Tug of war between NC and DPM lamichhane
It gives us an immense sense of pleasure and pride when we say that Lord Buddha was born in our country. It also gives a gigantic sense of pride when we say that we live in a country where Goddess Sita was born. But at the same time, our heads bow down in shame when we say we live in a country where political leaders are ruthless, unaccountable, selfcentered, stubborn, and incompetent. They are always engaged in blame games, ignoring their responsibilities to serve the people and the nation. The latest episode of a tug-of-war between the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, and the incumbent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane, is a case in point.
Lamichhane, a media person turned politician, hogged the media limelight when he played a key role in rescuing Nepalese women who were trafficked to Libya. His television program Janta Sanga Sidha Kura (Straight Talk to the People) propelled Lamichhane to fame as a figure of integrity who makes good on his commitment to seeking justice for the common man. While he was gaining popularity as a media person, he launched the political party, Rastriya Swtantra party, under his leadership on June 21, 2021.
Right from day one, Lamichhane as a politician, came under the public scanner for his alleged dual nationality. If media reports are any guide, he acquired American citizenship in March 2014. As per the Citizenship Act, he automatically lost Nepali citizenship after becoming an American citizen. But to his utter dismay, he contested the election as a Nepali citizen, which drew widespread flak, and many criticised him for deceiving the people. The Supreme Court ruled on January 27 that Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane didn’t have Nepali citizenship. The Constitutional Bench of the Court also stripped him of membership in the House of Representatives, concluding that he hadn’t applied to reacquire Nepali citizenship even though he had already renounced his American citizenship. As a consequence, he also lost the positions of deputy prime minister, minister for home affairs, as well as, the party presidency. A year later, his party became the partner of the ruling alliance and he was appointed as the Ministry for Home Affairs for the second time. Yet again, he has been facing the wrath of the people. This time for another reason. Now, he is accused of misappropriating the deposits of a cooperative to buy shares in a media company. The main opposition, the Nepali Congress, along with 50, 000 depositors from cooperatives whose over 800 million has been misappropriated, have been demanding the probe panel.
Amidst this paradoxical stage, the statement of Swarnim Wagle, Rastriya Swantantra Party lawmaker, has surprised everyone. He said there should be the same yardstick to seek accountability from politicians. Mentioning different scams involving leaders of other parties, mainly the Congress, the party’s leader Swarnim Wagle asked, “Are we ready for an all-party commitment that any lawmaker or a minister facing any allegations must resign immediately? If yes, the RSP will be the first to sign it.
It needs to be mentioned here that Wagle had abandoned the Nepali Congress while it was facing challenges in restoring its historical legacy and subsequently losing its structural base. He was heavily criticized by the people, saying that he is the most opportunist politician who tends to swing as per the context. The Nepali Congress, the largest party in the lower house, has been demanding a parliamentary committee to investigate fraud charges against the incumbent DPM and Minister for Home Affairs, Lamichhane. It has even threatened not to allow the House to function unless such a panel is formed. No doubt, the Nepali Congress, as an opposition, should keep constant vigil on the activities of the ruling government and caution it for its antidemocratic moves. It should not resort to tactics that hinder the smooth operation of the House.
Just to recall, last year, the proceedings of the HoR were obstructed for several days following a protest by the CPN-UML, the main opposition party, demanding the formation of a high-level mechanism to investigate gold smuggling. It was only after days-long obstructions that the ruling and the opposition parties agreed to constitute the probe panel. It seems history is repeating in under a year. The only difference now is the Nepali Congress has taken the place of the UML
As an opposition, the Nepali Congress, role to demand the formation of a probe is truly praiseworthy. In any functioning democracy, the role of the opposition is to caution the ruling government and not allow it to breach the trust of the people. At the same time, it should support the ruling government in the formulation and implementation of programs and policies, if there are any.
But our experience with three decades of democracy clearly indicates that political parties while in opposition become people-centred but lose their wisdom and integrity when it becomes the government. This is not to say that the opposition should remain a mute spectator. It should not. However, it should not change its color whether as a ruling government or as an opposition.
Whether in opposition or government, the political leaders should speak against any flawed move but at the same time support pro-people programs and policies. If the opposition can raise its voice against the ruling government, it should acknowledge the voice of the opposition when it is in government. This makes the democracy stronger.