Dr. C.K. Raut, chair of Janamat Party, has appealed against dissolving Parliament and released a seven-point proposal to the Gen Z protesters. In a statement issued Thursday morning, he said that the current Parliament itself could form the basis for resolving the crisis and urged that Parliament be kept in place until another election is held.
Expressing serious concern about the present instability, Raut said, “There is a risk that the country could be trapped in a cycle of indecision for the next ten years. Burning the constitution, dissolving Parliament, and vacating the seat of elected representatives would push the country toward an existential crisis.”
He warned Gen Z protesters against decisions to abolish the constitution or dissolve Parliament. “If such a step is taken, you will be tied up for another decade making a constitution. That ‘Pandora’s box’ must not be opened. Instead, form an interim government now, keep this Parliament intact, and move toward elections within six months,” Raut said.
He added, “If elections are held on schedule, a new House of Representatives will emerge. But dissolving Parliament now and creating a vacancy would be playing with the future of the nation and its people.”
Full text of Dr. C.K. Raut’s statement:
Dear Gen Z,
There are some things you must remember while making efforts to find a way out for the nation. The country is not just a Discord group or the domain of a particular class, caste, or group. Every decision you make must be acceptable from Mechi to Mahakali, from the high Himalaya to the Terai-Madhesh, from Karnali and Far-West to Madhesh and Lumbini; it must include Khas-Arya, Madhesi, Tharu, indigenous nationalities, Muslims, Dalits, women, and other marginalized groups. It must address everyone’s rights, dignity, aspirations, and voices.
You have launched a movement, but many things are being misused behind the scenes. We fear the country could be condemned to a decade of indecision and instability. Destroying the key organs of the state and discarding a constitution that people across the country spent eight years creating with one-person-one-vote, and emptying the seat of elected representatives by dissolving Parliament, would create a vacuum and could lead to the country ceasing to exist or being handed over to others as a puppet state.
Therefore, while constitutional amendments may be needed during the transition, do not use this moment to discard the constitution (that can be done after elections). Do not dissolve the legitimately functioning Parliament that can decide until new elections are held; otherwise a vacuum will arise. We must be ready to defend the federal democratic republic achieved after decades of struggle and sacrifice. Regardless of any propaganda by certain figures, we must protect federalism, democracy, and the republic for the survival of the country.
If you are incited to dissolve the constitution and Parliament, you will be kept busy making a constitution for the next ten years; the work environment will be closed. That is the ‘Pandora’s box’. Therefore, form an interim government now and allow the present Parliament to remain (even though many of us have resigned from it, we still say this) and proceed to hold elections. If elections are held within six months, a new House of Representatives will come. So do not create a vacancy now.
Additionally, we must focus on:
- Fully restoring the rule of law (law and order) and ensuring security not only in parts of the capital but throughout the country so people feel safe.
- Forming a National Task Force (NTF) and drafting one volunteer from every family to mobilize on a war footing for reconstruction, development, and good governance from the national to the neighborhood level.
- Forming tribunals to investigate public-property losses, violence, and infiltration that occurred during the movement; to investigate past corruption; and to nationalize the assets of those found corrupt. Set deadlines and then adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy with strict punishment for later corruption.
- Convening the international community, donors, and multilateral organizations to seek cooperation and assistance for development and reconstruction, to restore lost confidence, and to assure and secure investment.
- Mobilizing task forces and volunteers on a war footing to begin reconstruction and development.
- Focusing on industry and employment so that unemployment does not grow.
- (Possibly) Nationalizing all property for ten years — do not panic; properties would be returned after ten years — effectively the state would take custody for ten years in a manner similar to citizens leasing their land to the state or providing internal loans, and the state would act as full guardian so that citizens need not worry about food, clothing, education, or healthcare, enabling everyone to focus entirely on national reconstruction and development on a war footing.
About the Author
