Why focus this anger on Sher Bahadur Deuba, one might ask. There are literally countless political leaders who are worthy of our scorn, and many of them are from our “grand-old party”. However, Deuba epitomizes everything that is wrong with our political class. His political career is full of examples where his actions have undermined the democratic development of the country like dissolving his own parliament so he can retain his premiership. He had three opportunities to lead the country, but his record is absolutely dismal. He also dissolved the elected local bodies in 2002 and almost a decade later, we are still facing severe problems of accountability at local level. He is synonymous to Pajero kanda and jumbo parliament to appease his cronies. All this and other several antics against the late Girija Prashad Koirala show that what Deuba really cares about is power. Even recently, after losing the presidency of NC, he is continuing to conspire to gain personal power. If he was a genuine senior leader of the party, he would have used his energy to unite the party and make it stronger, not make it weak.
Hence, it is fair to conclude that he doesn’t have any vision or legitimacy to lead our country. Yet he has the gall to want to be the PM again. Deuba should realize that a vast number of Nepali cringe deep inside every time he professes to be the next prime minister. We feel like he’s dishonoring our conscience by his conceited proclamations.
Deuba is clearly living an illusion that he is a great leader. This is a disease that many of our leaders have contracted, especially the likes of Sujata Koirala. This fantasy persists mainly because they are propped up by fellow cronies who seek to gain financial benefit when/if any one of them lands the next premiership. It is a slap on the face of all morally cognizant Nepali that we allow this kind of transgression to occur right in front of our face. We should be ashamed at ourselves for letting this crop of delusional leaders take our country and our own future hostage.
Why focus this anger on Sher Bahadur Deuba, one might ask. There are literally countless political leaders who are worthy of our scorn, and many of them are from our “grand-old party”. However, Deuba epitomizes everything that is wrong with our political class.
But we have only us to blame, because our generation is so turned off by politics that we tune them out completely. In so doing, we’ve given these corrupt leaders a nice platter full of our tax money and donor dollars to feast on and happily distribute to their cronies. Our country can only be saved if we get out of our couches and air-conditioned offices and get involved in politics. If we want to live in a half-decent country, we have to organize ourselves as a political block and hold our leaders accountable.
As a society, we have many qualities to learn to become a decent, progressive and forward looking civilization. One area we can start with is being humble and learn from criticism. In many societies like Japan, a dishonored person is ashamed to even show his face in public. But in our society, we have Deubas and Sujatas who do not feel a hint of shame for their lust for power. We’ll be a great nation if they showed the maturity to contemplate on their shortcomings and learn from others how to become a great leader. Instead, they will be the first to dismiss everything that is said, and label every criticism as a fabrication of their rival camps. This is exactly the kind of attitude that has doomed our every discussion in our society. When every genuine criticism of a leader or party or policy is dismissed, how can that entity improve on its weaknesses and become a true leader? Self-criticism is a virtue that is utterly lacking in our leaders. And none of them seem to have the moral compass to lead us in the right direction.
As paradoxical as it may sound, the reason for venting this anger at Nepali Congress leaders is because it is likely the only political party that has fairly sound foundation that can lead the nation in the modern world. While it professes to be based on democratic principles with socialistic inclination, its main difference from other political parties has been its degree of acceptance of capitalism and globalization. True, capitalism and globalization can destroy the country if it is not regulated properly, and if it’s monopolized by the likes of Rupert Murdocks of Nepal. But it is without question the most effective social order that allows every Nepali to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit, and in so doing, keep the economic fire of the country burning. However, NC has been destroyed by unethical and immoral leaders, who get involved in one scam to another like Lauda, Sudan, and so on. Hence, in the eye of general public, NC is seen as nothing but a group of corrupt old men (and women). So every time Deuba or Sujata speaks, a thousand young hands itch to slap a sense into them.
Nepali Congress can have a brighter future if it learns to look far ahead into the future, and not bask on the glory days of its past. When the NC president exercises his newly minted power to assign department heads, it would be an act of a great leader if he avoids his cronies and assigns responsibilities to leaders not based on his/her past sacrifices, but based on their future potential. NC’s success lies in its ability to be the moral compass of the country and its power to destroy its nexus of immoral leaders among them.
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