All sector roundtable meeting needed to end present political crisis: Journalist Hari Lamshal

Hari Lamshal is a senior journalist, who has spent above five decades in the field of journalism. Presently, he is the editor and publisher of the Rastra Bani vernacular weekly. Lamshal believes that the ongoing political crisis can be ended through a roundtable meeting participated by all the sectors in the society. People’s Review interviewed him on the contemporary political developments in the country. Excerpts as given below:

Q. The country is experiencing rampant corruption and people are facing skyrocketing price hike in the market. It seems, there is neither a government nor effective governance in the country. Do you agree to this?

A. Yes, there is no impression of the existence of a government in the country. There is rampant loot in the country. The general public is severely suffering from the uncontrolled pricehike of the day-to-day consumable items in the market. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli faction and Dahal-Nepal faction in the Nepal Communist Party are in a fight to finish each other. The main opposition Nepali Congress is in a mess. Other political parties are weak and divided. None of the leaders of the political parties is in a position to define their political ideology, rather, they all are in a race to collect money as much as possible.

The present chaos in the political arena has compelled a large section of Nepalis, mostly youths, to compare the present system where the institution of monarchy is absent with the system where the monarchy was present. The previous system was far better than the present one, they have compared. Therefore, they have spontaneously come down to the streets demanding restoration of the Hindu kingdom. Those spontaneous people are organizing mass rallies and motorbike rallies demanding a Hindu kingdom.

Q. Why the Nepali citizens are demanding the reinstatement of the Hindu kingdom, which has already been deposed?

A. In my opinion, there are many factors in this. First of all, the political parties had made big claims before the general public that once the country is declared a republic, the people’s aspirations will be fulfilled. The leaders blamed the institution of monarchy as the main hurdle for making prosperous Nepal. However, the leadership in the political parties have been failed. Even the government enjoying a two-thirds majority was unable to do anything better for the country and the people.

Those youths, who had participated in the “people’s war” with big hopes, could get nothing except the prosperity and luxury lifestyle of their commanders. They believe they have been deceived by their own leaders. The very people, frustrated with their commanders’ attitude, have come down to the streets demanding restoration of the institution of monarchy. Nepali youths had thought that the political change would do better for the nation and people. Today, they believe that it was wrong as instead of achieving prosperity, the nation is declining on all fronts.

The major factor is that we have adopted a political system that does not suit

the Nepali climate.

Q. Do you mean that the present constitution is based on the idea of prohibition, due to which, it is unable to function?

A. For the past one and a half-decade since the April uprising in 2006, the people achieved nothing. The leaders in the uprising had claimed for a revolutionary change in the country. They had claimed for making people prosperous and ending unannounced slavery practice in the society, among others. None of the commitments has been fulfilled by the political leaders. Instead, the nation saw rampant corruption, massive foreign interference in Nepal’s domestic affairs, rampant conversion of religion, bad governance. Also, all the anomalies such as nepotism, favouritism, sycophancy, etc. have existed in society. In fact, the nation is passing through a serious crisis. The present mass that appeared in the streets demanding a Hindu kingdom is the reflection of their dissatisfaction with the present political system. They are seeking a system in which all the sectors can be adjusted, nobody should be prohibited. The fact is that people are in the streets and their demands have to be responded to as earliest as possible. Otherwise, the peaceful demonstration may convert into a violent movement.

We have adopted a new system but the tradition has not been changed. The President is performing the role of the King, which is odd.

Q. In global history, it is very rare that an already deposed institution of monarchy has been reinstated. Do you believe, it is possible in Nepal?

A. We have examples that in many of the countries, the revolutionary forces have had dethroned the institution of monarchy, however, later, the institute was reinstated. In the United Kingdom in 1649, the institution of monarchy was dethroned, however, after eleven years, the people, unhappy with rampant corruption and anarchism, the institution was restored through a counterrevolution.

Khomerus in Cambodia killed hundreds of thousand people after deposing the institution of monarchy. After thirty years of brutality, the institution of monarchy was reinstated. Today, Cambodia has been transformed into a peaceful and developed nation.

In Norway Quisling had captured power with the help of Hitler in Germany. However, the Norwegian people reinstated the institution of the monarchy through a counter-revolution. The history of Sweden is also not different from Norway.

Today, Nepali people are eagerly waiting for a change. Soon, they will come down to the street to support a counterrevolution. They are just waiting for the leader of the counter-revolution. All the political parties are divided into different factions and they are on the verge of a split. The leaders of the political parties are serving foreign interests, whether it is the Indian interests or western interests. The country has already been indulged in the conspiracy of the Indo-Pacific strategy. If we cannot avoid the conspiracy, we will fall under colonial rule. I don’t see a good intention of the leaders either in the ruling party or in the opposition party.

Q. Is it the right time to demand a Hindu nation and constitutional monarchy?

A. Yes, the Hindu kingdom is deeply rooted in our culture, tradition, religion and also with the geopolitical existence of our country. This is our identity. On 28 May 2008, the then chairman of the Constituent Assembly Kulbahadur Gurung, without people’s consent, had declared Nepal a republic by ending the historical tradition of 240 years of the institution of monarchy. To note, the 2006 April uprising was not for the abolishment of the institution of monarchy and Hindu nation. Also, it was not the wish of the people to abolish the institution of monarchy and Hindu nation.

This is the reason that within five years of promulgation of the constitution, it has faced a serious crisis and the voice for returning to the 1990 constitution has become lauder.

Q. Then how a Hindu kingdom can be restored?

A. All the political parties should discuss the agenda of the Hindu kingdom. Better, all the political parties, including the deposed King, together, hold an all-party meeting and amend the constitution by restoring a Hindu kingdom. This is the best and peaceful way to respond to the voice of the majority of the population. Nepal needs a system where all the sectors should ensure their participation. The politics of prohibition will not work in Nepal like country. It may invite a violent situation.