KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI - A Lone Vopice of Conscience

Former prime minister and founder of Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Bhattarai shows moral courage by solidly backing national reconciliation

http://www.nepalnews.com/contents/2007/englishweekly/spotlight/sep/sep14/national1.php

By KESHAB POUDEL

Although the founding member of Nepali Congress and former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is out of political mainstream, a political statement issued by him defending B.P. Koirala's national reconciliation being as relevant as ever generated ripples in Nepali politics. The response came from left to right and leaders of his centrist party also reacted – showing that his statement in defense of BP's view counted.

Despite organizing nationwide program to mark 94th birth anniversary of legendary leader BP Koirala by two factions of Nepali Congress - which are in the process of unification by dumping BP's ideology and political stand - the political debates centered around Bhattarai.

Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, under whose direction party's central committee prepared an election manifesto to go for federal republic, avoided all formal programs organized to mark the birth anniversary of BP but he showed his weakness towards his legendary brother and mentor BP Koirala. Addressing an international conference in the capital, prime minister Koirala, who dumped political stand of his legendary brother, remembered BP as a pioneer of tree plantation.

"BP Koirala is pioneer in idea of nature conservation. This is the reason he promoted the cause to plant trees," said Koirala, speaking at a program on environment conservation.

Although Congress founder member Bhattarai, who is at his last leg of life, has hardly spoken about BP's national reconciliation, this time when BP's ideals of national reconciliation is under a serious threat, Bhattarai has demonstrated his courage by opposing his party's new proposal to go for republic.

Although a strong group including Koirala's daughter Sujata Koirala, Sunil Kumar Bhandari had opposed the party's decision to dump BP's stand on monarchy, their opinion did not count as much as Bhattarai's statement. "As BP said, the country still has utility of monarchy," said Sujata. “Declaring republic will not guarantee democracy. There is majority in Nepali Congress who are in favor of my stand."

Issuing his statement on the eve of 94th birth anniversary of BP Koirala, octogenarian leader Bhattarai stressed the need for national unity to safeguard Nepali nationalism, independence and democracy.

"Let us be guided by our lessons of the past and collective thoughts for future and not by any thing else including republicanism," he said.

"Late BP Koirala and Ganesh Man Singh came back to Nepal from India in 1976 ending their eight year long exile with the call for national reconciliation. They were clear in their minds that a prolonged difference between the King and democratic forces will weaken the Nepali nationalism, independence and democracy. Besides it will also weaken great economic opportunities. Policy of national reconciliation and spirit it represented is valid even today as it was before. I have no doubt that this will remain valid for quite some time to come."

"Let us not destroy our history and legacy, which generations together have built," said Bhattarai.

As it was expected, Bhattarai's statement generated a new wave in country's politics." It is an outdated statement and against the wish of the people," said CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Nepali Congress leaders, too, reacted against the statement. "We were shocked to read Bhattarai's statement. Kishunji should have issued the statement fully understanding its consequences,” said Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala. Congress leaders of republican fold Sushil Koirala, Ram Chandra Poudel and Narahari Acharya termed Bhattarai's statement as outmoded.

Whatever one can say, Bhattarai's statement has political meaning. "It is a highly conscious, highly moral statement of octogenarian political leader from sick bed. A step towards a wrong direction can spoil the whole achievements of life. Similarly, a right step at the right moment can immortalize a man in the pages of history," said a political analyst. "The opinion which Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has expressed at this stage is neither influenced by the temptation for power nor out of vengeance against anybody. He fought for the country and democracy, which again has been reaffirmed by his statement.”

Stating that Nepal's current transition needs a "safe landing, which is possible only through unity and reconciliation," Bhattarai said, "Now it is high time to remember again that the monarchy truly acted as a unifying symbol of diverse religious, cultural, ethnic and political groups in a truly democratic set up."

Bhattarai was with BP Koirala during his eight year long political detention from 1960 to 1968. After he was released from jail, BP went to India for medical check up and got involved with a new possibility for fighting for the restoration of democracy in Nepal for almost another eight years in exile.

"After termination of Vietnam War, BP visualized the South Asia being merged as a 'Zone in Turmoil.' Bifurcation of Pakistan into two and annexation of Sikkim by India had alarmed BP Koirala much regarding the future of Nepal also. After a serious analysis of situation, he made a decision to come back to Nepal and face any kind of repercussion for his past rebellion acts," said the analyst.

BP Koirala was put into jail for some time but political situation took a new turn. King Birendra put the party less Panchayat system into the referendum and he stared assuming a role of an arbiter between two contesting political alternatives.

"Though the Panchayat system was approved by the verdict of 54 percent of the voters, but the minority in favor of multi party system was not neglected. Slowly and gradually, the political system was heading towards peaceful and constitutional accommodation of all the political forces. But, the transition was hindered by mysterious machination and a situation of confrontation was brought into play," said the analyst.

It was the wisdom and tolerance of King Birendra who conceded power to the people and enhanced his acceptability and stature as high as any monarch of democratic societies.

Francis G. Hutchins, teacher of King Birendra, in his book Democratizing Monarchy, writes "as the great Shah ruler, Birendra seems certain to be remembered as a pivotal figure in the history of Nepal.”

"At this critical juncture of history, all those contribution of a noble visionary politician like BP Koirala and wise and tolerant monarch like King Birendra are at a critical stake. There was nobody in the present day politics of stature of Krishna Prasad. Bhattarai who could vibrate the nation by his moral and conscious appeal compared to the contribution of his whole life. This one statement at this critical period of this country may be considered as superseding all his previous contribution," said the analyst.

"Bhattarai, a person of high political image, neither has family nor his own abode for living. He is passing his days with the help of some dedicated sympathizers. What Bhattarai has said is neither a lust for power nor a vanity or vengeance against any. He has stirred a political opinion which may be recalled all the time by the posterity in Nepal," said the analyst.

At a time when Nepal has been passing through a very critical phase of its history, BP's national reconciliation is more relevant now than in the past as there is a need for reconciliation among all the country's forces including monarchy to bring back Nepal in the right track from present chaos. This is what Bhattarai's statement is all about.

“Before B.P.’s death, in his last public meeting B.P. had expressed anguish over the populist mode of he politicians calling himself Lone Brihaspati- that means a lone voice of conscience. On the same spiritual level, his political colleague K.P. Bhattarai has again appeared as a long person of conscience among the politician of the country,” said the analyst.