Kathmandu: The crisis deepens. Much may not be expected of the CIAA action against the government on the Lauda scam. The CIAAs move, however, will woo reaction either way. Much, on the other hand, is expected from the UMLs announced three-day nationwide bundh beginning Sunday. The opposition party has much at stake since it has a one-point agenda, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation. This, however, is not forthcoming. The Prime Minister and his well wishers insist that this demand defy the constitution. The Prime Minister holds the legitimate majority in parliament and, thereby, has the confidence of the house. It is evident, therefore, that Girija babu’s congress is in a mood to confront the UML tooth and nail.

Reality, however, says that the Prime Minister’s majority is brittle. Decisions for a successful confrontation depends largely on the manner of the opposition that the decisions within the congress to Girija babu will observe. At a UML gathering to honor the late Madan Bhandari rival Krishna Prasad Bhattarai demonstrated his proximity to the UML by taking the chair of the ceremony. Whether this lobby will support the government’s confrontational stance is clearly in doubt.

And so the direction less situation continues with a series of provocation adding to the crises. If the CIAA Lauda decision is one, the three day impending Nepal bundh will be another regardless of the fact that next week sees yet another Nepal bundh called by ethnic groups and there is the budget session of the parliament that should open soon. There is also, of course, the fact that the private schools were still in a dilemma and finally the Maoists problem itself remains the number one problem.

Adding to the crisis, moreover, is the obvious disintegration of the law and order problem in Kathmandu valley itself. Robberies, street fights, threats and the likes, have, by official admission, increased in the valley. Police officials admit that morale is an all time low. And the government acknowledges the widespread disenchantment among the public through the repeated messages carrying the democracy-under-threat cliché.

Indeed, as is often resorted to the recent trip here of the Chinese Prime Minister was hardly a cashing point for the government. The temptation to divert to foreign policy gains at times of domestic crisis has been denied the government. Chinese Prime Minister came and went but the low-key official treatment suggested reluctance on part of government itself. The significance lies, however, more on Chinese gestures than on Nepal reciprocation.

Clearly, something is about to break or an environment inviting sudden collapse is being wooed. Their own party men are building up the congress crisis. Dissidents in the government party appear to want Girija babu to enforce a split. Girija babu will not do so. And so the dissidence NC will continue, paralyzing the government. The problems will thus be left to settle itself, which is impossible.