-
Basant Bhujel
The government on Thursday arrested Ramkumari Jhakri, a key figure in the struggle for the establishment of the current regime. She was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined up to Rs 70,000. But the government could not detain her for more than five hours as people immediately took to the streets.
Jhankri is also a retiring member of parliament. In a country with a democratic system of governance, the arrest of a sitting parliamentarian for commenting on the activities of the head of state is a big event in itself. In that too, Jhankri is not only an incumbent MP but also a leader with a height above the post of MP. In other words, she is not known by the people because she is an MP, she has become an MP because she is known by the people. In the case of Bidya Bhandari, the opposite is true. After the death of popular leader Madan Bhandari, the then UML fielded a candidate for the vacant seat. No one can hide from the pages of Nepali history the fact that Madan Bhandari’s widow Bidya Bhandari was presented in a white robe to prevent Krishna Prasad Bhattarai from becoming an MP. This is the reality. Just like Ramkumari Jhankri’s political struggle, Bidya Bhandari is not established in politics based on ability and qualification. Bidya Bhandari not only became an MP but also became a minister several times and even became the President. This is her second term as president. Due to their special relationship with KP Sharma Oli, the fact that he has repeatedly had the opportunity to become a minister and president cannot be hidden from Nepal’s history. But to what extent is that special relationship? That question cannot be presented cheaply on the streets.
As important as the incident of Jhankri’s arrest is, the reason for his arrest is even more important and very sensitive. The state has accused Jhankri of speaking at a rally in Gorkha two weeks ago to spread the message that there was an illicit relationship between President Bhandari and Prime Minister Oli. Does Jhankri’s statement convey the message that there is an illicit relationship between President Bhandari and Prime Minister Oli or not? That may be a different story, but the nature of the incident is purely political. Such incidents happen in politics. Allegations of sexual misconduct between then-US President Will Clinton and his private secretary Monica Lewinsky, the world’s leading democracy, caused a sensation. The U.S. State Department could have arrested the suspects immediately. But instead of arresting, the state machinery started investigating the truth. While investigating, the veracity was confirmed. President Clinton has admitted to having sex with Monica Lewinski. He apologized to the American people. The people apologized.
Similarly, Sir Mountbatten was a very influential governor in British India. Jawaharlal Nehru, the leader of the anti-British movement, had a love affair with his wife Edwinako and the news started coming in the media that he was going for a walk for several days. Governor Mountbatten could have shut down such media. He even had legal rights. How angry was Mountbatten personally with the media for writing news about his wife’s affair? But he put oil on his ears, calling for freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The instigators publicly asked, “Is it said that there is a love affair between your wife and Nehru?” Mountbatten replied – ‘Edwina and I are husband and wife if my Edwina is in love with a great leader like Nehru, what could be happier for me than this?’
The above two examples are from English society. In Nepali society, this case is used as a weapon to address someone. Such cases and allegations have caused great incidents in Nepal. Take, for example, the rise of the Jahaniya Rana regime of 104 years. At that time, Jung Bahadur Kunwar spread propaganda that there was sexual intercourse between the then Maharani Rajya Laxmi and the very influential Bhardar Gagan Singh Khawas. Maharani and Gagan Singh became infamous at the grassroots level. Taking this opportunity, he kept the queen in custody and hanged Gagan Singh. After this, he ruled without any worries. But that era is not now. Even though the relationship between Bhandari, who is currently the President, and Oli, who is currently the Prime Minister, has been propagated in a different light, the Nepali people cannot easily believe it.
It is a tradition in our society to start abusing someone personally if they get angry with their mother or sister. It is not surprising that Vidya Bhandari and Oli have joined hands in a society with such a bad tradition, but everyone needs to be aware that such abusive language is a symbol of an uncivilized society.
There is a special situation in the country. President Bhandari has dissolved the parliament elected by the people for five years on the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli. No one is satisfied with Prime Minister Oli’s with this. They are very angry. On the one hand, there is a situation where another election will not be held within six months. In such a situation, it is believed that President Bidya Devi Bhandari would have taken action only after consulting the parties present in the parliament and taking the opinion of the Supreme Court. However, President Bhandari was seen sitting with his pen open, asking when Prime Minister Oli would bring a letter of recommendation. Which is why the setting was not already due to a special relationship? The suspicion arose. The slogans on the streets linking President Bhandari and Prime Minister Oli are the product of this suspicion. The expression of young leader cranky is also a product of this doubt. Because leader Jhankri is even a direct victim of the parliament dissolution case. His parliamentary seat has expired. Therefore, it is natural to mix anger in his expression. Of course, some have commented on the literal meaning of the Queen and the literal meaning of the Queen. Some comment that Jhankri’s statement is highly objectionable as the word “Bada Maharani” means the wife of the first rank of the king. But the claim that the language of the ruling Thakurs must be understood by the daughter of a crocodile born and raised in the remote Kunakandra is another extreme. If linguistic purity has been used as a pretext, then-President Bhandari and Prime Minister Oli are still in the fifth-sixth centuries. The incident took place when Birendra was just king. He asked all the district headquarters to line the road with the announcement. Unsatisfied with the drawing, a Tamang leader from Rasuwa petitioned the king to visit the palace. During the visit, he used the words “sometimes you, sometimes you” to the king. Hearing this, the people around felt embarrassed.
The incident took place when Birendra was just king. He asked all the district headquarters to line the road with the announcement. Unsatisfied with the drawing, a Tamang leader from Rasuwa petitioned the king to visit the palace. During the visit, he used the words “sometimes you, sometimes you” to the king. Hearing this, the people around felt embarrassed. But the king immediately reminded them – “Our country is a common flower garden of four castes and thirty-six characters. Not everyone has to know the language we speak.” The word you and you are rarely used in public life. Only a few decades ago, when the then King Gyanendra Shah moved around the country, the people of some areas addressed him like you. King Gyanendra accepted such speeches as sweet. But Oli, who is said to be a popularly elected prime minister, has repeatedly issued orders to himself and President Bhandari not to use the word “you”. What does this indicate? Is it a sign that he is trying to deify himself and President Bhandari? It is our custom to call even the gods you. Even the great poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota has not even mentioned you. He has even written that God is you. It is in Muna Madan – ‘God, how did you create it and spoil it again.’ The difference between the monarchy and the so-called Oli-Bhandari system is that the kings understood the people, the present rulers did not understand. Hinjo Rajarani used to be shouted at and insulted more than now, but no one was arrested because of the language used. The current KP Oli is tasting the movement of militant activists like Ramkumari Jhakri by tying a shroud on his head. The scars on Jhankri’s broken head have not been erased yet, but unfortunately, the same Ram Kumari Jhankri was arrested today for speaking in the democratic system again. This is a sign of the death of democracy. Now it is not too late to return to the 2047 constitution.
(Bhujel is a retired engineer in the British Army)
