‘There should be a review of why people were happy to oppose the old ones’: Barshaman

Kathmandu. Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) leader and former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said that the rise of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) should be accepted on the foundation of weakness of the old parties.

Speaking at an interaction programme on ‘Role of Trade Unions in the Current Political Situation’ organized by All Nepal Trade Union Federation on the occasion of the 173rd International Workers’ Day here today, Pun said that the Nepali Congress and the UML that ruled the country for 36 years and the CPN-UML should not hesitate to accept that populism was born in the country on the basis of their weakness.

Pun clarified that there was no possibility of returning the people’s mandate to them if a serious review was done to find out why the people were happy while protesting against the old parties, leaders and democratic institutions.

“Other friends have been in power for 36 years and we have been in power for 18 years. People were not disappointed without reason. We should look at ourselves as to why the people were happy when they opposed the leaders and parties of the old political parties. Where have we failed in the mobilization of student organizations in schools and universities, trade unions in industrial establishments, employee organizations in government bodies and teachers’ organizations in educational institutions? ” he said.

Stating that neoliberal system has emerged after the failure of liberal democracy in the world, he claimed that populism has emerged along with neoliberalism. He said that the tendency of the populist forces to rule through the people’s mandate is prevalent all over the world.

“White supremacism in America, religious populism in the neighborhood. Populism has manifested itself in the form of color, class, religious and casteism and majoritarianism,” Pun said. Populism seems to be trying to raise its head in the form of silence, non-listening and vindictive behavior of opposition voices. ’

He commented that Nepal’s populism is focused on majoritarian and upper-class rights, which has led to an illiberal attitude towards minorities, minorities and the poor. Pun accused the government of trying to turn the city into an elite, citing the recent attacks on squatters.

Pun pointed out the need of unity and collaboration among the leftist democratic parties advocating the present system, constitution and democracy although some political agendas are different.

“We may have political differences on some issues. However, the leftist-democratic forces should stand together for the fundamental rights of national independence, democracy, treaty, workers, farmers and employees,” he said. He believes that the old parties and leaders will not be sold immediately, but gradually they will be heard.

Don’t treat businessmen as criminals

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On a different note, he urged the government not to treat industrialists and entrepreneurs like criminals.

Pun said that they are trying to cause unnecessary trouble to the industrialists who are the taxpayers and employers.

He urged the government to “listen first and then lock up” the industrialists if they made a mistake. He said that arresting businessmen for stunts and acquitting them due to lack of evidence would weaken the government and the guilty would be acquitted. “It’s like being arrested for a stunt first, nothing is found and then released,” he said.

Pun said that those who donated money to the new ones in the election to defeat the old parties started understanding the matter only after the arrest.

“We have been saying for a long time that we should listen to the industrialists first, arrive at the facts and then lock them up. Let’s not treat employers like criminals,” Pun said, adding, “We have seen that industrialists and businessmen are carrying sacks of donations for the new ones because the old parties have been ruined.” Friends have included their own son÷wife in the proportional representation list so that they should go to the new place. Now they have started getting ‘recall’. ’

Pun argued that although industrialists work for profit, unnecessary pressure on them as they are employers, which will shrink the investment climate.

Likewise, he said that they were clear that any leader who had committed a mistake in course of running the government in the past would have to face punishment.

“The political leadership should also take action if it has made a mistake while in power. But first, you get locked, you don’t find anything, and you get away. By the time they are released, the political and social personality will be damaged,” Pun said.

He, however, said that they should not play the role of opposition in the traditional style of opposing the government even if it is doing well. “There is a tradition in parliamentary democracy not to criticize a government that has got fresh mandate for a hundred days,” he said, adding that he would look after the work first.

“In the parliamentary system, it is generally customary to observe a hundred days. We will speak up if there is a big betrayal of the nation, but we are of the view that the government should look after the work for a hundred days,” Pun said, adding, “The government should get the benefit of the doubt for a hundred days.” When the parties that lost the recent elections speak too much ‘hungry’, the people will not listen and believe it. ’