Nepalekhabar.com

The phrase Constitution – Writing appears to be the overriding agenda of today for people of all walks of public life particularly speakers, politicos and their parties but the same does not command seriousness in practical approach from any section. The rather gloomy scenario gets more complicated with politicians engaged in mutual accusation and challenging the nerve of consensus politics.

Opposition party Nepali Congress emphasizes the process of scribbling the highest document of the land but does not prepare a working methodology to expedite the job. It is more interested in making criticism of the government. The ruling parties are lost and have not yet chalked out a common ruling proposition to move forward to finalize the draft of the Constitution. The top three ruling parties Maoist, CPN UML and Forum look highly divided in initiating the process.

Maoists who lead the government have a duty to initiate the process taking all parties in CA into confidence. They are, however, interested in distancing key fellow parties politically by negatively targeting them one way or the other. Their latest National Convention of Cadres termed Nepali Congress their enemy; CPN UML opportunist; and the Madhesh parties reactionaries and foreign stooge. Describing fellow politicians this way at this time does not facilitate the atmosphere for Constitution – Writing. It instead makes politics highly polarized and non – cooperative. It damages the possibility of consensus.

CA members in general and the pressure groups of various sorts outside the parliament have their own agenda to keep them busy and be indifferent towards the main job of Post – CA – Poll. All these factors have rendered the job of committing to the Constitution – Writing process completely sidelined and neglected. Casual reference to it from all sides and no serious efforts for the purpose would produce a situation in which the actual job remains undone.

Serious issues of re-structuring the state along federal lines, integration of Maoist combatants, consolidating peace, and safeguarding the achievements of People’s Movement II in guaranteed provisions for democracy, human rights, equal opportunity for all, sovereignty and unity of Nepal, free press, separation of power of all three state wings etc. have to be done with a high sense of social duty, accountability and urgency. Getting support from all in CA for the purpose is another challenge.

Ruling parties and those in opposition know the issues but are simply not serious to make joint efforts for the mission of Constitution – Writing. Their emphasis on voicing their own standpoint on the Constitution and sidelining the issue of consensus for producing a Constitution could prove to be disastrous in the long run.

Is it not time for them to distance themselves from their prejudices and be consensus oriented once again for scribbling the historic document of the land?