KATHMANDU, April 11: Former president Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Sunday expressed serious concern over Nepal's weakening national unity due to a series of negligence on the part of the major political parties resulting in failure to unite the people.
Launching the autobiography 'Janatako Choro' (Son of the People) by retired chief of army staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung, former president Yadav said that national feeling will be strong only if all Nepalis are united."There is a huge gap between the Hills region and Madhes in Nepal and Madhes is suffering within this nation," he said addressing the book-launch function. He voiced dissatisfaction over the major political parties' handling of the contentious issues of the new constitution instead of sorting these out in a democratic fashion.
"Had my suggestions been taken seriously and implemented, the situation in Madhes would not have deteriorated to this level," he added. As head of state, Yadav had frequently talked to the leaders of the major political parties and reportedly suggested to them to bring the agitating Madhesi parties on board the constitution promulgation process even if this meant slowing the constitution endorsement by some days.
In his speech of over an hour, Yadav criticized the 'undemocratic' protest module of the Madhes-based parties and repeatedly spoke of the need for political consensus on the contentious issues of the constitution.
On a separate topic, relating to the sacking of former army chief Rookmangud Katawal, the former president recalled that his stance was key to protecting the entire institution of the army
"Had I endorsed the Maoist-led cabinet decision to sack Katwal from his post, the country would have taken a different track. But I took my decision on the basis of the national interest," he stressed.
In 2009, despite the objections of the coalition partners, the cabinet had decided to sack Katwal and replace him with second-in-command Kul Bahadur Khadka as acting CoAS.
Then incumbent prime minister Puspa Kamal Dahal had to step down from his post after then president Yadav declined to approve the cabinet decision. The government had reached the point of sacking Katwal, accusing him of defying a series of government orders.
At the function attended by political leaders, former army chiefs and retired generals,, bureaucrats, professors and security officials, Yadav also criticized the role of former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai in dissolving parliament despite his suggestion to the contrary.
Recalling his tenure as a most difficult period, the former president said, "It was not an easy task coordinating with a party which had recently ended its insurgency to join mainstream politics, and keeping the military unpoliticized."
He also termed the selection of former chief justice Khilraj Regmi as head of the election government a compulsion and not a deliberate choice.
Like former president Yadav, ex-prime minister and UML Senior Leader Madhav Kumar Nepal lauded the national army for remaining apolitical and professional and supporting democratic norms and values. Commenting on the book, Prof Lok Raj Baral said that it would be helpful in correcting the 'distortion of facts' concerning historic events.
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