Dalit absence in headless SRC riles lawmakers
Govt‚ parties accused of working under the influence of I/NGOs
Added At: 2011-11-24 11:31 PM
ARJUN BHANDARI
KATHMANDU: Three days after the formation of the State Restructuring
Commission, lawmakers, particularly those from the Dalit community,
lashed out at the government for failing to include Dalits in the
panel and questioned its members' 'credibility and competence'.
Following lawmakers' objection, Speaker Subas Nembang today issued a
ruling to the government to make clear its stand on the formation of
the eight-member commission. The government had formed the SRC on
Tuesday as per the recommendations from three major parties — the
Unified CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML — and United
Democratic Madhesi Front.
Dalit lawmakers, including Tilak Pariyar of UCPN-M, Khadag Bahadur
Basyal Sarki of NC and Chhabilal Bishwokarma of UML, censured the
government and political parties for failing even to deem necessary to
appoint a Dalit member in the SRC, the report of which they said will
have a pervasive impact in the long run. They also threatened to
obstruct the House if their concerns were not addressed.
"There is no room for the Dalits to be satisfied with (this) SRC,"
said UML's Bishwokarma, adding that the Dalits had earlier demanded
that at least one Dalit member be included in the state restructuring
panel.
Others alleged that the major political parties, UDMF and the
government came under the influence of I/NGOs, who, they said, 'had
been lobbying for carving out provinces on the basis of ethnicity'.
"Some commission members are doing their PhD, and others are involved
in I/NGOs," said Prakash Chandra Lohani of Rastriya Janshakti Party.
"Were there not competent people who could have been appointed?" He
also criticised the government and major parties for failing to
appoint the coordinator of the commission. "It's a headless
commission," said Lohani. "Does the government think that it will
remain functional?" He also demanded Dalits' representation in SRC.
Leela Neichayin of Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party said the
government was 'inconsistent' while forming SRC. "The government
withdrew the bill seeking formation of an experts' committee after
fierce objection by a section of ethnic/indigenous lawmakers," said
Neichayin. She also alleged that the parties, who recommended names
for SRC and the government, which formed it, came under the influence
of I/NGOs, whose mission, she said, was to 'serve foreign interests'.
She went on to add that I/NGOs had been influencing the
'ethnic/indigenous lawmakers' for carving out federal units along the
ethnic line.
CP Mainali of CPN-ML added that the commission should have been formed
from among university professors who have expertise on federalism.
"But it is sad that the government picked up NGO people and rights
activists," said Mainali. "Major parties and the government are trying
to create a rift between the ethnic and non-ethnic communities," said
Mainali. "Rights of the Brahmins, Chhetries, Ranas, Thakuris,
Sanyasis, Badis and Dasnamis must also be secured in federal
structure.
Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal said those appointed in
SRC were not experts on federalism, instead 'they hold communal
views'. "It has become clear that I/NGOs have dominated the parties'
decision-making process," said KC.
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