an interest in the community.’ Whether it is applied in Nepali politics or not, it’s a matter of debate. But the most compelling evidence is that we do not have any successful politician in Nepal these days. Betrayal to their people in general and to their country in particular has been a regular phenomenon for Nepali politicians.

Former law maker Sadrul Miya was murdered. The present government led by the CJ Khil Raj Regmi hurriedly decided to compensate Rs one million to culprits not even waiting the primary investigation of the police. More than anything else, it turned out to be the fact that his wife’s and daughter’s involvement in Miya’s murder has been apparent. Why could not Regmi’s home minister simply use his commonsense on this issue? Naturally, he seemed to be guided by the sentiment of the mass; however, home minister at least should consult and listen to his sub-ordinate in his ministry.

Regmi is biting the bullet on another scandal. Worst of all was the tendency of corruption. It is difficult to believe but nonetheless true that Regmi is losing morality and credibility day by day. Notably, series of episodes on Upper Trisuli 3- A hydro project have been disclosed in the press with the tacit connivance of Regmi’s family member and relative acting as “Commission agents” favoring Gezhouba, Chinese Company, in the expansion to 90 MW against 60 MW. Finally, it was withdrawal.

Does Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) have guts to go for independent investigation on this alleged financial misdeed?

Politics has been captured by notorious politicians. Most astonishingly of all, they refuse to take any accountability on their wrong-doing. ‘ Loktantra’ or whatever euphemism they call it, it turns out to be a mere rhetoric if not a ‘big lie’. Isolating the significant political parties, the parrot cry of election does not make any sense. Rather, it will be counterproductive for ‘major political parties.’ The ‘ big four’ seemed to be suffered from schizophrenia. As a matter of fact they are undeserving recipients of special favors from the state. Be it their sophisticated life style or their frequent travelling for their personal benefits. Most noteworthy, political parties cannot be ignored in democracy but the time has come to jettison their unsuccessful leaders to reinvigorate parties welcoming young leaders.

Regmi’s significance of leading the electorate government is useless because so called election is about to be turned topsy-turvy by a myopic power craving. Regardless of their utterances against the nefarious intension of international community in general and India in particular, politicians, to a large extent, are manipulated and guided by their “PRABHUS” fulfilling their vested interests. The country is desperately missing BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Sigh, Kishun jee and Man Mohan Adhikari who did always put national interest first. Now politics is in the hands of sycophants. One after another, politicians are busy in toing and froing between Beijing and Delhi. Thus Nepali politics has entered a new, unpredictable and ugly phase. American theologian James Freeman Clarke(1810-1888) said, ‘ A politician thinks of the next election; a statesmen, of the next generation.’ To bolster the people towards democracy and development, we genuinely need one such statesman but not a persona non grata.

Mitra Bandhu Poudel is the Principal at Little Angels’ College of Management, Kathmandu Nepal.

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