Maoists disrupt pre-Budget debate in Nepal House

Lawmakers from the main opposition, UCPN (Maoist) continued their obstruction of the Parliament on Wednesday, demanding investigation into what they call “election fraud,” among other things.

With the party’s obstruction of the House entering the fourth day, the pre-Budget discussion could not be held. Negotiations between the ruling parties and the main opposition failed to end the obstruction.

Speaking in Parliament, UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Agni Sapkota accused Prime Minister Sushil Koirala of not being serious in addressing the party’s concerns.

The UCPN (Maoist) has been demanding implementation of the four-point agreement signed between victorious parties and the Maoists after the second Constituent Assembly elections in November last year.

The Maoist party which had emerged as the biggest party after the first Constituent Assembly (CA) elections in 2008 suffered a big defeat. Initially, it boycotted the counting of ballots after the trends emerged that it was headed for big defeat and called for a formation of commission to investigate “fraud.”

Later it relented, settling for a parliamentary body probe. The UCPN (Maoist) wants that probe body formed and has been obstructing the Budget session since Friday.

Govt policies lack novelty, say oppositions

KATHMANDU, June 29: The opposition parties in the parliament blamed that government’s policies and programs unveiled for the next fiscal year lack novelty and unable to address the aspiration of the people.

Commenting on the government policy presented by the president Dr. Ram Baran Yadav in the parliament on Sunday, UCPN (Maoist) chair Puspa Kamal Dahal termed them to be too traditional and customary.

Dahal also claimed that upcoming budget speech, which will, by and large, be based on these guidelines, would be unable to institutionalize the new political and social achievements accomplished so far.

“It is an indication that budget is not going to be realistic to address the people’s aspirations,” said Dahal.


Even, KP Sharma Oli, parliamentary Party leader of CPN-UML, one of the coalition partners in the government, expressed his unhappiness over the newly announced policies and programs of the government.

He criticized the policies as being traditional and blamed Nepali Congress Party for ignoring coalition partners while drafting the policies for the new fiscal year.
Similarly, UCPN (M) leader and former Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said that polices lack innovativeness to address the demand of time.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party –Nepal (RPP-N) Chairman Kamal Thapa said that government’s new programs failed to impress the people.
According to Thapa, the government programs for the new fiscal year leave the people depressed instead of instilling a sense of hope in them.
However, praising the new policies of the government, NC Ram Chandra Poudel said that forthcoming budget should be able to reflect these agendas duly.

Thapa resigns as RPP Chairman

KATHMANDU, JUN 08 - Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa resigned from his post on Sunday.
Thapa tendered his resignation during the party's Central Committee meet at party office in the Capital today.
The meeting selected Pashupati Shumsher Rana as the party chairman.
Party leaders Prakash Chandra Lohani and Lokendra Bahadur Chand had shunned the CC meeting.
Earlier, Chand had declared himself as party chairman amid press meeting. He had claimed the he became the party Chairman as per the party's statute and the agreement forged in the party's General Convention.
Chand had been demanding that the party leadership should be appointed from among the senior leaders on a rotational basis for one-year term each.
After Thapa, the chairman-in-waiting was Chand, followed by Pashupati Shumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani, respectively.

Student politics in colleges

In Nepali politics, students have played a very important role—be it during the movement to overthrow the Panchayati regime in 1990 or the anti-monarchy movement in 2006 to usher the country toward the republican system. The students have always stood on the frontline. They have also played a key role in raising voices against the hike in prices of various commodities. Their role in raising public awareness and garnering wider public support in many movements can never be underestimated.It is the same student politics that has produced some prominent young leaders who have made a mark in national politics. However, keeping aside their contribution in politics, their activism is severely affecting the standard of the government-run educational institutions.The government colleges today have become synonymous to student politics. Strikes and lock-ups have become a regular affair in the government colleges which has not only politicized the entire academia but also affected the classes disrupting the academic schedule. This has put the students’ future in jeopardy and more and more students are now opting to join the private educational institutions.

To make matters worse, student unions themselves are now found involved in financial irregularities in the constituent colleges of the Tribhuvan University. The 51st report of the Office of the Auditor General has unveiled some disturbing facts. It showed that student unions took more than Rs 5.6 million from colleges only last year without any proper maintenance of its record. According to the report, these unions have taken huge money from Nepal Commerce Campus, Tri-Chandra College, Public Youth Campus, Saraswati Multiple Campus, Sanothimi Campus, Amrit Science Campus, Pulchowk Campus and Public Administration Campus. Little or none of this was spent for infrastructure building such as setting up libraries and computer labs. They haven’t even produced details of their expenses. There is an urgent need to investigate this blatant misuse of college fund and bring the guilty to book.

It is sad to note here that the student union activism has become anarchic in the recent years. Student leaders not only take full control over administrative and financial activities of colleges but also do not hesitate to hold college officials hostage to meet their vested interests. Last year, they held chief of RR Campus into captivity for a night forcing him to enroll new students even as the deadline of admission was about to expire. Such anomalies have become a routine affair in the government colleges, which is not only aggravating teaching and learning but also putting their very existence on the line.These irregularities and hindrances have completely affected the standard of the government colleges which has discouraged the poor and needy students to join them while number of private colleges is increasing by many folds each year.

Student politics is integral to institutions of higher studies across the globe. Student activism takes place in one form or other even in the Western universities. And if utilized properly, student unions can serve as the perfect platforms to groom and prepare competent leaders for the nation. But as far as Nepal is concerned, student unions have done very little except for serving the interests of their mother parties most of the time. As things stand, politicization and undue meddling of student unions in administrative, financial and academic domains has badly deteriorated education quality of government colleges. And despite significant rise of private colleges, government colleges are still the only options for vast majority of poor and lower middle class students, for they cannot afford expensive private colleges. Thus undue meddling is ultimately going to affect the very people for whom the student leaders claim to work. There is a clear need for student unions to salvage their image and establish themselves as agents of reforms in the government colleges. Sooner they do so, greater their respect will be among the people.

KATHMANDU, May 22: Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) has decided to elect an inclusive 125-member central committee from its first general convention scheduled for May 24-27 in Kathmandu. RPP-N currently has a 45-member central committee.

Organizing a press conference on Thursday, RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa said that a proposal for amending the party statute would be tabled at the general convention to make the upcoming central committee an inclusive one.

"The new central committee would be proportionately inclusive in terms of representation of women, Madhesi, Dalit and ethnic communities," said Thapa.

Thapa also informed that a proposal to change the party´s name would also be tabled at the convention. "We have close affinity with the current name. However, we are taking the proposal at the convention as the current name also reflects the party as a group of Panchayat supports and a splinter faction of the RPP," said Thapa.                                                                                                                                                                 

 

RPP-N has set a slogan of ´economic prosperity through nationalism, democracy and religion´ for the general convention. According to Thapa, around 2200 representatives and 300 observers are to attend the convention.

Meanwhile, Chairman Thapa has prepared a political document that describes evolutionism as the party´s philosophy.

"We believe in change but we don´t believe in breaking the continuity. RPP-N believes in gradual change as conservation of traditional values, religion, culture and structure is also the philosophy of our party," explained Thapa.

In his political document, Thapa has explained that the party would be flexible about the current Constituent Assembly drafting the constitution but vowed that party would strongly lobby for declaring Nepal a Hindu state with constitutional monarchy, pro-market liberal economic policy and decentralized governance system.

"As we have just 24 seats in the CA, we cannot do everything as we want but we can raise strong voice in favor of our agenda within the CA. We will be flexible but will never surrender," said Thapa. "Though we want constitutional monarchy, we can discuss the modality of it while being flexible," he added.

RPP chairman Thapa announces resignation

KATHMANDU,May 23 : Senior Rastriya Prajatanta Party (RPP)  leader  Surya Bahadur Thapa  announces resignation as party chairman on Friday.

Organizing a press meet at his Maligaun-based residence, Thapa told the reporters that he would resign as a party head on the establishment day of the party on June 1.

RPP leaders-- Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Prakash Chandra Lohani--  were said to have been piling pressure on Thapa to step down as  per the agreement made during Unity convention last year.

According to the agreement, top four  senior  leaders  are to lead the party on rotational basic, one year each.

Earlier on Tuesday, senior leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand warned Thapa of dire consequence in the party, if  he overlooks the earlier agreement to handover the top party post to Chand.

फेरि बन्दुक उठाउन उक्साउँदै मातृका

काठमाडौं, जेठ ४ –  नेकपा माओवादीका संयोजक मातृका यादवलाई विद्रोही, क्रान्तिकारी र प्रचण्डकै शब्दमा ‘सनकाहा’ त्यतिकै भनिदैन । त्यसको पछाडि धेरै कारण छन् । र, त्यस्तै त्यस्तै क्रियाकलापले उनी चर्चामा छन् । प्रसंग शनिवारको हो । पुरानो बानेश्वरस्थित चौरासी परिकार रेष्टुरेण्टमा मातृका पुनः बन्दुक उठाउने कुरा गरिरहेका थिए । लन्चसहित दिनभरिका लागि आयोजना गरिएको एक अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रममा उनले मधेशका बुद्धिजिवी तथा युवालाई बन्दुक उठाउन सल्लाह दिए । आफ्नो अधिकारका लागि महात्मा गान्धीले पनि हतियार उठाएको स्मरण गराउँदै मातृकाले मधेशका लागि हतियार उठाउन तयार रहन मधेशी युवालाई आग्रह गरे ।
‘हामी नेपाललाई किन स्वीकार्ने ? यहाँका खस शासकहरुले मधेशलाई स्वीकार गरिरहेका छैनन् भने हामीले पनि नेपाललाई स्वीकार गर्नुपर्छ भने छैन । अबको लडाई एक मधेश एक प्रदेशका लागि होइन, छुट्टै देशका लागि हुनेछ’, मातृकाले उक्साउँदै भने । डा. रामकेवल साह अध्यक्ष रहेको ‘मधेश अधिकार लागि’ नामक संस्थाले आयोजना गरेको कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न पेसा तथा व्यवसायमा संलग्न बुद्धिजिवी तथा पत्रकारको उपस्थिति थियो । उनले भने, ‘मधेशका लागि एमाओवादी पार्टी बेइमान त भयो नै मधेशवादी दल झन बेइमान भयो । अब मधेशवादी दलबाट पनि विद्रोह गरेर नयाँ शक्तिको रुपमा अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ उनले आफूले अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डलाई नेता मानेको तर मधेशसँग बेइमानी गरेका कारण छाडेर हिँडेको स्मरण गर्दै उनले भने, ‘अब समय आएको छ मधेशी नेता तथा दललाई छाडेर आफ्नै मोर्चा बनाउने ।’
संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीबाट राजिनामा दिएर निस्केका गोपाल ठाकुरले आफ्नो कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गर्दै भने, ‘यो देशमा सबै सिस्टम फेल भइसकेका छन् । अब आफ्नै सिस्टम खडा गर्न नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ मधेशी जनतासँग कुनैपनि दलले राम्रो व्यवहार नगरेको, सबैको आशाको केन्द्रविन्दु माओवादी र मधेशवादी दल भएको तर उनीहरुबाट पनि बेइमानी भएको कारण अब नयाँ शक्तिको निर्माण गरी नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्ने उनको सुझाव थियो । सोही कार्यक्रममा संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीका असन्तुष्ट उपाध्यक्ष रिजवान अन्सारीले पनि आफ्नो पिडा पोखे । उनले भने, ‘मधेशी मुक्तिको लडाई पेचोलो हुँदै गएको छ, अबको दिनमा संघर्षलाई नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढाइएन भने यो सबैका लागि खतरा हुनसक्छ ।’
गोपाल ठाकुरको कार्यपत्रमाथि टिप्पणी गर्न उपस्थित नेकपा–माओवादीका केन्द्रीय सदस्य सुरेश आलेमगरले देशमा समान्तीहरुले शिर ठाडो पार्न थालेको र त्यो शिर झुकाउन निकै चुनौति रहेको औल्याए । यस अवस्थामा मधेशी, आदिवासी जनजाति नमिले मुक्ति सम्भव नरहेको उनको धारणा थियो । कार्यक्रममा सामाजिक लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीका अध्यक्ष पसाङ्ग शेर्पा, संघीय लिम्बुवान परिषद्का महासचिव खगेन्द्र माखीले पनि आफ्नो धारणा राखेका थिए । एमाओवादीका सभासद् अशोक जयसवाल, सद्भावना पार्टीका अनिस अन्सारी, सन्तोष मेहता, दवेन्द्र यादव, फोरम गणतान्त्रिकका बीकी यादव, बलराम यादव, पत्रकार दिनेश यादव, प्रतिमा चौधरी, अमरेन्द्र यादव, सीताराम अग्रहरी, प्रध्यापक दिलीप जलान, फोरम नेपालका विनिता यादव, माओवादीका श्रवण यादव, बुद्धिजिवि जय निसान्त, विजयकान्त कर्ण, विक्रम त्रिपाठी, सुरेन्द्र महतो, गोपाल अश्क, चन्द्रनाथ थारु, बुद्धछिरिङ मोक्तान, गणेश मण्डललगायतकाले आआफनो धारणा राखेका थिए । साँझ ६ बजेसम्म लगातार चलेको कार्यक्रममा ५० जनाभन्दा बढीको उपस्थिति थियो ।

काठमाडौं, जेठ ४ –  नेकपा माओवादीका संयोजक मातृका यादवलाई विद्रोही, क्रान्तिकारी र प्रचण्डकै शब्दमा ‘सनकाहा’ त्यतिकै भनिदैन । त्यसको पछाडि धेरै कारण छन् । र, त्यस्तै त्यस्तै क्रियाकलापले उनी चर्चामा छन् । प्रसंग शनिवारको हो । पुरानो बानेश्वरस्थित चौरासी परिकार रेष्टुरेण्टमा मातृका पुनः बन्दुक उठाउने कुरा गरिरहेका थिए । लन्चसहित दिनभरिका लागि आयोजना गरिएको एक अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रममा उनले मधेशका बुद्धिजिवी तथा युवालाई बन्दुक उठाउन सल्लाह दिए । आफ्नो अधिकारका लागि महात्मा गान्धीले पनि हतियार उठाएको स्मरण गराउँदै मातृकाले मधेशका लागि हतियार उठाउन तयार रहन मधेशी युवालाई आग्रह गरे ।
‘हामी नेपाललाई किन स्वीकार्ने ? यहाँका खस शासकहरुले मधेशलाई स्वीकार गरिरहेका छैनन् भने हामीले पनि नेपाललाई स्वीकार गर्नुपर्छ भने छैन । अबको लडाई एक मधेश एक प्रदेशका लागि होइन, छुट्टै देशका लागि हुनेछ’, मातृकाले उक्साउँदै भने । डा. रामकेवल साह अध्यक्ष रहेको ‘मधेश अधिकार लागि’ नामक संस्थाले आयोजना गरेको कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न पेसा तथा व्यवसायमा संलग्न बुद्धिजिवी तथा पत्रकारको उपस्थिति थियो । उनले भने, ‘मधेशका लागि एमाओवादी पार्टी बेइमान त भयो नै मधेशवादी दल झन बेइमान भयो । अब मधेशवादी दलबाट पनि विद्रोह गरेर नयाँ शक्तिको रुपमा अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ उनले आफूले अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डलाई नेता मानेको तर मधेशसँग बेइमानी गरेका कारण छाडेर हिँडेको स्मरण गर्दै उनले भने, ‘अब समय आएको छ मधेशी नेता तथा दललाई छाडेर आफ्नै मोर्चा बनाउने ।’
संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीबाट राजिनामा दिएर निस्केका गोपाल ठाकुरले आफ्नो कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गर्दै भने, ‘यो देशमा सबै सिस्टम फेल भइसकेका छन् । अब आफ्नै सिस्टम खडा गर्न नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ मधेशी जनतासँग कुनैपनि दलले राम्रो व्यवहार नगरेको, सबैको आशाको केन्द्रविन्दु माओवादी र मधेशवादी दल भएको तर उनीहरुबाट पनि बेइमानी भएको कारण अब नयाँ शक्तिको निर्माण गरी नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्ने उनको सुझाव थियो । सोही कार्यक्रममा संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीका असन्तुष्ट उपाध्यक्ष रिजवान अन्सारीले पनि आफ्नो पिडा पोखे । उनले भने, ‘मधेशी मुक्तिको लडाई पेचोलो हुँदै गएको छ, अबको दिनमा संघर्षलाई नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढाइएन भने यो सबैका लागि खतरा हुनसक्छ ।’
गोपाल ठाकुरको कार्यपत्रमाथि टिप्पणी गर्न उपस्थित नेकपा–माओवादीका केन्द्रीय सदस्य सुरेश आलेमगरले देशमा समान्तीहरुले शिर ठाडो पार्न थालेको र त्यो शिर झुकाउन निकै चुनौति रहेको औल्याए । यस अवस्थामा मधेशी, आदिवासी जनजाति नमिले मुक्ति सम्भव नरहेको उनको धारणा थियो । कार्यक्रममा सामाजिक लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीका अध्यक्ष पसाङ्ग शेर्पा, संघीय लिम्बुवान परिषद्का महासचिव खगेन्द्र माखीले पनि आफ्नो धारणा राखेका थिए । एमाओवादीका सभासद् अशोक जयसवाल, सद्भावना पार्टीका अनिस अन्सारी, सन्तोष मेहता, दवेन्द्र यादव, फोरम गणतान्त्रिकका बीकी यादव, बलराम यादव, पत्रकार दिनेश यादव, प्रतिमा चौधरी, अमरेन्द्र यादव, सीताराम अग्रहरी, प्रध्यापक दिलीप जलान, फोरम नेपालका विनिता यादव, माओवादीका श्रवण यादव, बुद्धिजिवि जय निसान्त, विजयकान्त कर्ण, विक्रम त्रिपाठी, सुरेन्द्र महतो, गोपाल अश्क, चन्द्रनाथ थारु, बुद्धछिरिङ मोक्तान, गणेश मण्डललगायतकाले आआफनो धारणा राखेका थिए । साँझ ६ बजेसम्म लगातार चलेको कार्यक्रममा ५० जनाभन्दा बढीको उपस्थिति थियो । - See more at: http://www.ratopati.com/2014/05/18/130327.html#sthash.r1vjrXWe.dpuf

काठमाडौं, जेठ ४ –  नेकपा माओवादीका संयोजक मातृका यादवलाई विद्रोही, क्रान्तिकारी र प्रचण्डकै शब्दमा ‘सनकाहा’ त्यतिकै भनिदैन । त्यसको पछाडि धेरै कारण छन् । र, त्यस्तै त्यस्तै क्रियाकलापले उनी चर्चामा छन् । प्रसंग शनिवारको हो । पुरानो बानेश्वरस्थित चौरासी परिकार रेष्टुरेण्टमा मातृका पुनः बन्दुक उठाउने कुरा गरिरहेका थिए । लन्चसहित दिनभरिका लागि आयोजना गरिएको एक अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रममा उनले मधेशका बुद्धिजिवी तथा युवालाई बन्दुक उठाउन सल्लाह दिए । आफ्नो अधिकारका लागि महात्मा गान्धीले पनि हतियार उठाएको स्मरण गराउँदै मातृकाले मधेशका लागि हतियार उठाउन तयार रहन मधेशी युवालाई आग्रह गरे ।
‘हामी नेपाललाई किन स्वीकार्ने ? यहाँका खस शासकहरुले मधेशलाई स्वीकार गरिरहेका छैनन् भने हामीले पनि नेपाललाई स्वीकार गर्नुपर्छ भने छैन । अबको लडाई एक मधेश एक प्रदेशका लागि होइन, छुट्टै देशका लागि हुनेछ’, मातृकाले उक्साउँदै भने । डा. रामकेवल साह अध्यक्ष रहेको ‘मधेश अधिकार लागि’ नामक संस्थाले आयोजना गरेको कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न पेसा तथा व्यवसायमा संलग्न बुद्धिजिवी तथा पत्रकारको उपस्थिति थियो । उनले भने, ‘मधेशका लागि एमाओवादी पार्टी बेइमान त भयो नै मधेशवादी दल झन बेइमान भयो । अब मधेशवादी दलबाट पनि विद्रोह गरेर नयाँ शक्तिको रुपमा अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ उनले आफूले अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डलाई नेता मानेको तर मधेशसँग बेइमानी गरेका कारण छाडेर हिँडेको स्मरण गर्दै उनले भने, ‘अब समय आएको छ मधेशी नेता तथा दललाई छाडेर आफ्नै मोर्चा बनाउने ।’
संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीबाट राजिनामा दिएर निस्केका गोपाल ठाकुरले आफ्नो कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गर्दै भने, ‘यो देशमा सबै सिस्टम फेल भइसकेका छन् । अब आफ्नै सिस्टम खडा गर्न नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ मधेशी जनतासँग कुनैपनि दलले राम्रो व्यवहार नगरेको, सबैको आशाको केन्द्रविन्दु माओवादी र मधेशवादी दल भएको तर उनीहरुबाट पनि बेइमानी भएको कारण अब नयाँ शक्तिको निर्माण गरी नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्ने उनको सुझाव थियो । सोही कार्यक्रममा संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीका असन्तुष्ट उपाध्यक्ष रिजवान अन्सारीले पनि आफ्नो पिडा पोखे । उनले भने, ‘मधेशी मुक्तिको लडाई पेचोलो हुँदै गएको छ, अबको दिनमा संघर्षलाई नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढाइएन भने यो सबैका लागि खतरा हुनसक्छ ।’
गोपाल ठाकुरको कार्यपत्रमाथि टिप्पणी गर्न उपस्थित नेकपा–माओवादीका केन्द्रीय सदस्य सुरेश आलेमगरले देशमा समान्तीहरुले शिर ठाडो पार्न थालेको र त्यो शिर झुकाउन निकै चुनौति रहेको औल्याए । यस अवस्थामा मधेशी, आदिवासी जनजाति नमिले मुक्ति सम्भव नरहेको उनको धारणा थियो । कार्यक्रममा सामाजिक लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीका अध्यक्ष पसाङ्ग शेर्पा, संघीय लिम्बुवान परिषद्का महासचिव खगेन्द्र माखीले पनि आफ्नो धारणा राखेका थिए । एमाओवादीका सभासद् अशोक जयसवाल, सद्भावना पार्टीका अनिस अन्सारी, सन्तोष मेहता, दवेन्द्र यादव, फोरम गणतान्त्रिकका बीकी यादव, बलराम यादव, पत्रकार दिनेश यादव, प्रतिमा चौधरी, अमरेन्द्र यादव, सीताराम अग्रहरी, प्रध्यापक दिलीप जलान, फोरम नेपालका विनिता यादव, माओवादीका श्रवण यादव, बुद्धिजिवि जय निसान्त, विजयकान्त कर्ण, विक्रम त्रिपाठी, सुरेन्द्र महतो, गोपाल अश्क, चन्द्रनाथ थारु, बुद्धछिरिङ मोक्तान, गणेश मण्डललगायतकाले आआफनो धारणा राखेका थिए । साँझ ६ बजेसम्म लगातार चलेको कार्यक्रममा ५० जनाभन्दा बढीको उपस्थिति थियो । - See more at: http://www.ratopati.com/2014/05/18/130327.html#sthash.r1vjrXWe.dpuf

काठमाडौं, जेठ ४ –  नेकपा माओवादीका संयोजक मातृका यादवलाई विद्रोही, क्रान्तिकारी र प्रचण्डकै शब्दमा ‘सनकाहा’ त्यतिकै भनिदैन । त्यसको पछाडि धेरै कारण छन् । र, त्यस्तै त्यस्तै क्रियाकलापले उनी चर्चामा छन् । प्रसंग शनिवारको हो । पुरानो बानेश्वरस्थित चौरासी परिकार रेष्टुरेण्टमा मातृका पुनः बन्दुक उठाउने कुरा गरिरहेका थिए । लन्चसहित दिनभरिका लागि आयोजना गरिएको एक अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रममा उनले मधेशका बुद्धिजिवी तथा युवालाई बन्दुक उठाउन सल्लाह दिए । आफ्नो अधिकारका लागि महात्मा गान्धीले पनि हतियार उठाएको स्मरण गराउँदै मातृकाले मधेशका लागि हतियार उठाउन तयार रहन मधेशी युवालाई आग्रह गरे ।
‘हामी नेपाललाई किन स्वीकार्ने ? यहाँका खस शासकहरुले मधेशलाई स्वीकार गरिरहेका छैनन् भने हामीले पनि नेपाललाई स्वीकार गर्नुपर्छ भने छैन । अबको लडाई एक मधेश एक प्रदेशका लागि होइन, छुट्टै देशका लागि हुनेछ’, मातृकाले उक्साउँदै भने । डा. रामकेवल साह अध्यक्ष रहेको ‘मधेश अधिकार लागि’ नामक संस्थाले आयोजना गरेको कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न पेसा तथा व्यवसायमा संलग्न बुद्धिजिवी तथा पत्रकारको उपस्थिति थियो । उनले भने, ‘मधेशका लागि एमाओवादी पार्टी बेइमान त भयो नै मधेशवादी दल झन बेइमान भयो । अब मधेशवादी दलबाट पनि विद्रोह गरेर नयाँ शक्तिको रुपमा अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ उनले आफूले अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डलाई नेता मानेको तर मधेशसँग बेइमानी गरेका कारण छाडेर हिँडेको स्मरण गर्दै उनले भने, ‘अब समय आएको छ मधेशी नेता तथा दललाई छाडेर आफ्नै मोर्चा बनाउने ।’
संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीबाट राजिनामा दिएर निस्केका गोपाल ठाकुरले आफ्नो कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गर्दै भने, ‘यो देशमा सबै सिस्टम फेल भइसकेका छन् । अब आफ्नै सिस्टम खडा गर्न नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ मधेशी जनतासँग कुनैपनि दलले राम्रो व्यवहार नगरेको, सबैको आशाको केन्द्रविन्दु माओवादी र मधेशवादी दल भएको तर उनीहरुबाट पनि बेइमानी भएको कारण अब नयाँ शक्तिको निर्माण गरी नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्ने उनको सुझाव थियो । सोही कार्यक्रममा संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीका असन्तुष्ट उपाध्यक्ष रिजवान अन्सारीले पनि आफ्नो पिडा पोखे । उनले भने, ‘मधेशी मुक्तिको लडाई पेचोलो हुँदै गएको छ, अबको दिनमा संघर्षलाई नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढाइएन भने यो सबैका लागि खतरा हुनसक्छ ।’
गोपाल ठाकुरको कार्यपत्रमाथि टिप्पणी गर्न उपस्थित नेकपा–माओवादीका केन्द्रीय सदस्य सुरेश आलेमगरले देशमा समान्तीहरुले शिर ठाडो पार्न थालेको र त्यो शिर झुकाउन निकै चुनौति रहेको औल्याए । यस अवस्थामा मधेशी, आदिवासी जनजाति नमिले मुक्ति सम्भव नरहेको उनको धारणा थियो । कार्यक्रममा सामाजिक लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीका अध्यक्ष पसाङ्ग शेर्पा, संघीय लिम्बुवान परिषद्का महासचिव खगेन्द्र माखीले पनि आफ्नो धारणा राखेका थिए । एमाओवादीका सभासद् अशोक जयसवाल, सद्भावना पार्टीका अनिस अन्सारी, सन्तोष मेहता, दवेन्द्र यादव, फोरम गणतान्त्रिकका बीकी यादव, बलराम यादव, पत्रकार दिनेश यादव, प्रतिमा चौधरी, अमरेन्द्र यादव, सीताराम अग्रहरी, प्रध्यापक दिलीप जलान, फोरम नेपालका विनिता यादव, माओवादीका श्रवण यादव, बुद्धिजिवि जय निसान्त, विजयकान्त कर्ण, विक्रम त्रिपाठी, सुरेन्द्र महतो, गोपाल अश्क, चन्द्रनाथ थारु, बुद्धछिरिङ मोक्तान, गणेश मण्डललगायतकाले आआफनो धारणा राखेका थिए । साँझ ६ बजेसम्म लगातार चलेको कार्यक्रममा ५० जनाभन्दा बढीको उपस्थिति थियो । - See more at: http://www.ratopati.com/2014/05/18/130327.html#sthash.r1vjrXWe.dpuf

काठमाडौं, जेठ ४ –  नेकपा माओवादीका संयोजक मातृका यादवलाई विद्रोही, क्रान्तिकारी र प्रचण्डकै शब्दमा ‘सनकाहा’ त्यतिकै भनिदैन । त्यसको पछाडि धेरै कारण छन् । र, त्यस्तै त्यस्तै क्रियाकलापले उनी चर्चामा छन् । प्रसंग शनिवारको हो । पुरानो बानेश्वरस्थित चौरासी परिकार रेष्टुरेण्टमा मातृका पुनः बन्दुक उठाउने कुरा गरिरहेका थिए । लन्चसहित दिनभरिका लागि आयोजना गरिएको एक अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रममा उनले मधेशका बुद्धिजिवी तथा युवालाई बन्दुक उठाउन सल्लाह दिए । आफ्नो अधिकारका लागि महात्मा गान्धीले पनि हतियार उठाएको स्मरण गराउँदै मातृकाले मधेशका लागि हतियार उठाउन तयार रहन मधेशी युवालाई आग्रह गरे ।
‘हामी नेपाललाई किन स्वीकार्ने ? यहाँका खस शासकहरुले मधेशलाई स्वीकार गरिरहेका छैनन् भने हामीले पनि नेपाललाई स्वीकार गर्नुपर्छ भने छैन । अबको लडाई एक मधेश एक प्रदेशका लागि होइन, छुट्टै देशका लागि हुनेछ’, मातृकाले उक्साउँदै भने । डा. रामकेवल साह अध्यक्ष रहेको ‘मधेश अधिकार लागि’ नामक संस्थाले आयोजना गरेको कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न पेसा तथा व्यवसायमा संलग्न बुद्धिजिवी तथा पत्रकारको उपस्थिति थियो । उनले भने, ‘मधेशका लागि एमाओवादी पार्टी बेइमान त भयो नै मधेशवादी दल झन बेइमान भयो । अब मधेशवादी दलबाट पनि विद्रोह गरेर नयाँ शक्तिको रुपमा अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ उनले आफूले अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डलाई नेता मानेको तर मधेशसँग बेइमानी गरेका कारण छाडेर हिँडेको स्मरण गर्दै उनले भने, ‘अब समय आएको छ मधेशी नेता तथा दललाई छाडेर आफ्नै मोर्चा बनाउने ।’
संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीबाट राजिनामा दिएर निस्केका गोपाल ठाकुरले आफ्नो कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गर्दै भने, ‘यो देशमा सबै सिस्टम फेल भइसकेका छन् । अब आफ्नै सिस्टम खडा गर्न नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ ।’ मधेशी जनतासँग कुनैपनि दलले राम्रो व्यवहार नगरेको, सबैको आशाको केन्द्रविन्दु माओवादी र मधेशवादी दल भएको तर उनीहरुबाट पनि बेइमानी भएको कारण अब नयाँ शक्तिको निर्माण गरी नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढ्नुपर्ने उनको सुझाव थियो । सोही कार्यक्रममा संघीय समाजवादी पार्टीका असन्तुष्ट उपाध्यक्ष रिजवान अन्सारीले पनि आफ्नो पिडा पोखे । उनले भने, ‘मधेशी मुक्तिको लडाई पेचोलो हुँदै गएको छ, अबको दिनमा संघर्षलाई नयाँ ढंगबाट अगाडि बढाइएन भने यो सबैका लागि खतरा हुनसक्छ ।’
गोपाल ठाकुरको कार्यपत्रमाथि टिप्पणी गर्न उपस्थित नेकपा–माओवादीका केन्द्रीय सदस्य सुरेश आलेमगरले देशमा समान्तीहरुले शिर ठाडो पार्न थालेको र त्यो शिर झुकाउन निकै चुनौति रहेको औल्याए । यस अवस्थामा मधेशी, आदिवासी जनजाति नमिले मुक्ति सम्भव नरहेको उनको धारणा थियो । कार्यक्रममा सामाजिक लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीका अध्यक्ष पसाङ्ग शेर्पा, संघीय लिम्बुवान परिषद्का महासचिव खगेन्द्र माखीले पनि आफ्नो धारणा राखेका थिए । एमाओवादीका सभासद् अशोक जयसवाल, सद्भावना पार्टीका अनिस अन्सारी, सन्तोष मेहता, दवेन्द्र यादव, फोरम गणतान्त्रिकका बीकी यादव, बलराम यादव, पत्रकार दिनेश यादव, प्रतिमा चौधरी, अमरेन्द्र यादव, सीताराम अग्रहरी, प्रध्यापक दिलीप जलान, फोरम नेपालका विनिता यादव, माओवादीका श्रवण यादव, बुद्धिजिवि जय निसान्त, विजयकान्त कर्ण, विक्रम त्रिपाठी, सुरेन्द्र महतो, गोपाल अश्क, चन्द्रनाथ थारु, बुद्धछिरिङ मोक्तान, गणेश मण्डललगायतकाले आआफनो धारणा राखेका थिए । साँझ ६ बजेसम्म लगातार चलेको कार्यक्रममा ५० जनाभन्दा बढीको उपस्थिति थियो । - See more at: http://www.ratopati.com/2014/05/18/130327.html#sthash.r1vjrXWe.dpuf

THT 10 YEARS AGO: Amnesty International flays attacks on civilians

KATHMANDU: Amnesty International (AI) today condemned mounting attacks on civilians by the Maoists and called on the rebels to respect human rights and abide by the international humanitarian standards. The AI has received reports of at least 14 civilians killed by the Maoists since the beginning of May. This figure includes seven passengers who were killed on May 9 — along with seven Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers and one Armed Police Force official. The Maoists had opened fire at a public bus in Dolakha. “There has also been an increase in the bombing and ambushing of civilian targets by the CPN (Maoists)”, a statement issued from London said. The latest attacks, among others, include the bombing of the Sinkitar Land Integration Project in Bhaktapur on May 3, the Agriculture Development Bank office, the main market in Dhulabari on May 8 and 9, the Bhaktapur Survey Office and the Moondrops Overseas Services in Kathmandu on May 10. The Maoists also reportedly ambushed an ambulance in Charaudi, Dhading. At least eight civilians were injured in these attacks. The AI is also seriously concerned over the recent alleged mass abductions by the Maoists of teachers and students for forced ‘education’ sessions.

New statute alone can solve Dalit problems: Ex-speaker

KATHMANDU: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Daman Nath Dhungana said today that more than four million Dalits would get a dignified status in society provided that a new constitution is drafted through an election to a constituent assembly. “But you (Dalits) have to come up with a concrete proposal to incorporate your problems in the new constitution, which will be drafted by the people themselves,” Dhungana said, addressing a talk programme organised by the Janamorcha Nepal aligned Nepal National Dalit Liberation Organisation on “the question of Dalits’ liberation in the context of ongoing anti-regression movement”. He said that the country lagged behind in development because of discrimination against Dalits. Dhungana, who has been campaigning for the constituent assembly, said, “Socio-economic and political condition of the downtrodden communities will remain unchanged unless their problems are addressed properly in the new constitution.” Leelamani Pokharel, Vice-President of the Janamorcha Nepal, said the ongoing movement launched by the five parties has tried to address multi-dimensional issues of society emanated from economic disparities for decades. “Restructuring the political system can help resolve the issues raised by the Dalits,” he said. Political Science professor Krishna Khanal claimed monarchy was the obstacle to Nepal’s overall development.

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: Amnesty International (AI) today condemned mounting attacks on civilians by the Maoists and called on the rebels to respect human rights and abide by the international humanitarian standards. The AI has received reports of at least 14 civilians killed by the Maoists since the beginning of May. This figure includes seven passengers who were killed on May 9 — along with seven Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers and one Armed Police Force official. The Maoists had opened fire at a public bus in Dolakha. “There has also been an increase in the bombing and ambushing of civilian targets by the CPN (Maoists)”, a statement issued from London said. The latest attacks, among others, include the bombing of the Sinkitar Land Integration Project in Bhaktapur on May 3, the Agriculture Development Bank office, the main market in Dhulabari on May 8 and 9, the Bhaktapur Survey Office and the Moondrops Overseas Services in Kathmandu on May 10. The Maoists also reportedly ambushed an ambulance in Charaudi, Dhading. At least eight civilians were injured in these attacks. The AI is also seriously concerned over the recent alleged mass abductions by the Maoists of teachers and students for forced ‘education’ sessions.

New statute alone can solve Dalit problems: Ex-speaker

KATHMANDU: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Daman Nath Dhungana said today that more than four million Dalits would get a dignified status in society provided that a new constitution is drafted through an election to a constituent assembly. “But you (Dalits) have to come up with a concrete proposal to incorporate your problems in the new constitution, which will be drafted by the people themselves,” Dhungana said, addressing a talk programme organised by the Janamorcha Nepal aligned Nepal National Dalit Liberation Organisation on “the question of Dalits’ liberation in the context of ongoing anti-regression movement”. He said that the country lagged behind in development because of discrimination against Dalits. Dhungana, who has been campaigning for the constituent assembly, said, “Socio-economic and political condition of the downtrodden communities will remain unchanged unless their problems are addressed properly in the new constitution.” Leelamani Pokharel, Vice-President of the Janamorcha Nepal, said the ongoing movement launched by the five parties has tried to address multi-dimensional issues of society emanated from economic disparities for decades. “Restructuring the political system can help resolve the issues raised by the Dalits,” he said. Political Science professor Krishna Khanal claimed monarchy was the obstacle to Nepal’s overall development.
- See more at: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=THT+10+YEARS+AGO%3A+Amnesty+International+flays+attacks+on++civilians&NewsID=414951#sthash.3q69OJ7z.dpuf

RPP-N keen to lead one CA committee

KATHMANDU, APR 19 - The Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-Nepal) has demanded the chair of one of the five draftingcommittee s in the Constituent Assembly .

The only royalist party has warned of consequences if the major three political parties fail to address its demands. It has claimed that as the fourth largest force in the CA its demand for the leadership of one of the committee s is natural.

The RPP-Nepal has floated the idea of awarding each of the top five political parties leadership of one CA panel. The parties have agreed to form Committee to Study and Determine Constitutional Records, Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee, Constitution Drafting Committee, Committee on Citizen and Public Opinion, Committee to Enhance the Capacity of Lawmakers and Resource Mobilisation.

However, they are yet to appoint chairpersons of the committee s. “It's our legitimate demand,” said Bhaskar Bhadra, RPP-Nepal deputy-general secretary and lawmaker. He charged the major three parties with imposing a syndicate forgetting that constitution drafting cannot be accomplished without consensus among the parties.

The party also sees conspiracy in the decision to elect committee leaders through vote. “Earlier, the three parties were ready for sharing the posts. When we demanded one seat, they opted for election,” said Bhadra.

Man critically injured in shootout at Siraha

SIRAHA 05/12/2014 : A person has been critically injured in a shootout that occurred at Bishnupur Chowk along the Choharwa-Siraha road section on wee hours of Monday.

A gang of two to three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at one Jogindra Paswan alias Jogi, a permanent resident of Laxmipur-2 of Siraha district.

According to witnesses, Paswan was shot at four times. Police said that he has received a bullet on waist and his arm. It has been learnt that he has been ferried to Biratnagar for medical treatment.

The firing took place when Paswan was on his way back home from Bishnupur Chowk at around 5 am.

Police are looking for the assailants. Investigations are underway, police said. -

SIRAHA: A person has been critically injured in a shootout that occurred at Bishnupur Chowk along the Choharwa-Siraha road section on wee hours of Monday.

A gang of two to three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at one Jogindra Paswan alias Jogi, a permanent resident of Laxmipur-2 of Siraha district.

According to witnesses, Paswan was shot at four times. Police said that he has received a bullet on waist and his arm. It has been learnt that he has been ferried to Biratnagar for medical treatment.

The firing took place when Paswan was on his way back home from Bishnupur Chowk at around 5 am.

Police are looking for the assailants. Investigations are underway, police said. - See more at: http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Man+critically+injured+in+shootout+at+Siraha&NewsID=414629#sthash.sU7lYKqs.dpuf

SIRAHA: A person has been critically injured in a shootout that occurred at Bishnupur Chowk along the Choharwa-Siraha road section on wee hours of Monday.

A gang of two to three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at one Jogindra Paswan alias Jogi, a permanent resident of Laxmipur-2 of Siraha district. - See more at: http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Man+critically+injured+in+shootout+at+Siraha&NewsID=414629#sthash.sU7lYKqs.dpufSIRAHA: A person has been critically injured in a shootout that occurred at Bishnupur Chowk along the Choharwa-Siraha road section on wee hours of Monday.

A gang of two to three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at one Jogindra Paswan alias Jogi, a permanent resident of Laxmipur-2 of Siraha district.

According to witnesses, Paswan was shot at four times. Police said that he has received a bullet on waist and his arm. It has been learnt that he has been ferried to Biratnagar for medical treatment.

The firing took place when Paswan was on his way back home from Bishnupur Chowk at around 5 am.

Police are looking for the assailants. Investigations are underway, police said. -

SIRAHA: A person has been critically injured in a shootout that occurred at Bishnupur Chowk along the Choharwa-Siraha road section on wee hours of Monday.

A gang of two to three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at one Jogindra Paswan alias Jogi, a permanent resident of Laxmipur-2 of Siraha district.

According to witnesses, Paswan was shot at four times. Police said that he has received a bullet on waist and his arm. It has been learnt that he has been ferried to Biratnagar for medical treatment.

The firing took place when Paswan was on his way back home from Bishnupur Chowk at around 5 am.

Police are looking for the assailants. Investigations are underway, police said. - See more at: http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Man+critically+injured+in+shootout+at+Siraha&NewsID=414629#sthash.sU7lYKqs.dpuf

RPP-Nepal keen to lead a CA panel

KATHMANDU, APR 20 - The Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-Nepal) has demanded the chair of one of the five drafting committees in the Constituent Assembly.
The only royalist party has warned of consequences if the major three political parties fail to address its demands.
It has claimed that as the fourth largest force in the CA its demand for the leadership of one of the committees is natural.
The RPP-Nepal has floated the idea of awarding each of the top five political parties leadership of one CA committee.
The parties have agreed to form Committee to Study and Determine Constitutional Records, Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee, Constitution Drafting Committee, Committee on Citizen and Public Opinion, Committee to Enhance the Capacity of Lawmakers and Resource Mobilisation.
However, they are yet to appoint chairpersons of the committees.
“It’s our legitimate demand,” said Bhaskar Bhadra, RPP-Nepal deputy-general secretary and lawmaker. He charged the major three parties with imposing a syndicate forgetting that constitution drafting cannot be accomplished without consensus among the parties.
The party also sees conspiracy in the decision to elect committee leaders through vote. “Earlier, the three parties were ready for sharing the posts. When we demanded one seat, they opted for election,” said Bhadra.

प्रजातान्त्रिक पद्धती आवस्यक–महामन्त्री गुरुङ्ग

२४ बैसाख २०७१ । राप्रपा नेपालका महामन्त्री चन्द्र बहादुर गुरुङ्गले संविधान सभाबाट स्थायी प्रकारको प्रजातन्त्रान्त्रीक पद्धती स्थापना गर्नको निमित्त राष्ट्रवादी प्रजातान्त्रिक शक्तीहरु एकजुट हुनुपर्ने बताउनुभएको छ । राप्रपा नेपाल काठमाडौं क्षेत्र नं १ को क्षेत्रीय अधिवेशन उद्घाटन गर्दै गुरुङ्गले सबै विचार र भावना समेटिएको संविधान बनेमात्र त्यो चिरस्थायी हुने भएकोले त्यसतर्फ ध्यान दिन सम्वन्धित पक्षलाई आग्रह गर्नुभयो । सो अबसरमा बोल्दै पार्टिका बरिष्ठ केन्द्रीय सदस्य टंक ढकालले महाधिवेशनको उद्घाटन शत्रलाई भव्य, व्यवस्थित र ऐतिहासिक बनाउनको निमित्त सबै नेता कार्यकर्ताहरु अहोरात्र खटिनुपर्नेमा जोड दिनुभयो । सो अवसरमा साहायक महामन्त्री द्वय बिक्रम ब. थापा, राजाराम श्रेष्ठ, साहायक कोषाध्यक्ष तारानाथ लुईटेल, जिल्ला अध्यक्ष श्याम घिमिरे, भरत जंगम लगायतले बोल्नुभएको थियो । अधिवेशनको बन्द शत्रले देवेन्द्र श्रेष्ठको अध्यक्षतामा ११ सदस्यीय क्षेत्रीय समिति सर्वसम्मत चयन गरेको छ ।

मोटरबोटको दुरुपयोग

डुंगा दुर्घटना भएमा उद्धार गर्न भनेर ल्याएको मोटरबोट दुरुपयोग गरी विहीबार पोखराको फेवातालमा आफन्त घुमाउदै प्रहरी अधिकारी। 

RPPN Chairman Kamal Thapa was welcomed by CCM Shyam Kc at Sunkhani VDC of Nuwakot.

Bajura clash injures five NC, UML cadres

BAJURA, NOVEMBER 19 - The cadres of NC and CPN-UML clashed in various poll centers in Bajura, injuring five from both sides.

The clash at Bhanodaya poll station in Kuldevmandu VDC left NC's Bishnu Bhakta Regmi, Rup Bahadur Rawal, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, Dirgha Thapa injured. The UML's Ashok Kumar Sharma was also injured in the incident. Likewise, cadres of the two parties clashed at the election center of Jalpa Primary School in Aatichaur VDC.

Interview with Kamal Thapa

 

"We are of the opinion that the decision to phase out PCL should not be imposed until necessary policy, planning and infrastructure is created. We are also concerned that the student unions have made this a political agenda out of this subject."

 

No one should be surprised if we secure most PR seats: Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-Nepal) under Kamal Thapa is the only political party campaigning for the restoration of monarchy in the upcoming election. The party’s unequivocal support for monarchy and Hindu state and the perceived failure of major parties in the last seven years makes RPP-Nepal a force to be reckoned with. Republica’s Biswas Baral and Thira L Bhusal talked to the charismatic party president about monarchy, secular state and CA election.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-Nepal) under Kamal Thapa is the only political party campaigning for the restoration of monarchy in the upcoming election. The party’s unequivocal support for monarchy and Hindu state and the perceived failure of major parties in the last seven years makes RPP-Nepal a force to be reckoned with. Republica’s Biswas Baral and Thira L Bhusal talked to the charismatic party president about monarchy, secular state and CA election.

How are your electoral preparations?
We are extremely enthusiastic, and have been preparing for it for some time now. Perhaps no other party is as keen on election as RPP-Nepal. In the last five years, we have been able to expand party base right across the country, and now our organizational strength is at par with the strength of any other major party. Our party has penetrated 90 percent of the 4,000-odd VDCs in the country. Ideologically, RPP-Nepal is the sole opposition to all other major and minor parties. Because of the failure of major parties in the last seven years and our consistent stands, we have been able to establish ourselves as a credible force. The party rank and file is energized. We will contest election from all 240 constituencies and all PR seats.

Any projections about the party’s poll prospects?
If election was to be held today, we will secure at least a third of all seats. While touring the country, I have found that the majority of the voters are still undecided. This shows that they are disillusioned by the forces they trusted with their votes before. If we can sway these undecided voters in our favor in the next few months, we might get a result that astounds everyone. In PR seats, no one should be surprised if we become the first party.

How do you plan to sway undecided voters?
First, we want to clear certain ideological misunderstandings about our party. For instance, there is a lot of confusion about the kind of monarchy we want, or about our vision of Hindu state. Along with these, we will present a convincing long-term vision for economic development. These will be the main issues.

So what kind of monarchy do you have in mind?
One of the reasons there has been no democratic stability in the last 63 years is because of the politics of exclusion that was a norm during the time. During the Panchayat rule, political parties were prohibited; during the post-1990 democratic rule, the Maoists were excluded; and after 2006 there has been an attempt to exclude nationalist and pro-monarchy forces. We want to develop a model where all political parties and ideologies, from monarchy to Maoists, find their place. The monarch will act as per the constitution. In other words, the monarch will be operating within the parliamentary setup by staying within constitutional bounds.

You said you envision a system where monarchy can work with other parties. But wasn’t monarchy removed precisely because it could not work with democratic parties?
Foreign conspiracy and tactical planning of ultra-leftist forces are behind the removal of monarchy, not the institution’s inability to work with democratic forces. Monarchy was removed neither by democratic forces nor by people’s wish. If we learn to place the country above party and individual, I believe a system which can accommodate all these forces can be created. How this will be possible, we will clarify in our election manifesto.

There has been a lot of hype about a possible alliance between RPP-Nepal and CPN-Maoist.
There have been no formal talks on any such alliance. However, we do welcome Baidyaji’s statement that he is ready to join hands with other nationalist forces, including monarchy, on the issue of nationalism. So far we have expressed agreement on policy and ideological level. There has been no talk of an alliance. Nationalism has been the biggest sufferer in the last seven years. Foreign meddling has increased, Nepali land is being used as a playground for international forces, the chances of disintegration are up owing to heightened regional and ethnic sensibilities, and there has been systematic weakening of Nepal’s identity as a result of a direct assault on its rich cultural heritage. To counter this, we believe there should be minimal understanding among all nationalist forces, be they in the communist camp, traditional democratic parties, or among the old conservatives.

How do you respond to the allegation that traditionally dominant groups have time and again subverted the aspirations of marginalized people in the name of nationalism?
We have to accept that there have been historical mistakes which have subjected a large section of the population to discrimination, exploitation and injustice. It is not possible to strengthen our nationalism without these forces on board. There is a worldwide trend of ‘inclusive democracy’ to address deprivation and social injustice. In other words, inclusive democracy must be strengthened to bolster nationalism.

Don’t you believe the institution of monarchy had a hand in perpetuating social inequalities?
Nepali people are being misinformed, even by the intelligentsia and the media that should know better. Although the monarch was the head of the state continuously for over 240 years, he didn’t always rule the country. Until the signing of the Sugauli Treaty in 1815, the country was in the phase of unification, when the monarch did reign supreme. But for 104 years after the treaty, the monarch was only a nominal head without any powers. The monarch’s role became a little more prominent after the 1951 democratic changes. But even in post-1951 period, the monarch has many times shared powers with other political parties. Thus, in the little time it has actually ruled the country, monarchy has done more good than bad. There has been a systemic effort to demonize and defame monarchy on flimsy pretexts. It is not a fact to say that the monarchy contributed to exclusion and discrimination.

In politics, symbolism is sometimes as important as ground realities. How do you justify the idea of a hereditary monarch in today’s world that is embracing inclusive democracy in your own words?
There are both good and bad aspects of monarchy. The important question is: How important is monarchy for Nepal? It is my conviction that Nepal’s unique geo-political reality warrants the presence of monarchy. Second, our social, religious and cultural background also calls for the presence of a monarch, as does our current political dynamics. RPP-Nepal believes that we should consolidate the main ideological achievements of the last three democratic movements in Nepal, namely democracy (1951), constitutional monarchy (1990) and social justice (2006). These three important concepts can be accommodated at one place.

But for the marginalized communities that found themselves at the receiving end for the last 240 years, monarchy is antithetical to social justice.
I believe the marginalized communities can be convinced on monarchy. If you look at our major parties, none of them are ideologically republican, including the Maoists. The Maoist leaders have gone on record saying they would join hands with the monarch. They had envisioned monarchy along the Cambodian model. Let us recall that at one time, they wanted to ‘capture state powers’ in collaboration with the king, who turned them down. They thought they could use the ideologically neutral head of the state to push their agenda. If you talk about other parties, they have been on the republican path because of Maoist intransigence and continuous foreign pressure.

You have been campaigning for restoration of Hindu state. Why do we need to define a state religion?
There are many misunderstandings on this issue as well. People believe we are campaigning for dharma nirapekshyata [it roughly translates to religious neutrality]. Conceptually, no country in the world can be dharma nirapekshya. What is religion? All good deeds are religious in nature. Sanatan dharma (Hindu religion) has no official text, nor one founder. We don’t even know when it started. Whatever customs and practices have been followed since the beginning of time is Hindu religion. This ‘eternal religion’ is our identity. We want to preserve this national identity. We don’t want special protection for a particular religion.

Let me also clarify that we are not against religious freedom. In fact, we would have been happy had those words featured in the interim constitution. This is another myth: the fact that we have been advocating for a Hindu state does not mean we are against other religions. Spiritually, conceptually and ideologically, the concept of a Hindu state and religious freedom can go together.

Where do you stand on the issue of federalism?
It is not our agenda. The issue of federalism has come up while trying to find ways to address the demands of marginalized and disadvantaged communities. In our view, the answer to these injustices is not federalism. In fact, examples from around the world suggest federalism makes these problems of exclusion worse. We have brought out a new concept of sthaniya swayatta sasan pranali. This local governance system envisions massive changes in the existing local governance structures and creation of new structures with strong financial, administrative, legal, constitutional and security rights. Not just through decentralization, but through constitutional devolution of power. Our goal is to take democracy to the doorstep of each and every household.

RPP-Nepal is the only party actively campaigning for the restoration of monarchy. Have you faced any threats while canvassing the country?
We used to face such threats. Now people welcome us. It is the other political forces that are running away from the people they have disillusioned. In Tarai, RPP-Nepal has gained a lot of traction on Hindutwa and monarchy.

From where will you contest election?
I will contest under direct seats from Makawanpur 1 and Kathmandu 5.

Do you believe the new CA will be able to produce a constitution?
Yes. The media is trying to portray a picture where the country is without options. Apparently, there is no alternative to the same big four parties, the same big leaders, the same policies, the same road map. This is not true. People are looking for alternatives, but we are telling them that there are no alternatives. The big parties will gain some votes because of this propaganda, but common people understand why the old CA could not produce a constitution, who were the culprits and which divisive policies contributed to CA’s downfall. It is inconceivable that the majority of Nepalis will give continuity to the same players, policies and roadmaps. When RPP-Nepal emerges as a strong political force, it will be able to make a meaningful contribution to constitution making and get a constitution through the CA mechanism.

Will there be election on November 19?
There is big public pressure for November 19 election. The four parties have been unconstitutionally holding the country hostage. Whatever they say, they are not committed to election. But given the immense public pressure, any further delay could be harmful for them.

Should the tasks completed by the old CA find place in the new CA?
Let us be clear on this. The new Constituent Assembly is not a continuation of the old CA. After the old CA was dissolved without giving us a constitution, all its work has been rendered useless. Let political parties own old agreements that further their interests. But the CA that will be elected with new mandate and forces like us which never honored the work of old CA will be under no compulsion to own up anything.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Nepali: राष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र पार्टी; translation: National Democratic Party) is a Nepalese political party. It is a centre-right, liberal conservative party, formed out of the political elite of the erstwhile Panchayat system, formed on 1990, after reestablishment of democracy in Nepal. It was formerly pro-monarchy, leaving the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal as the only major monarchist party in Nepal. In 1997 RPP split after the faction led by pro-monarchy politician Lokendra Bahadur Chand joined a coalition government with Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), with Chand as Prime Minister. The faction led by Surya Bahadur Thapa allied itself with Nepali Congress and toppled the UML-RPP government. Effectively RPP-Chand began to function as a separate party. In 1998 the RPP-Chand and RPP-Thapa were reunited, after both factions had fared badly in the elections that year.
In the 1999 legislative elections, the party won 10.4% of the popular vote and 11 out of 205 seats.
At the third general convention of RPP, held in Pokhara December 2002, Surya Bahadur Thapa retired from his post as party chairman (which was mandatory according to the party constitution, as he had served two four-year terms). There were three candidates for the party chairmanship; the then general secretary Pashupati SJB Rana, the vice-chairman Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani and the Central Committee Member Rabindra Nath Sharma. Rana was elected as the new chairman with 735 votes. Lohani got 321 votes and Sharma 135 votes. A new Central Working Committee was elected, consisting of Kamal Thapa, Jayanta Chand, Buddhiman Tamang, Surya Bahadur K.C., Jog Mehar Shrestha, Padma Sundar Lawati, Bikram Pandey Dhurba Bahadur Pradhan, Parsu Ram Khapung, Deepak Bohora, Balaram Gharti Magar, Jagat Gauchan, Khem Raj Pandit, Rajiv Parajuli, Govinda Raj Khaniya, Prem Bahadur Bhandar, Bhuwan Pathak and Narendra Kumar Chaudhary. The convention also elected a 64-member Central Committee.^[2][3]
The party split again in 2005 when former party president Surya Bahadur Thapa broke away and formed a new centre-right liberal party, the Rastriya Janashakti Party.
When the King dissolved the parliament, he had appointed RPP leader Kamal Thapa as Home Minister. RPP then suffered another split, with Kamal Thapa forming his own RPP which later became the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal.
In the 2008 election to the Constituent Assembly the party won 8 out of 601 seats. The liberal Janashakti party got 3 and the royalist RPP-Nepal got 4 seats in that election.
But Just before the The Constituent Assembly election, 2013, the Rastriya Janashakti Party merged again with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. The new united party won 3 out of 240 first-past-the-post seats and 2.75% of proportional vote (10 out of 335 seats), making it 13 seats altogether in the new constitutional assembly. Its now the 6th largest party in the assembly. In comparison, the RPP-Nepal won 24 seats in the 601 member assembly, making it the 4th largest party.

Elections and results

• Nepalese legislative election, 1991

RPP-Thapa = 1 seats (out of 205)
RPP-Chand = 3 seats (out of 205)

• Nepalese legislative election, 1994

RPP = 20 seats (out of 205)

• Nepalese legislative election, 1999

RPP = 11 seats (out of 205)

• Nepalese Constituent Assembly election, 2008

RPP = 8 seats (out of 601)
RPP-Nepal = 4 seats(out of 601)
Janashakti = 3 seats (out of 601)

• Nepalese Constituent Assembly election, 2013

RPP = 10 seats (out of 601)
RPP-Nepal = 24 seats (out of 601)