Shaming the nation

The term ‘moral shame’ certainly seems to be missing from the mental lexicon of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar. Not that he is a breed apart. Many present parliamentarians cutting across different parties have a questionable character and reputation. But the swift and audacious steps taken by Gachchhadar since taking over the reign of the powerful home ministry to create a conducive environment for plundering the nation has perhaps been unparalleled in the past. From the very start of his present tenure, he started giving the impression of a man in a hurry, intent on making as much hay as possible when the sun is shining. The home minister after all is fully aware that this government might not last beyond November 30 when the latest term of the constituent assembly expires.



Let us briefly analyze what Gachchhadar has been saying and doing since he took the oath of office to understand how huge a chasm there is between the two: It is evident that what he says is for the public palate but what he eventually does is for his petty personal and party interests. After taking the customary oath of office, he pledged to maintain law and order, curb corruption and irregularities in the bureaucracy, end interferences in the home ministry and police administration, among others.



 Since then, what he has done instead is diametrically opposite: He has personally put pressure on the local authorities to release one Kausar Ali Musalman, who faces criminal charges in Butwal; he did not want B L Sharma, owner of Anmol Sweets that is charged with selling adulterated products, to be arrested; he has done everything in his capacity to abet sandalwood smuggling. The list goes on. When the Home Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal, known for his integrity and honesty, constantly resisted the pressure from Gachchhadar to act as per his directives, he was transferred.



If the law of this land applies to all, the home minister has to be punished on the charge of abuse of authority. Inaction against Gachchhadar would put a very big question mark on the notion that one of the beauties of democracy is that it ensures accountability. It is obvious that Prime Minister (PM) Baburam Bhattarai was forced to concede to Gachchhadar’s demand to transfer the home secretary as Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic support is crucial to this government.



True, politics is a lot about making compromises. But this time around, the learned and popular PM seems got it wrong. There are some things such as honesty and integrity on which you do not make compromises come what may. This wayward demand for the transfer of the home secretary was one such thing.

Related story

PM Oli appreciates 'Public Shaming' movement by celebrities, ca...