HYDERABAD: A noted journalist and political and social activist from Nepal, Kanak Mani Dixit, the editor of monthly journal Himal Southasian, has expressed disappointment over slow pace of the process of drafting of constitution in his country and expressed the fear that the deadline of May 28 in this regard will not be met.

Talking to journalists at the Hyderabad Press Club, he said if the people of Nepal refused to give more time to the assembly which had made no headway in the drafting of constitution for the last two years, Nepal would again revert to anarchy.

He said the greatest hurdle in the drafting of constitution were undemocratic elements and Maoists who were still maintaining their militant wing although they were a part of the government.

Criticising the Maoists, he said that they were averse to pluralism and democratic dispensation. They were exponents of social justice but it could not be brought about through armed revolution, he said, adding violence in the villages of Nepal had crossed all limits.

He said although for the time being peace had been restored in Nepal but the government was very weak.

He said no country could run without a constitution but the assembly which was elected to draft the constitution had failed to deliver the goods, and added that it was a foregone conclusion that the May 28 deadline for the drafting of constitution could not be met.

He expressed the fear that if the people refused to give more time to the assembly, Nepal would face another political upheaval.Giving briefing about Nepal, he said that it had a population of only 27 million and was relatively a small state. Nevertheless, it was a 240-year-old nation state, he added.

He said that till 1990, the people of Nepal were living in a 17th century society and there was no middle class. In 1990 a semblance of democracy was restored and the economic growth shot up to six per cent. However, the Communist Party had made things very difficult after 1995 and since then, Nepal was witnessing zero growth, he said.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/10/2010