When 90 percent of the Constituent Assembly (CA) members voted to adopt the new constitution, it was indicative of the general will to see this document implemented at the earliest. We elected the CA members, and they reflect our will. Where were the progressives actively excoriating the new constitution on social media when CA members were debating the constitution over the last eight years?Constitution should not be amended overnight because of unrest or due to vested interests of a select group of political leaders or strong arm tactics of neighboring country. The changes should always reflect the changes in people's mindset. Just because some people, for instance, demand the right to hold important governmental positions irrespective of the type of their citizenship, the CA-turned-parliament should not amend the constitution.
People are passionately writing about how fellow countrymen in the Tarai are dying, and they blindly blame Kathmandu's "elite" groups and CA members for the mess. But people in the southern region opted for a violent movement by their choice.
If the cause they are fighting for requires a second thought, for instance, the demand for adequate representation in parliament or other politically important positions based on population size or ethnicity, they could have opted for non-violent movement. It is certainly better to fight for your rights. In that case, we would not have seen such a bloody mess in the Tarai. That said, the long 'human chain' is a positive development although pelting stones at Nepali security personnel from across the border and obstructing border movement is unacceptable.
Sufferings of those people who opted for violent demonstrations do not justify amendments in constitution. Violent demonstrations have not only taken innocent lives, but also resulted in India's economic blockade, snatching away basic necessities of millions of people. How can your fight for political equality be justified when you have no concern for others' right to live in peace?
Some criticize the #BackOffIndia campaign on social media without understanding that this movement is the outcome of the suspicions Nepali people have been harboring for years. Many in Nepal strongly believe that select political groups in India have been interfering in Nepal's internal matters for some time now. These range from training the Maoists during the insurgency to the Madhesh movements. These suspicions did not develop out of thin air.
People against #BackOffIndia claim the blockade is due to security reasons. Now, who is responsible for the Madheshi movement that gave rise to such a security situation? India should have come up with trade facilitation measures to ease customs procedures at the border or the port to assure Nepalis that it was not their fault.
Despite several trade treaties between India and Nepal, we are experiencing an "unofficial" economic blockade. This blockade right after the tragic earthquakes is inhuman. Such a move flagrantly violates international trade laws. It also jeopardizes India's aspiration to be a global player.
Why can't the people who relate so much with the sufferings of people in the Tarai relate equally with the sufferings of marginalized groups from other communities? Why do we always hear on social media about Madheshi rights and not about how unfair it has been for the people living in hills and mountains? If the people living in Tarai can claim fair representation in parliament based on population (which is valid), why can't the people in hills and mountains also claim fair distribution of resources?
It is difficult to build transportation infrastructure or industries in hills and mountains. This is the biggest hindrance for economic development of these regions. The residents are restricted from all kinds of facilities they are entitled to, the facilities that are easily available in Tarai. We have yet to see a "Jana-andolan" in the name of equal distribution of resources, based on ethnicity and geographical representation.
Why can't the Madheshi movement be peaceful? The idea is to honor each other's valid rights, not just complain what has been unfair to a particular group. It is not the time to blame each other and foment unrest, which will only aid vested interests in neighboring countries.
We should appreciate how far we have come in terms of inclusiveness. It is time to unite and understand each other and reach a compromise to further build on the constitution. As rational citizens, we should not be causing divisions in the country. Our effort has to be towards uniting people of all colors, caste and economic realities and build a country that is fair and equitable to all.
The author is a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics at Purdue University, USA
sbaniya@purdue.edu
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