Kathmandu: The NC president, Koirala, is a difficult political personality to comprehend. His close aides at times don’t conceive as to what Koiralas’s next move would be for it is believed that what Koirala says, he doesn’t do and what he does, he never hints to his boys.
This should perhaps explain as to what sort of political creature Koirala is in essence.
Koirala at the moment is up against the monarch. His utterances against the King give one the impression that he has developed a sort of personal enemity with the monarch for reasons best known to him only. However, what is for sure is that he is in a mood to confront the King on a one to one basis.
Look at how he reacts to the King.
The CIAA summoned him and wished that he divulged his property details right being in the premises of the anti-corruption authority. He challenged the CIAA authority and labeled the CIAA action to have been prompted by some one behind the curtain.
He took the CIAA summoning him as a challenge to the extent that he began voicing his concern for the King’s private property and demanded that the King declared his wealth in possession. In one way he demanded transparency in the Palace.
However, the fact is that he decided to seek explanations from the King regarding his property only after wqhen he was summoned by the CIAA.
This means that Koirala would not have gone to this extent had the CIAA not summoned him for interrogation. This does smell a sort of personal venedetta.
At yet another very political level, Koirala considers that if the King uses the Article 127 that provides benefits to his party and the rest of the agitating parties would be considered as a move “constitutional”. The corollary of it would be if the King uses the Article 127 that goes against his demands, is wholly “unconstitutional” one.
This is how the matter stands.
The fact is that a frustrated Koirala recently in his hometown “modestly” divulged that the King could use article 127 for the restoration of the now dissolved parliament if he so desires. This means that Koirala still possesses a hope in the core of his heart that one fine morning the monarch will use article 127 to save his fading popularity and prestige as well.
The fact is that it is this Koirala who considers the use of article 127 by the King in the past to be an unconstitutional acts as and when he is denied power.
How come it could be a constitutional move for Koirala if the King revives the parliament through the use of the most infamous article 127 and how come the same article when used by the King that doesn’t benefit Koirala politically become unconstitutional?
In effect when Koirala is suggesting the King to use article 127 for the reinstatement of the house, he is prompting the King to act once again unconstitutionally.
The fact of the matter is that the King can not oblige Koirala because he has demanded so or has suggested so. The crux of the matter is that the King has no authority to quash the verdict upheld by the nation’s apex court which had approved the dissolution of the parliament when Deuba was the prime minister.
The King will not dare and should not dare to go against the interpretation of the court. All that he can do is to presumably seek the suggestions of the court if pressed hard. In that hypothetical case, how the apex court wishes to see its own previous decision will have to be watched.
This is what Woli of the UML said the other day. Woli maintains that if the King is allowed to restore the parliament would have a negative impact on the whole body politic of the democratic system.
For the time being, the possibility of the house being restored under pressure appears remote. However, what is not remote is the possibility of an all-party government at the center that satisfied all the parliamentary parties now in agitation. But that too if the incumbent regime fails whose longevity depends much on the success of the talks with the Maoists that is yet to resume its dialogue.
Indian Assistance For Polytechnic
A Tripartite Agreement was signed today between India, HMGN and the Manmohan Memorial Foundation (MMF), on the establishment of the Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic in district Morang. This agreement was signed by the Ambassador of India, Mr. Shyam Saran, Mr Bhanu Prasad Acharya, Finance Secretary of HMGN and Mr Bharatmohan Adhikari, Chairman of the Manmohan Foundation. The Polytechnic will be established with grant assistance of NRs.280 million from the Government of India. It will be spread over 4 hectares made available by the Manmohan Foundation in Hathimunda, Morang about 10 kms. from Biratnagar airport.
This Polytechnic will play an important role in the generation of technical manpower in Nepal. The Polytechnic will offer 3-year diploma courses with 48 seats each in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering. In addition, short courses will be available, with 20 seats each, for training in trade skills such as Electrician, Plumber, Automobile Mechanic, Fitter, Machine Operator, Electronics Mechanic, Refrigeration Mechanic, Carpenter and Welder-cum-Fabricator.
Indian assistance will cover all capital costs, including construction of administrative and instructional buildings and hostel and residential complex, procurement of all necessary equipment and furniture, and books for the library. The recurring cost of deputation of Indian expert faculty, for a period of 5 years, in such disciplines where Nepalese faculty is not available, as well as the cost of training of Nepalese faculty in India, will also be provided by the Government of India. The main building of the Polytechnic will be called ‘Nepal Bharat Maitri Bhawan ’, to stand as an enduring symbol of the close friendship between the two countries. It has been decided to name the Polytechnic as ’Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic’ in memory of Manmohan Adhikari, a great political leader and former PM of Nepal.
His Majesty’s Government of Nepal has proposed to set up one Polytechnic in each of the five development regions of the country. The Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic, Biratnagar will be the first of such Polytechnics, in the eastern development region of Nepal.
( Indian embassy press release-editor).