According to that, the UML and NC had every right to take Bhandari to the courts. Rather they obstructed the functioning of the parliament. This stinks of immature politics and tit for tat. The Maoists stalled the House plenty when the NC and the UML led the government. So, these parties, who have vowed to become "constructive opposition”, did the same. When will our parliamentarians stop taking the law into their own hands, and use our courts instead?
So far, the 22 districts in the Madesh haven’t seceded. Bhandari just said that they could do so if the Madeshis continue to suffer "neglect". Let Bhandari note that (1) the present day republic hasn’t sidelined Madehs. We have the president and vice-president of Madeshi origin. Most of our industries operate from the Tarai. Republica research has proven that about 7,000 soldiers of Madeshi origin already serve in the Nepal Army.
United parliamentarians from the Tarai have become "kingmakers". The Maoists, the NC, and the UML can’t form a government without their participation. (2) The Madhesi lawmakers have actually begun to bully the country by using their clout. We can regard Bhandari’s secession-statement in this context.
Other Madeshi leaders have made similar declarations in the past. Columnist Budhinarayan Shrestha writing in a Nepali national daily reminds us that Nagendra Prasad Paswan claimed the existence of an independent Tarai which only awaited the geographical demarcation (July 11, 2007), Mahantha Thakur prophesied that a separate Madeshi state could form if the nation didn’t fulfill their demands (January 24, 2008), and Rajendra Mahato said the nation could disintegrate if "One Madesh, One Pradesh" didn’t come into being (January 31, 2008). Former PM Girija Prasad Koirala himself agreed to the "One Madesh, One Pradesh" demand. Why didn’t anyone accuse these of sedition? So, after the Bhandari episode, the NC and the UML should seek answers from Madeshi and Maoist leaders to some legitimate questions.
"ONE MADESH, ONE PRADESH"
One long state running from Mechi to Mahakali sounds so absurd that most non-Madeshi Nepalis and Madeshi commoners (not leaders) don’t understand the logic behind it. True, the Tarai remains the bread-basket of the country, it controls major entry points from India to Nepal, and it houses most of our industries. However, the region requires the market in the Hills to sell its grains; and electricity produced by mountainous rivers run its industries. Besides, fruits and vegetables of the north provide the variety for the southern plains. Unless Madeshi leaders envision the Indian market for Tarai products, the "One Madesh, One Pradesh" demand doesn’t make sense.
No Madeshi parliamentarian has spoken against India when the latter has encroached on Nepali land or intruded on Nepali citizens. Madeshi commoners have cried and complained. Often, Indian dams have flooded Nepali paddy fields. Indian police enter Nepal at will to make arrests. Madeshi MPs remain quiet. Why?
For all his faults, King Mahendra wisely divided Nepal into 14 zones, six of which have the mountains, the hills, and the Tarai (Mechi, Kosi, Sagarmatha, Janakpur, Seti, and Mahakali). A practical federal nation will have to build on his work. Perhaps, combining Bagmati with Narayani, Gandaki with Lumbini, Dhaulagiri with Rapti, and Karnali with Bheri can correct the imbalance where some zones have only mountains and hills but no plains, and others have only plains and hills but no mountains. Madeshi leaders should work toward creating more balanced north-south federal states.
"One Madesh, One Pradesh" gives the impression that, when disgruntled, parts of this long state could either join Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. This becomes more of a possibility after the UCPN (Maoist) and United Democratic Madeshi Front signed a four point deal which paved the way for the present Bhattarai-led government. Point 3 agrees on a "federal system with autonomous states and right to self-determination…" Does "self-determination" mean the right to secede? Madeshi and Maoist leaders should provide an answer.
SEPARATE MAOIST/MADESHI UNITS IN NA
On August 25, the UCPN (Maoist) released unilaterally a five point declaration. Point 1b states that the Maoists fighters will go into a special, separate unit. The UCPN (Maoist) has yet to decide how many of their fighters will populate it, but it insists Maoist commanders will control this unit. Since the UCPN (Maoist) hasn’t yet abandoned its goal of "capturing the state", we believe the unit will become handy for such a revolution in the future.
Naturally, when the Maoists themselves demand a separate unit for their fighters, they can’t advise the Madeshi leaders to do otherwise. Thus, the four point agreement between the UCPN (Maoist) and United Democratic Madeshi Front. Point 4.2 says, In the context of ongoing recruitment for the 10,000 additional personnel, the process of inclusion will begin with creation of a separate unit in Army reflecting Madeshi identity. Why does the United Democratic Madeshi Front want a separate unit of 10,000 Madeshi soldiers? (Should Bhattarai’s government fulfill this demand, we’ll have 17,000 fighters of Tarai origin in the Nepal Army.) Are the UCPN (Maoist) and United Democratic Madeshi Front really pursuing integration when they ask for separate units? Won’t this encourage a type of Army "casteism" which we are striving hard to eradicate?
"FORGETTING" THE NEPALI LANGUAGE
The fact that some Madeshi parliamentarians suddenly "forget" Nepali and burst into Hindi has become a national joke. We have the famous incident of the former Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood advising the Vice-President Paramananda Jha, a previous judge using Nepali all his life, to take the oath in Hindi; and "we will see what happens". We know what happened—Jha lived in a limbo until the Madhav Kumar Nepal government reinstated him, after the former obediently took the oath in both Nepali and Maithili. This ushered in a rare proud moment when our country didn’t succumb to Indian pressure. When a parliamentarian consistently speaks in Hindi, we can presume the person is using his/her mother tongue; and sympathize. However, when a lawmaker chooses to "forget" Nepali at the opportune time, questions arise.
STONY SILENCE OF MADHESI PARLIAMENTARIANS
No Madhesi parliamentarian has spoken against India when the latter has encroached on Nepali land or intruded on Nepali citizens. Madeshi commoners have cried and complained. Indian custom officials annually rob Nepali workers returning home for Dashain. Recently, Indian SSB (Seema Suraksha Bal) personnel intruded on a Nepali settlement at Bhujela of Kanchanpur; and demolished three houses. Only the Maoists have protested. Often, Indian dams have flooded Nepali paddy fields. Indian police enter Nepal at will to make arrests. Madeshi MPs remain quiet. Why?
Former Defence Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari’s statement just indicates the tip of the iceberg. Exploring its depth involves seeking answers to these nagging questions.
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