KATHMANDU, Jan 23: Former minister and senior leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Democratic (RPP-D) Sunil Thapa has expressed concerns that the future of liberal democracy is under grave threat.
Talking to Republica via telephone from Dhankuta, Thapa said that the time has come for all democrats to unite under a common platform.
He believes that the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) should take the initiative to unite all democratic forces in the country.
He called on the NC to take the lead in reaching out to all democratic forces to form a common alliance to devise strategies and mobilize democrats across the country to save liberal democracy in the country.
Thapa also hinted that he may eventually join the NC if the country's grand old party took the initiative to unite all democratic forces in the country.
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"The important question at hand is how all democrats are going to stand on the same platform against a common threat - the threat to democracy," he said, when asked if he was joining the NC.
RPP-D leader Thapa also called on the ruling party and the government to engage the opposition parties to reinforce the achievements of the constitution.
He is of the view that the NCP should reach out to the opposition parties by taking them into confidence on issues of national interest.
Thapa also took strong exception to the reaction shown by the communist parties of the country regarding the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC).
“Communists have two ideological poles within the party. The reaction to MCC is an attempt to form an alternate ideology within the party,” he said.
Thapa further said he has complete faith that the MCC will be passed through parliament and that the American grant is a welcome gesture from the American government to enhance road connectivity and electrification between Nepal and India.
"The two countries are traditional allies bound by geography, creed and a shared civilization and an intertwined destiny," he further said.
Thapa also said that history has demonstrated both India and Nepal have no choice but to sit down and resolve outstanding issues.
“China had good relations with the king, Nepali Congress and now with the Nepal Communist Party. The two countries have ample opportunities to collaborate on development issues,” he said, while warning that an ideological imbalance in Nepal could trigger political fallout that would further destabilize Nepal.
