Nepal: Adoption of Federal order will tear apart nation

Mohan Bikram Singh

UNderground Communist Leader, Nepal

Q1. You have all of sudden surfaced after going underground for about four decades. Some people say this is your media stunt for drawing the attention of the public. What say you?

Mohanbikram: Let me make you clear that I have not yet not become public. I am still living semi-underground life. I do not attend any public programs. However, my photographs have now been made public because it became impossible for me to escape cameras. This is my compulsion, not my willingness. That’s all.

Q2. But it is said that your photos were made public as per your own desires?

Mohanbikram: Our party committee had made decision to make my photos public. My personal preference is not the only factor responsible for it. We studied the ongoing situations carefully before making my photos public and our party finally made a decision on it.

Q3. Can you please tell us when your semi-underground life is coming to an end?

Mohanbikram: When the overall rights of the entire Nepali population will be ensured, when our genuine demands will be addressed, and when each and every Nepali national’s access to food, clothes and shelter is guaranteed, I will come aboveground. Before this, I am determined not to expose myself in public.

Q4. Communists of Nepal remain divided into several factions. Amidst this situation, how do you think the above said objectives will be met with?

Mohanbikram: I am pretty sure that we will ultimately achieve our objectives. Feudalism will and should be ended in Nepal once and for all. We are struggling for this purpose. We firmly believe that we will succeed in achieving these targeted goals.

Q5. Don’t you think that your objectives will be fulfilled only after all the forces of Nepal get united?

Mohanbikram: Conflict exists everywhere. Our country will never get rid from the conflict. You can take an example of your own household for understanding the essence of conflict. Conflict exists between son and father, husband and wife, etc. In a similar manner, conflict exist within parties also. Not only inside the communist party, but inside other parties with different ideological leaning also, conflict exists. We should never think everything will be ruined when a party splits. This is a natural phenomenon.

Q6. All the splinter faction claim themselves to be a true communist. Why such a claim? Mohanbikram: Inside every object, both true and false things lie. It is extremely difficult to distinguish as to who is wrong and who is right. From the study of the behavior, presentation, style, and ideology that someone posses, we can say whether he or she is right or wrong.

Q7. Two largest communist parties of Nepal, Unified Maoist and UML claim themselves to be the true communists. Among them, which party is better? Can you say?

Mohanbikram: We support or ridicule these parties on the basis of policies they introduce. Some policies of these parties are good and we support them on those issues. If we have wholehearted support for any one of them then we may have now been working with them under the umbrella of a single party. Both the Unified Maoist and UML are equal and same for us.

Q8. How are you analyzing the ongoing Nepali politics?

Mohanbikram: This is the time for drafting new constitution; however, no one seems sincere towards it. It seems as if all are interested towards fulfilling their own personal interests. The Supreme Court has made verdict to promulgate new constitution before May 27, 2012. Only few days/months are left with us, but sincere effort in this regard is extremely lacking. In this prevailing situation, drafting of new constitution is very unlikely. If the new constitution will not be drafted, our country may plunge into a dangerous situation. Therefore, we all should exert pressures for drafting new constitution on the stipulated time.

Q9. Who is responsible for the delay in drafting new constitution?

Mohanbikram: All the political forces of Nepal are responsible for this pitiable situation. The political forces of Nepal are according top priorities to the chair/power/position and this is the root cause of the problem. The intra-party rift inside the Unified Maoists has also delayed the constitution drafting process. Two factions exist inside the Maoist and one of them wants to derail the constitution making process. This has created the problem.

In conclusion, I say that Unified Maoist is more responsible for the delay. After Maoists, Nepali congress and the UML should also share the responsibility.

Q10. Federalism has become an issue of hot debate in Nepal. What would like to say about this issue?

Mohanbikram: All people know that we are against adoption of a federal order. We must abandon the idea of federalism, or else our country will get torn apart into several pieces.

The interim constitution of Nepal has accepted federalism; however, Nepal has yet not formally entered into the federal structure. The federalists are themselves confused on which form of federal structure suits our country. We urge all people to ditch the idea of federalism.

Q11. How are you analyzing Dr. Baburam Bhattarai led incumbent government?

Mohanbikram: We do not believe that this government will be able to find a solution to the problem faced by Nepali population. By looking at the policies and practices of the party of Dr. Bhttarai, we had drawn this conclusion. They are very negative towards the ongoing peace and constitution drafting process. The government is moving ahead without the consent of Nepali people. The government is signing different treaties and agreement at its will. All such activities of government are against the interests of Nepal and the Nepali people.

Courtesy: Ghatana Ra Bichar, dated March 8, 2012. Thanks: Ed.

Post your Comment here

TERMS OF USE:The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any persons) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

Comments

Posted on - 2012-03-16 by David in London
Mr Singh is absolutely right Federalism will destroy Nepal into tatters. Imagine having federal governments when even political parties are internally divided into 3 or more factions? Actually, the Maoists would only accept federalism under a people's democratic republic with their party having the commanding heights in the body politic.