"If We Follow The Populist Trend, Our Party Will Lose Its Identity"

http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/2007/englishweekly/spotlight/apr/apr20/interview.php

Sunil Kumar Bhandari

Nepali Congress Central Committee member SUNIL KUMAR BHANDARI, who claims to be a true follower of Congress leader B.P. Koirala, is a minority voice within the party. Bhandari – who hails from far western region- served six months of prison in Dhangadhi following King Gyanendra's action of February 1, 2005. His house in Dhangadhi was bombed by Maoists two years ago and recently his rice mill was locked up by them. Bhandari spoke with KESHAB POUDEL at his residence regarding current political situation. Excerpts:

As a central committee member of ruling party, how do you see the announcement of Elections Commission that the elections for Constituent Assembly could not be held at present context?

As a worker of democratic party, the announcement was shocking. In the last five years, we have not seen any election in the country and the postponement of CA elections will prolong the political instability. It is one of the sad news for me as people are again deprived of the right to exercise their rights to choose representatives.

How conducive was the current environment to hold free elections?

If my party asks me to contest the elections, I will definitely accept that challenge and contest the elections. If you ask me to decide on the basis of ground reality, I have to agree with the Election Commission. The law and order situation has not improved, extortion, intimidation continues as Maoists are still carrying guns threatening people. There are upsurge of Madhesis, Janjatis and Dalits. Without addressing these issues, we cannot hold the elections for CA. It shows that there was hardly any possibility of holding free, fair and credible elections.

What do you suggest now?

We have to improve law and order situation. We have to address the issues raised by various ethnic, regional and linguistic groups so that the situation can be made conducive to hold the elections.
Do you believe that the postponement of elections will end the democratic experiment?

I don't think so. Our experiences have already shown that all of us will be secure only in democracy. Whether leftists, rightists or monarchists, it is the democracy which safeguards their interests. Being a member of democratic party, I cannot justify postponement of elections.

What is the essence of Nepali Congress?

The essence of Nepali Congress is its faith in nationalism and liberal democracy as propounded by our leader B.P. Koirala. Historically, our party was established in an ideological basis of free and pluralistic society representing the democratic aspirations of people. One of the basic characters of Nepali Congress is to bring the change in society through the liberal and democratic ideals and nationalism. Even now Nepali Congress is trying to fulfill its historical role to restore the peace in the country by bringing rebel groups to the mainstream politics.
As you claim to be a follower of B.P. Koirala, do you justify the present stand of your party?

Of course, Congress seems to have deviated from its earlier position at present as it is playing different role than what it had played in the past when our party had visionary leader with far sighted views like B.P. Koirala who always took a decision looking at the future of the country. It is a fact that we don't have leader like him who can take decisions looking at the future.

As your leader B.P. Koirala said Nepali Congress will lose relevancy as soon as it gives up its stand on nationalism and democracy, how do you look at present when your party is harping too much on democracy sidelining nationalism?

As B.P. Koirala said Nepali Congress has to take responsibility of restoring democracy as well as safeguarding the national interest. He always emphasized that if Nepali Congress only talks of one responsibility, the party will be following the wrong track by being one sided. This is still valid for us to keep our identity intact. It is more or less true that Nepali Congress has failed to make balance between democracy and nationalism. We are spending too much time on only one responsibility of restoring democracy. Our party's priority of nationalism seems to have been sidelined. It is definite that our party will lose its relevancy if we are unable to maintain balance on these two factors. I am optimistic that our leader Girijababu will follow it. Nepali Congress has no option other than to follow the middle path.

How do you see your party? Is it a populist radical party?

Nepali Congress is not a radical or populist party. The present populist trend will not last long. If we follow the populist trend, our party will lose its identity. Nepali Congress is a liberal democratic party, which always follows the ground reality of the country.

At a time when almost all your top leaders are competing with populist slogans of communists, don't you think your party has also turned into a populist party?

At this juncture, when we are trying to give space to rebel Maoists, we have certain limitations. Frankly speaking, there is a realization in the party's rank and file whether our party is still a centrist party or there is certain deviation. Slowly and gradually, Nepali Congress workers are raising their voices from center to grass root level, party workers are debating whether we are taking right or wrong stand. As a mass based party, no leader can remain in power ignoring the voices of majority of people. In his recent book Raja, Rastriyata and Rajniti (King, Nationalism and Politics) B.P. Koirala has clearly stressed the importance of monarchy as well as democracy in the country. Nepali Congress can never win the race in populism as there are many communist and rightist factions to champion this.

Don't you think by defending B.P. Koirala's stand, you may lose privilege as a
central committee member?

I don't care about my post and position. I have spent almost all my youth championing the idea of liberal democracy and national reconciliation propounded by B.P. Koirala. Although he was put in prison for more than a decade by the King and some even demanded capital punishment against him, B.P. Koirala never criticized or condemned institution of monarchy. Whether he was in prison in Sundarijal or after returning from exile, B.P Koirala expressed his own strong belief that democracy and monarchy are supplementary and complimentary to each other. For B.P. Koirala the importance was the institution of monarchy but not the individual King.

Looking at King Gyanendra's actions of October 4, 2002 and 1 February 2005, even your party leadership are determined to establish your party as a republican one like other communists. How do you look at it?

No democrat can defend King Gyanendra's action to impose autocratic rule in the country. King Gyanendra's actions were anti-democratic and anti-people and his actions derailed the democratic process in the country. In a similar way, King Mahendra had also dismissed elected parliament and elected government in 1961 imposing autocratic rule in the country. B.P. Koirala never supported King Mahendra's action and condemned the move to dismiss the elected prime minister and parliament. At the same time he defended the institution of monarchy.

How do you see King Gyanendra's actions?

Of course, the actions of King Gyanendra worked against the wishes of people as he tried to establish the autocratic system replacing the popular democratic government. However, this is not a mistake of institution of monarchy. For the actions of individual King Gyanendra, I don't want to victimize the institution of monarchy- which still has utility. When I was put in prison in Dhangadhi for six months for my conviction on democracy by King Gyanendra, I was tempted to side with republican. I changed my stand when I read jail journal twice where B.P. Koirala stands for country's interest rather than be guided by personal anger and anguish. Despite atrocities committed against him by King Mahendra, he stood for monarchy looking for the country's interest and he did not take decision in haste.

How do you feel about the path your party is currently taking ?

We still can prove our relevancy again following the path shown by B.P. Koirala. Even prime minister and Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala has been stressing for B.P. Koirala's national reconciliation. Of course, he himself claimed that he is not B.P. Koirala but as a brother of B.P. Koirala, Girijababu knows ethos of national reconciliation.

At a time when Girija Prasad Koirala is toeing his line with extremist leftists minimizing the traditional forces including monarchy, how can you say that G.P. Koirala is true follower of B.P. Koirala?

I firmly believe that Girija Prasad Koirala is the only living politician who knows the ethos of B.P. Koirala's national reconciliation. According to Girijababu, his recent actions are also a part of broader national reconciliation. As a politician, he might have some constraints and compulsions but Girijababu from his inner conviction is a follower of B. P.'s national reconciliation.

How can you justify his recent actions and utterances against country's traditional force like monarchy making alliance with the radical communists?

It is a fact that Girijababu is now leading communist-dominated coalition and some of his recent reported statements are directed against monarchy. I am not justifying the present alliance and Girijababu's statements. I don't know in which circumstances Girijababu issued those statements. However, we must give credit to Girijababu who has brought Maoists to the mainstream ending decade long violent insurgency.

Had B.P. Koirala ever defined that national reconciliation means the unity against the King?

I have told you that B.P.'s national reconciliation is not unity against any force. Actually, his national reconciliation policy was unity between modern democratic forces and traditional forces of monarchy. In broader sense, it is the unity among the nationalist forces against external power. It is very unfortunate to say that we don't have leader like B.P. Koirala who knows the strength of nation and capability to explain it to others. After returning from eight years long exile, B.P. firmly backed the reconciliation between modern and traditional forces strengthening Nepal 's independence.

Don't you think the series of events of last couple of years pushed your party closer to alliance with radical leftists?

Of course, as a democratic party, Nepali Congress has various kinds of people with heterogeneous interests. It seems now that the persons with leftist leaning are hijacking party's agenda but there is no safe way for us other than to follow the course set by B.P.

How do you see Nepal's current political situation?

It is very fluid now. Despite changes in the global power context, Nepal 's geo-strategic position has not changed as Nepal is still surrounded by two big powers of Asia. Nepal is still struggling to survive as an independent nation. As B.P. said in his recent book, every Nepalis have to work to show the strength of this country. We don't have leader like B.P. Koirala in this volatile political situation but we can stabilize society following the path shown by him. We will survive if we can retain our independence and sovereignty.