To say Nepalese politics is at a crossroads would be an overstatement. A literary writer would say that Nepali politics epitomizes pond water — stagnant and refusing to come out of the hole. If anything, it has been absolutely stable in terms of spreading dissatisfaction among the general public. Attuned to the volatility of Nepalese politics, people — unless they are party cadres — have long lost their optimism. At least, it has become clear that the country will not, anytime soon, gallop towards prosperity, especially with the same old leaders governing the mainstream political parties. Widespread corruption, dispute over some of the provisions in the Constitution and the leaders' greed for power and the spoils that come with it, have stymied the nation’s progress. Scandals involving the top leaders have been surfacing so frequently that citizens have started raising brows at their once-favorite candidates, who came through the ranks via the democratic path. Public disillusionment is evident on social media, with people venting their anger over the leaders' inability to address critical issues.
Of late, what has riled people more is the proposal of the Social Media Bill and Prime Minister KP Oli stressing the need to pass this ordinance at any cost . The prime minister has been severely criticized for even considering the enactment of this contentious bill. As many put it, the bill in its current form poses a serious threat to democracy and attempts to silence dissenting voices. Those who have lived long enough to experience the wrath of absolute monarchy might dread the mere thought of restrictions on free speech and opinions. It came as a shock to many, as Prime Minister Oli, a prominent figure in establishing democracy, was seen fixated on imposing something deemed an anti-democratic action.
Under democratic principles, everyone has the right to speak against and raise questions to the government — something that was blatantly labeled a "crime" when Nepal was governed by monarchists. It was in the era ruled by the king that political leaders were handcuffed and put behind bars, media were censored, and fear was spread among the public to keep them wholly in the dark. In retrospect, a grown-up Nepali feels a breath catch in his throat, not even wanting to recall the gloomy years from decades ago. The current scenario is utterly different, as people are open to criticizing and speaking against the rulers — this is no doubt a boon of democracy. The struggles and sacrifices devoted to abolishing the monarchy are unparalleled; the Maoist force will always be revered for what they underwent to make democracy possible in Nepal. The lost lives — 17,000 of them — will forever be remembered. With so much blood spilling and trickling along the streets, democracy was a hard-fought reward, which brought with it the hopes of prosperity and development.
Millions will take to streets against monarchists: Dahal
However, over the course of decades, Nepal has been plagued by what may be broadly defined as political instability and conflicts within the major parties, impeding the nation's progress on developmental fronts. International relations have also become a cause of concern for Nepal, as it is often conveyed that every political party has its own favorite outsider. With the existing laws under the constitution, it is almost impossible for a political party to form the government single-handedly. When coalitions are formed, the parties brawl and blame each other for not working in coordination. Seeing the opportunity to thrive in this chaotic political atmosphere, new forces have emerged out of the blue and even made their landing notable in the recent election. Devoid of strong ideology and impactful history, these new forces are a bunch of ambitious people with nothing but hunger in their guts. Their early success can be attributed to the old parties' multiple failures in achieving good governance and economic stability. It would be cliché to mention that these new forces have evolved solely due to the shoddy performances of the mainstream parties.
Then there is something called benefit of the doubt. Nepali people have tried their luck by giving these new forces a chance to prove their worth and credibility. This phenomenon portrays that elections under democracy are characterized by a hit-and-trial approach. People have the absolute freedom to choose the leader they believe can work for society's welfare and the greater good of the whole nation. Slightly threatened by these new forces, the mainstream parties have been drafting all sorts of plans and ploys to stay ahead in the forthcoming electoral race. The proposal of the controversial Social Media Bill has possibly stemmed from a feeling of insecurity, thanks to those new, bubbly forces who have stirred national politics with their grand debut. Also, the public has become vocal in pointing out the shortcomings, constantly asking the government to be more accountable. If not the leaders, the general public is fully committed to the practice of democracy.
Interestingly, amid the conflict and evolution of the parties, pro-monarchist groups have been scrutinizing the democratic forces from their hideouts. Given the long history of the Shah dynasty, it is no surprise that pro-monarchist groups still exist in large numbers. It's crucial to understand that these forces have not materialized overnight; they have been here all along, always looking to pounce on the flaws of democratic forces. Public disillusionment and the recent proposal of the Social Media Bill could be one of the major triggers provoking pro-monarchist groups to hit the streets of Kathmandu in the welcoming of former king Gyanendra Shah on Sunday. Shah, in his unique voice, often articulates the “deepening crisis” in the country and how people should support him if they want a prosperous Nepal.
Having received a royal education, Shah is supposed to understand that under the federal republic system, there is no provision for monarchical power. The RPP, which advocates for the restoration of the monarchy, makes up less than 6% of the members in the federal parliament. Constitutional amendments to restore the monarchy are not possible by any means. For a referendum, there would need to be a mass gathering to pressure the government. But then again, the federal parliament is definitely not going to approve a referendum for the monarchy. At this point, the restoration of the monarchy is a distant dream, and if Gyanendra Shah believes there’s even a slim chance, he should stop daydreaming. Former King Shah should know that Durga Prasain and Rabindra Mishra's public stunt can't topple the hard-earned democracy. As for pro-monarchists, well, they can hope and pray for their messiah. But the ideal action would be to join others in pressuring the government to improve its performance. Progressive democracy is the need of the hour. And yes, monarchy shouldn’t even be the topic of discussion, for people can’t even envision an unstable Paras Shah as their king in the future.
