News, Views From Nepal

Yuba Nath Lamsal With the unceremonial demise of the Constituent Assembly (CA), a new kind of polarization is taking place in Nepali political scene and the process is fast intensifying. Parties and people have been polarized into two poles. The issue that has polarized the people and the parties is the model of federalism. All have to side with either of the two groups or two federal models—ethnic federalism or non-ethnic (viability based) federalism.   No adult and informed citizen seems to be the fence sitter on this issue. The public opinion, too, is sharply and strongly divided between these two models of federalism, which has also raised the question of patriotism. Both opinions and views are strong and logical. This is the issue that led to the collapse of the historic Constituent Assembly that had been elected to write the much-hyped constitution but utterly failed. The issue was strong and complex that the parties and members of the CA had kept on ...

Yuba Nath Lamsal Democracy, freedom, human rights and development are oft quoted words in the modern day political lexicon. Despite the political and ideological divide that the world has witnessed ever since Karl Marx propounded a new theory that challenged the 19 th century’s dominant philosophy in the sphere of politics and economy, the very concept and definition of democracy, freedom and development have seen conflicting views and perspectives.  Karl Marx not only challenged the capitalist theory of development, but also presented an alternative economic and political order which the world knows as Marxism. Marxism is both political and economic philosophy that has not only put forth an alternative system but also has defined the society in a manner it is bound to happen. Both capitalism and Marxism do not disagree with the concept of democracy, freedom, human rights and developments.  However, they have sharp differences in the understanding and the definition of ...

Great betrayal to the country and people Yuba Nath Lamsal The Constituent assembly died its natural death but without producing a constitution, for which it was formed four years ago through election. This demise of Constituent Assembly is natural because it had already survived more than it had to be. The Constituent Assembly was to write the constitution in two years which was the original provision in the Interim Constitution. The parties and their candidates had also promised that they would give the country a new constitution within two years as stipulated in the Interim Constitution. However, the CA utterly failed in its job right from the beginning, for which political parties and their principal leaders are to be blamed. Prior to the election, there had been different predictions about the election results. Most people had projected the CPN-UML as the possible winner and the UML leaders, too, were quite hopeful of better electoral performance. A section of political ...

Arduous trek to democratic republic Yuba Nath Lamsal With the advent of 21 st century, democracy has become a global lingua franca. In this modern and civilized era, there is no political alternative to democracy. Even a notorious dictators talk loud about democracy and democratic principles, although they may be ruling with iron fists denying the people with their civil and political rights which are the basic foundation of democracy. Democracy and civilization have, thus, become synonymous in the present world. Democracy is a universally accepted political system in which people’s representatives govern for the interest of the people. This is why democracy is called a ‘government of the people, for the people and by the people’. The democratic government is the people’s government which governs on behalf of the people and takes care of the interest of the people. In other words, democracy is a people’s polity. In every political ideolo...

India's intention becomes clear Yuba Nath Lamsal Once again India’s ill intention towards Nepal has been exposed more clearly than ever before. Although India’s interference in our national politics and internal affairs has been a recurring phenomenon, which has not only hurt patriotic sentiment of the people of Nepal but also infuriated them. The Indian design and interference has come in a more open and brazen manner this time with a senior diplomat stationed in Indian Consulate office in Birgunj, about 200 kilometer south of Kathmandu bordering India’s Bihar state. SD Mehta, who is working in the political division of the Consulate office, openly told the leaders of some Madhes-based Nepali parties to start agitation against the federal model agreed upon among the major political parties including the Madeshi Front and press for a single Madhes state in the entire Terai. What can be more shameless interference than this? Mehta’s remarks aimed at inciting violence and ...