Government Faces Challenges in Upholding Rule of Law Amidst Reforms

I want to thank the entire Nepali public for giving the National Independent Party the opportunity to form the government with immense public support. Just as gaining public support is important, maintaining it and using it in the right direction is equally challenging. Therefore, your conscious vigilance and responsibility are equally necessary for the success, stability, and accountability of the government.

As you know, bringing the long-stalled state system, institutional weaknesses, and disorder under the rule of law appears to be the biggest challenge right now. Efforts for change and reform have begun in a short time, but various vested interest groups are also creating many difficulties. Many citizens have started looking at the government led by the National Independent Party as a center of hope, and the expectation of change has also increased for that reason.

You must have heard that the message expressed by the chairman of the National Independent Party, "This year is the year to remove the old nails," can be understood as an effort to remove old corruptions, malpractices, and deep-rooted wrong practices. It is natural to feel some pain when removing old nails. Similarly, discomfort, opposition, and difficulties may arise in the process of reforming long-standing problems. But if the objective is the rule of law, good governance, and long-term reform, then we must cooperate with the government with patience, wisdom, and responsibility.

Looking at it now, it feels like if an alternative political force had not emerged, many corruptions associated with old political parties and their sister organizations would still be going on as usual. The tendency to encroach on government land for personal or group gain, the pressure and bullying of party organizations in government offices, the expansion of influence in slum settlements in the name of political protection, or accusations of commissions and manipulation in various administrative tasks—you are all aware that these issues are gradually coming to the surface.

This gives the feeling of opening a "Pandora's Box" of deeply rooted corrupt practices and power networks accumulated over the years, meaning "a source of disaster or problems." When attempts are made to challenge deeply rooted corrupt practices within the system, hidden dissatisfactions, vested interests, and oppositions also start coming out one after another. Therefore, please understand that many of the current tensions and reactions are not just political competition but a struggle between the old structure and new reforms.

Various vested interest groups are trying to spread confusion in society. We Nepalis have very tender and emotional hearts. As soon as we see someone or their group posting about being in trouble on social media, we immediately get emotionally affected and stand by them, even if they have acted against the rules and laws. In most cases, we get carried away by emotions and even forget the legal aspects and procedures.

But now, just getting carried away by emotions is not enough. Now, it is necessary to form an opinion on every action—regardless of the level—based on whether it is in accordance with the country's constitution, laws, rules, and procedures. This is because various vested interest groups seem to be trying to push the country in the wrong direction by exploiting your emotions.

Whether it is the scene of the municipal police removing those who had set up shops on the sidewalks or the human scenes seen when the government tries to manage disorganized settlements—such incidents greatly affect society emotionally. But in most cases, we pay less attention to the main question of whether encroaching on sidewalks was legal or whether settling on riverbanks was lawful. Instead, we quickly reach the emotional conclusion that "injustice has been done to the poor."

Looking at today's world politics, the competition between powerful nations is becoming increasingly complex. Similarly, some countries are caught in instability due to internal conflicts, external influences, and power struggles. In such a situation, nationality cannot be protected merely by making accusations on social media, inciting the public, or giving speeches of extreme nationalism. To protect nationality, mature leadership, a strong state system, national unity, and balanced diplomacy are necessary.

Poverty exists in human society in some form or another. Poverty is not just a lack of wealth; it can also be understood in a broad sense as a lack of consciousness, opportunity, education, thinking, and responsibility. Therefore, for problem-solving, not just emotional debate, but knowledge of the need for just policies, creation of opportunities, and equal implementation of law is essential, which you are all aware of.

There are our citizens living their lives with hundreds of challenges such as poverty, disease, unemployment, disorganized settlements, and the problem of squatters within the country. It is the responsibility of the state and the government to solve and manage these problems. But it should be done within the rule of law, not by violating the constitution, laws, rules, and established procedures in the name of a solution, and you must raise your voice for this.

Human sensitivity, empathy, and emotional goodwill are very important in running the state. But those emotions also ultimately need to be expressed within the framework of the constitution, laws, and lawful procedures. If the tendency to weaken the law based on emotions increases, it poses a danger of weakening the state system, good governance, and the justice system in the long run. Therefore, it is within our responsibility to inform the government that balancing sensitivity to the suffering of citizens with the rule of law is the true basis of good governance.

Whether you know it or not, one of the reasons why corruption control has not been effective in our country is also the small social structure. Because it is a small society, there are many instances where the influence of acquaintance, relationship, or kinship is seen between the investigating bodies, political leadership, administration, and stakeholders. This is felt to affect impartial decision-making and legal action.

On the other hand, corruption has become so institutionalized and normalized that in some cases, society has started viewing it as a "normal achievement" rather than wrong. For example, even when going to receive tika-blessings during Dashain, comments like "You worked at customs for so many years, and you still haven't built a house?" are easily heard. Such expressions indicate that a corrupt mentality that measures success by illegal income rather than honest earnings is deepening in society.

Regarding the "Gen Z rebellion" of Bhadra 23 and 24, it is seen that some vested interest groups within the country occasionally make statements that unnecessarily drag the Nepali Army and friendly nations into controversy, provoke them, or create instability. Questions are also raised as to why the Nepali Army did not use force against those thousands of youths to control them, to protect Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, or the Parliament building.

But as you know, in a democratic state system, the deployment of the army is not based on an individual's emotional decision but is a matter of constitutional process, the decision of the Security Council, and the formal order of the government.

You can see that even when citizens die due to police firing, a clear responsibility cannot be taken. In such a situation, if there had been significant loss of life and property due to army intervention, who would have borne the moral, political, and international responsibility? You know that it is not new to escape by making accusations like "foreign powers" or "conspiracy" after the incident. The main question is why the state mechanism failed, why sensitive structures could not be protected, and where the weakness was in crisis management.

The Indian government has been continuously trying for years against the separatist activities in India's Kashmir to keep it under its control. In the process, hundreds of Indian security personnel have sacrificed their lives, and India does not compromise on the issue of national integrity.

Let's assume, for a moment, that one day separatist forces gain control over Kashmir, and then the government led by Narendra Modi stands in parliament and makes a statement in a way that shirks responsibility, saying, "Terrorists have captured our heart, Kashmir, and foreign powers are involved in this." How serious would the political, social, and moral impact be in India? It cannot even be imagined.

Similarly, in the context of our rebellion on Bhadra 23 and 24, instead of self-reflecting on the failure to protect national structures, some leaders of the then government chief or ruling coalition parties are still seen making statements like "So-and-so set the fire," "Lucifer did it," "Foreign hands are involved." Against such irresponsible statements, the Nepali people have given the National Independent Party nearly a two-thirds mandate. Still, those parties or organizations do not seem to have come to their senses.

Looking at today's world politics, the competition between powerful nations is becoming increasingly complex. Similarly, some countries are caught in instability due to internal conflicts, external influences, and power struggles. In such a situation, nationality cannot be protected merely by making accusations on social media, inciting the public, or giving speeches of extreme nationalism. To protect nationality, mature leadership, a strong state system, national unity, and balanced diplomacy are necessary.

In the past, the wisdom of the Nepali people showed the importance of diplomatic balance even in difficult geopolitical situations. If any powerful nation tries to expand its influence in Nepal, it can only be countered not by angry speeches but by national unity, institutional strength, economic self-reliance, wise leadership, and a balanced non-aligned foreign policy, which you are all aware of.

If nationality is truly facing challenges, then old political parties need to choose the path of greater responsibility, self-reflection, and reform. But looking at the internal conflicts of various parties, they do not seem to have reached sufficient self-reflection yet. We are witnessing that even as they lose public trust, instead of regaining trust through reform, they are entangled in a prestige struggle against each other. In a democracy, the long-term existence of any party depends on public trust, the party's accountability, and its capability; not on power struggles. When leaders become excessively focused on struggles to protect personal power, prestige, or factional existence, the collective future of the party can sometimes be endangered.

Citizens seem to have placed a lot of hope in new, alternative leadership that can lead the country in the right direction. For reform efforts to succeed, citizens' patience, responsibility, and democratic support are also necessary.

Dear citizens, we have repeatedly told the old parties that carry contributions and sacrifices—"If you reform, you will survive; if you don't, you will perish." But they did not take it seriously.

If Maoist leader Janardan Sharma's issues had been addressed by Maoist chairman Prachanda in time, the historically significant CPN (Maoist Centre) would not be dissolved today. Similarly, if the issues raised by UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai and others had been embraced by UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli's leadership in time, the UML party, with such a large organized structure, would not have had to face weak election results. Likewise, if the Nepali Congress had completed its general convention on time as demanded by Congress leader Gagan Thapa, it would not be facing the current internal confusion and weak public trust.

When leaders become excessively focused on struggles to protect their personal power, prestige, or factional existence, the collective future of the party can sometimes be endangered. Seeing such a situation, the question naturally arises: how can a leadership that cannot save its own party's existence save the country's existence?

Ultimately, citizens seem to have placed a lot of hope in new, alternative leadership that can lead the country in the right direction. For reform efforts to succeed, citizens' patience, responsibility, and democratic support are also necessary. If the current government, elected by you with immense public support for five years, faces any unusual pressure or crisis, a time may come when you may have to come to the streets democratically and peacefully to support and defend the government. Please be prepared for that.