Former King Gyanendra Shah has said that it would be appropriate to resolve national problems first before moving ahead with the election process.
Issuing a video message on Wednesday on the eve of Democracy Day, Shah stated that elections should be held only after forging national consensus and an understanding that includes all sides, so that post-election conflict, unrest, and disputes can be avoided.
He said, “In a democracy, it is appropriate for the state system and processes to function in accordance with constitutional norms. Although periodic elections to select representatives are a natural process in a democratic system, the prevailing public sentiment at present is that national problems should first be resolved before proceeding toward the upcoming elections. Only by forming national consensus and an inclusive understanding to prevent conflict, unrest, and discord after the elections can the country move in the right direction.”
Shah said the entire nation is currently trapped in an unusual state of anxiety. He added that patriotic Nepalis feel the country’s identity and existence are under threat. “In the past, movements and struggles were carried out under various names. Changes were made, but it is time for self-reflection on what all those changes have given to the Nepali people,” he said.
He further stated that the country has reached one of the most painful and difficult moments in its history. In such challenging circumstances, he emphasized the need to put a full stop to politics driven by hatred and conflict and to promote a political culture of harmony and unity. “At a time when there is a growing tendency to seek only rights without considering duties, the country can gain new momentum not through a mindset of dividing and sharing power, but through a sense of collective responsibility to work together,” Shah said.
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