NC leader rues at lack of democratic exercise within party
Laying bare the anxiety and differences that runs deep within the Nepali Congress (NC) party and contradicting its democratic image, a senior NC leader has said there is serious dearth of democratic exercise inside the country’s oldest party which is threatening its very future.
“The old mentality still reigns supreme in the party and has now become a major problem,” Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said speaking to a group of Nepali journalists at a program organized by Washington-Nepal Forum in Washington DC, US. “This is also why the party has not been able to make any major advances as per expectations.”
Mahat is among many senior NC leaders who have been at odds with party president Girija Prasad Koirala over the latter’s decision to nominate his daughter Sujata Koirala for the post of foreign minister at the party’s expense. The party president has also been criticized by the NC leaders for virtually running the party with iron fist and undermining its democratic credentials
The former finance minister also made it clear that if the party is not able to shed its old mentality and carry out major internal reforms, then it will continue to lag behind in every front.
He said it is high time that major restructuring is done to ensure the party’s future.
He was also of the belief that though Nepali people want peace, democracy and economic prosperity, “this has so far been only limited to slogans of the political parties”.
Known for his anti-Maoist stand, the NC leader also took the opportunity to blast the ultra leftist excesses in the country. He said that if the Maoist party is really committed to establishing peace in the country then it should not only harp about it in their speeches, but actually show their commitment towards it in their deeds.
Dr Mahat is currently on a US visit. nepalnews.com June 14 09
