Norms of Nepali democracy

Forty-two prominent citizens of the country have come up with eight norms defining Nepali democracy. These norms include: Social justice, non-violence, plurality and pluralism, separation of powers, freedom, federalism, secularism and nationalism. An appeal, which includes these norms, from the respected citizens has come at a time when there is doubt about timely promulgation of the new constitution and there are also growing questions about what kind of constitution we will come up with, if at all. The social and political environment is no less poignant-- there are attempts from the far right and the extreme left to set the country adrift from its centrist roots. The appeal is an attempt to caution against any such deviation and it has also done a good job of trying to set out the foundational norms of Nepali democracy.



Two of the eight norms-- secularism and plurality-pluralism--are increasingly under attack from the ultra-left and the ultra-right. The Maoists have so far rejected pluralism and plurality as the basic foundation of our social interactions, arguing that they can only accept a multiparty system but not pluralism itself. As we see it, it is meaningless to adopt a multiparty system without accepting pluralism because it´s the plurality of values and ideas that gives rise to different political parties. Secularism is also increasingly under attack from those who have not reconciled themselves to the idea of republic. The ultra-right thinks that they can use a demand for a Hindu state as an entry point for reinstating monarchy. The notion that the state should subscribe to one religion is against the principle of equality for all communities. The appeal has rightly asserted that the state can have no religion.



The prominent citizens, through their appeal, have also stood against a growing anti-federalism sentiment. The very geography, population diversity and political history of the country demands federalism, says the appeal. Though it argued that the federal structure must be of a kind which guarantees the country´s unity and sovereignty as well as social harmony, equality and the rights of citizens, the appeal has fallen short of explicitly criticizing the ethnic chauvinism that is dominating the federalism discourse. As the state cannot have a religion, so the provinces also cannot have ethnicity--that´s the basic norm of secularism.



The appeal calls for social justice and non-violence as basic norms for a peaceful and just society. We could not agree more when they say the country´s social, cultural and political transformation must be based on social justice and equality that every citizen can enjoy. We would only stress that transformation into a peaceful and just society is impossible without fully embracing the principle of justice and equality. It´s also true that use of violence in politics will be an obstacle to such social transformation. It´s for this reason that we join hands with the prominent citizens in calling on those who used violence in the past or are using it at present to officially renounce it once and for all.

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