Sunday, August 27, 2006

Time For A New Nepali Congress


Talk of unification is gaining strength. That is positive. There is a need for a large party in Nepal that understands right to property is as fundamental as right to free speech. But the whole exercise will have amounted to not if the party does not make a serious attempt at internal democracy and does not get proactive on the issues of social justice.

To those who know more of the Congress' history, the party might come across as one that has stood for democracy in Nepal for the longest time. Me I see a party that dragged its feet in the 1990s on the burning issues of social justice, and carelessly played with the fire of blatant corruption. The party also failed to come up with a creative solution to the Maoist problem when only a few thousand lives had been lost. Why was the party so reluctant to adopt the agenda of a constituent assembly for such a long time?

Many in the Congress see Koirala as some towering figure. I see someone who has stayed on longer than he should.

My worst fear is the Congress will yet again fail to take the lead on party reform. It will be same old, same old.

The Koirala Congress is not yet fully for a republic, not yet forcefully for federalism. Neither Congress faction has a proposed map for federalism. These are not parties working hard to reimagine the future.

There is much talk of structural unification. There is little talk of ideas, and issues. There is little forward thinking. The Maoists continue to take the lead on social justice issues. Can a unified Congress try and snatch that lead from them? Will it even try? What is the Congress formula for a rapid economic growth in the country?

There are campaign finance reform issues. There are issues of transparency on party finances. Will the Congress take the bite and do something? So far I see no signs. The unification exercise is being seen by too many insiders as taking the Congress back to its glorious past of the 1990s. That past is not glorious.

Proposed Republican Constitution 2006 (January 1, 2006)
Janata Dal Constitution (August 8, 2005)
This Inadequate, Improper, Insufficient 1990 Constitution (April 4, 2005)

Between The Maoists And The Congress
My Work In The Ideas Department Is Complete
Who Will Tie The Bell Round The Cat's Neck
Language Policy
Alliance, GFIPN: Audio, Video
The Next Revolution Will Be At The Ballot Box
Political Synthesis Nepali Style
Mainstream Jay Krishna Goit Also
Arms Management: Break It Down Into Smaller Pieces
Madhesi Caucus In Interim Parliament Needed

Deuba Off To DC
Deuba In Jackson Heights
Deuba At Hotel Pennsylvania
Deuba At Columbia

Seven Party Forum In Jackson Heights

Critiquing The Nepali Congress Proposed Constitution
Congress Unification: Not Possible, Unnecessary
Why It Is Important To Me The Congress Takes Up A Federal Republic
Nepali Congress Or Praja Parishad
Congress Not Yet For A Republic

Nepali Congress Goes The UML Route, Almost
Narahari Acharya For Nepali Congress President
Somnath Ghimire On Leadership Crisis In Nepali Congress
Nepali Congress Slumber Party
Democratic Solidarity With The Nepali Congress
Time For The Nepali Congress To Take A Stand On The Constituent Assembly Question


Full text of Interim Constitution Draft (Nepali Version)

DishaNirdesh, Pradip Giri, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

On The Web

.::::: Nepali Congress Party :::::.
Nepali Congress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nepal - Political Parties

In The News

Maoist central committee meeting begins in Kavre NepalNews
Ceremonial monarchy is a thing of past, says MK Nepal
Ian Martin arrives
Dozens of TU grads injured in police action in front of Singh Durbar
Tea workers withdraw strike, factories resume work
Government committed to ratify ICC Rome Statute: PM Koirala
Maoists beat UML cadre; locals hand over Maoists to police
Maoist women celebrate Teej festival in combat dress

King Gyanendra owns 18 big companies, hotels, says report Kantipur Publications King Gyanendra has invested in the nation's big hotels, cigarette and biscuit factories, tea garden estates, travel companies and hydroelectric projects, since he was crown prince. But the report says that the king handed over the companies and hotels to other members of the royal family after he took direct power. ....... The Soaltee Hotel in the capital, formerly owned by the king, is under 11 other members of his family. The hotel is worth Rs. 550 million at present. ...... Most of the shares of the more than 210 million-rupee-worth Soaltee Enterprises has been tendered to the king's daughter—crown princes Prerana. ...... the king has handed over his shares of Gorkha Travels, Nebiko Private Limited, Laxmi Vanaspati Ghee, Surya Nepal Private Limited, Surya Enterprises, Hotel Sehanhsah and Hotel Annapurna. ..... the king and his family members have shares in Himal Power Corporation, Sipradi Trading Private Limited, Laxmi Kattha, Bhote Koshi, and Laxmi Rosin Turpentine, among others. ..... The committee said that it needs more work to come up with a detailed report on the king's property and has sought the help of Nepal Rastra Bank in acquiring information about the monarch's holdings. ....... no official record was found regarding the selling of the Narayanhity Royal Palace to the government in 2026 B.S. In response to this, the committee held discussions on summoning the then prime minister Kirti Nidhi Bista for interrogation.
King must accept verdict of referendum: Nepal
Prime minister committed to ratifying ICC Statute
Locals hand over 4 Maoists to police
NA soldier injured in attack by APF men
रोम विधान अनुमोदनको प्रतिबद्धता
बेहुला-बेहुली दुवै पुरुष
माओवादी स्थानीयको नियन्त्रणमा
५० एकल महिलालाई रातो पहिरन
माओवादीद्वारा अपहरण
सशस्त्रद्वारा सैनिकलाई छुरा प्रहार
माओवादी बताउँदै लुटपाट
सेनाले घटनाको अध्ययन गर्न दिएन
असहमतिको दस्तावेज
एकता ? आँटे हुन्छ
पराजयको जिम्मेवारी
कविता र गिरिजाबाबु
जनताको सशक्तीकरण गर्ने कार्यसूची

Tibet's new railway to extend to China-Nepal border: official People's Daily Online, China
Nepal government, Maoists welcome UN appointment Hindustan Times, India
Ceremonial monarchy is a thing of past, says MK Nepal Nepalnews.com, Nepal

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