– Gopal Thakur
Government is thought to be the optimum tool of good governance in a country. Till date, all the governments formed in Nepal used to sound high to do so. But events of corruption used to float on the surface. Lauda, Chase Air and LC events of corruption were also made public but the culprits were offered clean cheat in the so-called democratic era. We are now living in New Nepal, a federal democratic Republic of Nepal. But there is neither federalism nor democracy. Whether it is republic, it’s hard to believe. The unitary form of mono-ethnic state of Khas-Gorkha Empire is being consolidated in the name of administrative federalism. In the name of arithmetic calculation, the so-called parliamentary democracy is severe exclusive for Madheshees, indigenous nationalities, downtrodden communities and women. So far as republic is being exercised, the communist president is under shameful criticism for her pro-Hindu religious activities as if she is am Empress in the continuity of the ousted Shah royal family.
But these all negative elements of the New Nepal are secondary because black marketing has superseded them all. But let’s not worry, black marketing was the problem of all the previous governments but the ongoing Oli government is only surviving on black marketing. So, black market is the life-line of the royalist-communist government let by Unified Marxist-Leninist Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli. It is so because it’s the only means to whip the ongoing third Madhesh movement. Therefore, the consumers are cordially advised not to seek any help to check black marketing.
Because of the promulgation of the seventh constitution in the name of so-called two-third majority of the second Constituent Assembly, Madhesh agitation was seen to have been staged for the third time. The Koirala government preceding K. P. Oli, killed dozens of Madheshees during agitations. Initially, the agitation was centred in the district headquarters, streets of the major cities and towns and highways. But it was crushed like sugarcanes in crushing mills. In the name of escorting for the buses, trucks, trippers, oil tankers and gas bullets, Nepal Police, Armed Police Forces and Nepali Army were all brought to streets to tread over the peaceful movements of Madheshees.
Lastly, the agitators centred their presence on the Nepal-India border entry-points. Birganj-Raxaul Friendship Bridge was seen to be the safest place for creating a blockade for the Madheshee agitators. Other entry-points were also tried to be blocked but they didn’t come to be so effective. Though the agitators blocked the only Birganj-Raxaul entry point, it is the main life-line for supplies in whole Nepal. Nearly 70 percent of the imports enters into Nepal from this entry point. The Oli administration tried the most to drive the agitators away from their place of sitting vigil. Unfortunately, an Indian citizen was also shot dead in the confrontation between Madheshee agitators and the Nepali security forces. But the blockade did not come to end.
Dramatically, the Oli administration also made a propaganda that the blockade was on behalf of Indian administration. So, it named it undeclared Indian blockade. The United Nations Organization was also mis-utilized in this effect. The UN secretary general iterated and reiterated in favour of transit rights of Nepal. The Joint Madheshee National Movement Committee submitted a memorandum to the UN secretary general via chief of the UNDP, Nepal. Other agitating Madheshee parties also criticized his act. In reality, there has not been any Indian activitiy to affect transit rights of Nepal. The blockade is purely the outcome of the Madheshee agitators.
Whatever the hue and cry the Oli administration made, there is no way out of the solution of the problem unless the logical demands of the agitators are addressed. The life of the capital valley has severely been affected including whole hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal due to Madhesh movement. But the main item of scarcity is the fuel. Though Nepal is said to be the second richest country in the world having water resources, the whole country has almost been habitual to bear more than twelve hours of load-shedding of electricity during a day. Deforestation has also compelled Nepalese to refrain from using firewood. The alternative generation of electricity is also out of reach for the general public in Nepal. It shows that petroleum is the only fuel to be used by most of the people. But Nepal is completely dependent on India for petroleum products. It is so because the land-locked position of Nepal. But the main entry point has been blocked by the Madheshee agitators.
These all circumstances certainly indicate Madheshees’ demands be fulfilled to prosper Nepal into a developing country. But the Khas-Gorkhali imperialist mentality doesn’t permit the Oli government to do so. That is why, the Oli government has chosen the cheapest way to make Madheshees tire of agitating by means of smuggling. Time and again, the agitators at the blockad point have been reported to have been attacked by the smugglers of petroleum products. So, the black market has become the life-line of the Khas-Gorkhali rulers in Nepal.
The whole administration of the Government of Nepal is now to act in such a way that the smugglers must unite and attack the Madheshee agitators, political leaders and party cadres and create an open secret black market. But one can imagine, if the capital city is the open black-market, can the government deliver good governance to the people as a whole? Certainly not! One cannot forget that the nail driven in to harm others can harm himself or herself first. Therefore, the Oli government must not create catalyst for a fast and speedy reaction between the Khas-Gorkhali imperialist state and Madhesh, as it can push Madhesh forward in favour of complete independence.
Kachorwa-1, Bara
Decamber 31, 2015
