Government’s one-point agenda of pleasing India, America
Why the court gave the verdict to assign Sher Bahadur Deuba to the post of the Prime Minister, why the UML was split, why Pushpakamal Dahal became the key person in developing the present alliance, the reasons have become clear now.
Four different political parties with different ideologies are involved in the present alliance government. Such an alliance is impossible if the political parties deny compromising against their political belief. In Nepal, everything is possible, which has been proved from the formation of the present alliance government. The present alliance between the democratic and communist forces; between the hardliner and soft-liner communists; between the supporter of federalism and those against federalism, is very unique to see. They have tried to justify that the present alliance is for an offensive move against the regressive one that was performed by the previous Oli led government. Unfortunately, the present offensive government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba has not been able to give the final shape to the government even after two months in office.
The members of the parliament have felt that the post of a minister is important than the party and their ideology. The political parties are bargaining to get lucrative ministries. It makes clear that the main goal of the political parties in the alliance is to make money by capturing lucrative ministries. Of course, elections are nearing and all the political parties and candidates need money to secure their victory. In this regard, the one-point agenda of the political parties in the alliance is how to collect money as much as possible.
The alliance government’s agenda seems to be pleasing the foreign powers, especially the Indo-West lobby by fulfilling their interests. The Home Affairs Ministry has issued a notice urging the citizens not to organize demonstrations and protest programmes defaming the prime minister of the neighbouring country. This is hinted towards the burning of the effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The notice is related to the effigy burning by the Madhav Nepal led party workers in Kathmandu the other day. Accordingly, the Home Ministry has issued another notice urging citizens not to oppose MCC, the American grant project.
Going out of the way, PM Deuba and other alliance partners have planned to rectify the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from parliament. The President, following
the cabinet recommendation, has summoned the House session beginning from 8 September. The alliance partners are planning to rectify the MCC proposal from parliament this month.
For the present alliance government, the life of Jaysingh Dhami is not important. The Tuin episode is not important. Indian helicopters flying over the Nepal Army barrack in Darchula is not important.
MCC is important, stopping the activities such as burning effigy of the Indian prime minister is important.
The cabinet decision for the constitution of a committee on border dispute with China has indicated that Nepal’s foreign policy is in the doldrums. The cabinet meeting held on 1 September has decided to constitute an investigation team to study the border problem from Limi, Lapcha to Hilsa in Nmkha Rural Municipality in Humla district. This is an attempt to humiliate China and diverting increasing anti-India sentiment among the Nepali people by making such a false claim.
Likewise, this is an attempt to please Indians by neglecting relations with another immediate neighbour. Such acts will surely contribute to annoying Beijing, which will be harmful to us.