HT Home / Blogs Home > Kurakani in Kathmandu / Nepal / Another attack on politicians; no lessons learnt

It’s no easy job being a politician in India and also in Nepal. Besides the perks sometimes one has to face the wrath of disgruntled citizens, opponents and even party colleagues.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh experienced one such incident at a function in Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi recently. And in neighbouring Nepal, the man touted as the next one for the same post, had a near escape last week.

Sushil Koirala, president of Nepali Congress, was attacked on Saturday by a party member at a function in Kathmandu on Saturday. Armed with a wooden frame, the attacker was aiming for the 73-year-old’s head.

Had it not been for the timely intervention of party general secretary Prakash Man Singh and youth leader Gagan Thapa present on the dais, Koirala could have sustained severe injuries.

The attacker Prabesh Basnet was immediately caught and bashed by those present before being handed to the police. A case has been registered and a probe panel constituted to investigate.

The Nepali Congress too has formed a committee comprising Singh, Thapa and another leader to look for reasons behind the unprovoked attack.

Though details are yet to surface, some say Basnet took the step as he was unhappy at being overlooked while lesser leaders were gracing the stage. A conspiracy theory by a rival party is also doing rounds.

Koirala however attributed the incident to the youth’s anger at politicians from major parties failing to resolve the ongoing crisis in Nepal as the possible cause.

The ruling Maoist-Madhesi coalition and major opposition parties Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) have agreed that fresh poll is the only way out of the logjam.

But there’s no consensus on when it would be held and what will happen in the interim. Inconclusive talks have become the norm four months following dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May.

Differences persist on whether the present government should continue with other joining it or whether it should resign and a new national unity government headed by Nepali Congress formed.

With no one willing to compromise, solution has been elusive. And Nepalis are getting more and more restive with the power games being played by politicians—delaying the promised New Nepal.

The attack on Koirala is not the first instance of a senior politician getting targeted. In January last year, Jhalanath Khanal, chairman of CPN (UML) also had a somewhat similar experience.

Exasperated at the delay in constitution drafting, a 52-year-old farmer had slapped Khanal on his face at a public function.

Twenty months have passed since, but the situation in Nepal is not much different and politicians too haven’t learnt any lessons.

It shouldn’t come as surprise if other senior politicians also hit the headlines in coming days, weeks and months for similar reasons.

Comments

1. Dirgha Raj Prasai says:

   October 3, 2012 at 7:52 am

   Dear Editor & Readers !
   ‘Too much of everything is bad.’
   Yes ! this news may be discussion for all politicians. The corrupted and nonsense leader of party or org. who want to capture the regime without programmed, will beaten or attack by the people or the workers. The beaten incident on Susil Koirala- the leader of Nepali Congress(NC) in Nepal is the same case. Because, in NC is corrupted by the corrupted Gang. The late Girija P. Koirala had passed his life in corruption and disturbances. The traitor-Girija showed the corrupt path to his generation. Then the so-called leaders- Susil Koirala, Krishna Sitoula, Ram Chandra Poudel, Prakshman Singh, Ramsaran Mahat, Arjun Narsing KC are all corrupts and power hunger.. If these noncombatant and anti-nationalist can’t punish, NC never can do nothing. So, the the attack of Susil Koirala is the sign of furious of the NC’s workers. NC has forgotten all the democratic line of BP Koirala.
   Maoist, Congress, UML, Madhesis who are corrupted and anti-nationalist, must punish. If not, the country will be collapse. The foreigners-RAW, CIA, EU are very active to destroy the unity among the Nepalese people and Hindu-identities flowing a huge amount of money to the traitors who are in regime and including the Medias, Human Rights activities, Civil Society. I am not anti-Maoist, Congress, UML, Madhesi, but the Maoist and all the leaders are got fizzle out due to their unlimited corruptions and looting and funding money in deferent Banks. Baburam Bhattarai-the most suspicious and incompetent PM of Nepal, created a big issue talking of his conception of ‘merge and submerge with China and India.
   The Constituent Assembly is dead already. They are all nor versed. The corrupted are again going to active to capture the regime. They are attaining so-called meeting day by day with nonsense agendas. To restore the dead Constituent Assembly (CA), or Govt, of consensus, or round table conference are all like the beggars’ bowl which is unaccepted before the people. Since 2006, the party leaders have trapped themselves from their mistakes. They have broken all the agreements and the democratic norms. Now, they are thinking that the Interim constitution, president is not expired and they are demanding to implement according to the article 38 (1) of Interim constitution when the CA is not in existence. After the experiment of CA, the article 38 (1) and (2) is expired automatically. After all, the PM Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is dubiously explaining the slogan of consensus. When the CA was in existence, they never follow the path of consensus and now after the experiment of CA, they are just exercising in futility on constitutional affairs for their personal benefits. They destroyed the cordial relation between Nepal and India. Due to their notorious activities anti-Indian feeling is around Nepal.
   The nation today lingers without a constitution. Ram Baran Yadav still clings to his seat although he has lost legal status. The Prime Minister’s legal status is also lost. In such a scenario, if Baburam wants to rid himself of the stains he has only one option– to submit the government to King Gyanendra to take leadership with the 1990 constitution. This is only a option for the traitors who have been capturing regime since 2006.
   Never forget-timely blossom, timely rip.
   Thank you.
   Dirgha Raj Prasai
   Kathmandu.

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