नेपाली राजनीति

आज OCT 17 United We Blog को बिषेश कुरा
यो कुरा ले मेरो केहि हद सम्म हिम्मत बढाइ दिएको छ। यो सुरुवात हो प्रतिकारको, राजाको चुनाबी घोषणा को बिरोधमा म पहिले देखिनै सोचने गर्थे कि यत्रो बर्ष भोट दिने अधिकार पाएका नेपाली हरुले प्रजातनत्र नै भनेको राजाले गराउने होइन भनेर पनि त बुझेका होलान् नि!

The wave of boycott has begun. People have started boycotting and disrupting the municipal elections that the royal government plans to hold on Magh 26 (8 Feb). Locals in Dailekh have flushed out cadres of Rastrabadi Milan Kendra, a political party, on who went to campaign for the upcoming poll in the districts Narayan Municipality. People didn’t even hear the cadres. “This party has many former Maoist sympathizers,” said a farmer from Municipality’s Ward No 3 who sells milk in district headquarters. “That is why our villagers decided to boycott all the programs of elections.”

Old royalists like RPP affiliated Bhakta Bahadur Shahi, nominated chairman of the District Development Committee, and Assistant Minister in the royal cabinet Binod Shah have just arrived in the district to intensify the campaign for their candidates in the election. According to Ganesh Khadga, chairman of the district committee of Nepali Congress, cadres of Rastrabadi Milan Kendra wanted to go ahead of Bhakt Bahadur Shahi and Binod Shah in the campaign race.

Three RMK men- Bhakta Kishor Shrestha, Chairman, Sadananda Regmi, secretary, and Shanti Sharma, district committee member, had gone to Ward Nos. 3 (Kalimati) and 4 (Bijaura) of the municipality along with handful of cadres for campaign. Locals didn’t allow them to campaign and didn’t listen to them. All cadres ran away from villages.

Secretary Regmi said that they left villages because of a minor debate. “We haven’t stopped our campaign,” he said. “We will go to Ward 9 (Sadu) on Sunday.”

Five pro-democratic political parties with significant presence in the district haven’t yet reacted to the election programs. They are waiting for formal directions from the center. These parties have decided to actively boycott the elections citing that the announcement of election is unconstitutional because the king has unconstitutionally hijacked democracy and assumed executive power.

Burning Question:Why The Election Should Be Boycotted?

Ignoring the call for reconciliation and patch by agitating political parties that represent overwhelming majority in Nepali public opinion, the monarch has recently announced tentative dates for parliamentary polls.

There are mountains of challenges for peaceful, free and fair elections.

Security is the number one issue. Armed Maoists will never allow the voting process without first solving bigger political problems. People will not be able to cast their votes without fear. There is no need of armed presence of Maoists to spread insecurity among voters. There is no need to elaborate the security issue here. Kathmandu is the only place where election can be held without much bloodshed.

Another problem is the king himself. He has unconstitutionally assumed the executive power. Are there any instances of autocrats holding democratic elections? Oh..Pakistan. And we can see how the General is lecturing on democracy. Any election under an autocrat will always elect henchmen of the autocrat.

SHIRISH B PRADHAN, KATHMANDU, SEPT 30 (PTI)
outlookindia.com

India should continue the arms embargo on Nepal to pressurise King Gyanendra to restore multi-party democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom, according to visiting Indian political leaders.

All the political parties represented in the visiting Indian delegation were of the view that arms supply to Nepal should not continue, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said at a press conference here today.

"We have already told the government of India about that," he said at the conclusion of the five-party delegation's three-day visit to Nepal.

He also denied allegations by the Nepalese authorities that they are interfering in the internal affairs of the kingdom.

"We are here not to interfere in internal affairs of Nepal, but to extend solidarity and moral support to the Nepalese people's movement for restoration of democracy."

If extending moral support to democracy is interference in internal affairs, then why the VHP and Shiva Sena chiefs' remarks supporting the February one Royal takeover were not considered an interference? he asked.

Yechuri said the Indian government has recognised multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy as two pillars of Nepal's democracy and any deviation from that will not be in the interest of Nepal.

Replying to a question, he said it is upto the political parties here how they will talk to the Maoists and the King.

CPI's D Raja also said that "It is upto the Nepalese people to decide what type of democratic system they prefer, what type of constitution they want to draft, but our concern is only to extend soldarity and support.

"We have come here at the invitation of the seven-party alliance, we met several leaders and human right activists and we are confident that Nepal will succeed in restoring democracy very soon," he said.

Stating that democracy is the primary requirement of any civilised society irrespective of geographical location, he made it clear that "we are here to extend our support to the movement for restoring democracy".

Congress MP Chandrasekhar Sahu said "We are here as a fact-finding mission and we came to understand what actually is going on in Nepal. I will appraise of the situation to my party president Sonia Gandhi after returning home."

Since late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's time till today, the Indian National Congress is always for democracy in Nepal, he said.

"We will fully support a democratic set up which will be decided by the Nepalese people," he said.

"Our visit is not only an informative but also educative one as we have learnt many things during interaction with various political parties," Sahu said.

Upon its arrival at the airport here three days ago, the Indian delegation was greeted by stone-pelting and black flag demonstration by a group of pro-monarchists.

Maharaj should always walk like this- avoiding the Rolls Royce, throwing away the Harley Davidson, ignoring the Puma 17, and suspending the plan of buying a Boeing jet for international trips.

Mobile phones were not working properly from the very morning. Landlines were dead in some parts of the city. Traffic was a complete mess. Thousands of people faced difficulties going to their work places because traffic police diverted vehicles to different directions without prior notice. Many truckloads of people were ‘imported’ to Kathmandu from surrounding areas like Kavre. People in those trucks were hoisting national flag and shouting slogans like Hamro Raja Hamro Desh, Pran Bhanda Pyaro Chha (Our king and the country are dearer than our own lives). Why? Because Maharaj, the king, was on the streets of Patan for an unprecedented morning walk (10:00-13:00 NST).

Great! A king walks. I welcome this. I am of the opinion that he should always walk like this avoiding Rolls Royce, throwing Harley Davidson, ignoring Super Puma flying-machine, and suspending the plan of buying a Boeing for international trips. And the monarch should reach to every nook and cranny of Nepal to experience the daily hardships faced by millions of Nepalis. He should eat what they are eating.

The king is not an actor. He is not Bhuvan KC or Rajesh Hamal. So, I think the monarch should have ignored all those fancy and temporary welcome gates built on the streets of Patan misusing Nepali taxpayers’ money. And he is not a coward. He is a brave descendent of P N Shah. So he shouldn’t have feared for his safety by bringing down all the telephone lines, disrupting traffic and making the road an army parade ground. He can walk with his citizens, together, perhaps talking about their daily hardships. That would be more fruitful the public wouldn’t have to suffer through all the hassles and the monarch can really claim of having contact with people. Howzzzz dat?

Fire the ministers, dissolve the cabinet and create a commission to investigate the matterExactly two months ago, on July 15, we posted a blog with this lead: Convicted criminal, corrupts and losers are ministers in Nepal. Yes, that’s very true and now we are getting some glimpses of what they are doing from the royal cabinet. “Three Ministers’ Plan to Import Fertilizer Illegally Blocked” is the two-line 8-column-long front-page headline of today’s Kantipur daily. And a front-page story on today’s Kathmandu Post daily has this headline: “Fertilizer mafia’s smuggling plan jolted/Three cabinet ministers involved.” Those three ministers from the royal cabinet are Badri Prasad Mandal (Agriculture Minister), Dan Bahadur Shahi (Home Minister) and Madhukar Shumsher Rana (Finance Minister).

Isn’t it shocking to know (and see) that people in the cabinet stage an organized crime against the state? Can anyone imagine such a scenario? Where else such thing happen in the world? Can anyone share that here? Three ministers involved in an organized crime against the state? Aren’t these ministers criminals since they have committed a crime against the nation by evading taxes? These ministers should be fired immediately and jailed. The whole council of ministers should be dissolved. And an same time an-all powerful judicial inquiry commission (with members from political parties and civil society) should be created to investigate all crimes perpetrated by this government.

Here is what Kathmandu Post has written:

The fertilizer mafia’s grand plan to smuggle twenty thousand metric tons of chemical fertilizer from India, with direct involvement of three cabinet ministers, received a jolt after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) intervened.

The local office of the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) in Pathlaiya, Bara, intercepted two trucks carrying contraband fertilizer Tuesday evening following a warning letter from the CIAA to stop such illegal imports.

The trucks were carrying smuggled fertilizer as per the grand design hatched by three ministers—Agriculture Minister Badri Prasad Mandal, Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi and Finance Minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana—and fertilizer businessman, Gyanendra Shrestha.

According to a highly placed source, the plan was finalized at the agriculture ministry last Thursday at 4 pm through a meeting of the three ministers and businessman Shrestha. Senior civil servants Govinda Prasad Pandey, secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture; Rishi Ram Lamichhane, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture; Shiva Sunder Shrestha from the Department of Agriculture; Madhav Dhakal, director general of DRI; and Bodh Nath Niraula, deputy director general of Department of Customs were also invited to the meeting to execute the plan.

The meeting decided that Shrestha would be allowed to smuggle urea from India unhindered for the next two months. In the meeting, Finance Minister Rana directed the DRI not to raid trucks carrying fertilizer for Binayak International, an importing firm owned by Shrestha. Similarly, it was decided that Home Minister Shahi would order the police and security not to intercept trucks carrying the contraband. It was also decided that the fertilizer would be smuggled to Nepal through Bangkul, a small customs check point in Gaur and Matorawa, customs check point in Bara, and a third check point in Sarlahi.

It seems many in Nepal are republican. Everywhere, the voice of republicanism has been dominating: From the street to the Special sessions of the dissolved parliament. I am not sure if all people, mostly political leaders, are serious about their republican commitment. But I can be pretty much confident over the views expressed by the likes of Krishna Pahadi, a prominent human rights leader. And today, when this man, decorated as always in the yellow getup that is no less powerful than that of Army camouflage, spoke of his views on current turmoil and the future, in the erstwhile theatre of Patan Ashok, the hall thundered into applauds. Listeners were members of civil society including journalists, academicians, writers and other professionals who paid Rs 50 voluntarily to attend the program.

A new good trend has started in Nepal: you pay for listening poems to lectures. I missed my cup of tea and cookies because I left the program tentatively 4 minutes earlier (I knew it later).

“The present regime carries criminal trait,” Pahadi said. “And even foreigners have realized this than ourselves that is very much unfortunate and our national pride has severely been affected.”

“[Feb 1st’s] Royal Proclamation is based on two negative agendas: 1. The parties’ “inefficiency”, and 2. Maoist’s violence. So, King’s rule doesn’t represent people’s views and it lacks their faith and support.”

“Journalists hold rally, members of civil society get arrested and parties release press statements. This is quite opposite. Engine of the movement is political party. They should come forward against the monarchy. They should clearly tell people their agendas. Parties are the ones who have to do this all. We are just their supporters. In this time, when the society is demanding the multi-party democracy back, there is no use of criticizing parties. But parties should reform themselves and become clear over their objectives.”

Pahadi pointed out that the root of all problems is monarchy and at this time when the king himself has decided not to live within constitutional framework, we don’t need to bring him back to constitutional cap. “To talk about constitutional monarchy is foolishness now. The door has been opened by the king’s intention. “We should abolish monarchy,” he said. “Change is imminent.”

He reminded the crowd about the Bhumigat Giroha (Underground Mafia), a terminology that was very much infamous in the last years of Panchayat system. “Many people used to associate the Bhumigat Giroha with the present his majesty,” he said. And the man from that Giroha who tried to kill a journalist has now been nominated minister in the royal cabinet.”

On the context of possible peace talks, Pahadi said, “not even a beggar would talk with this unconstitutional and illegitimate government.”

Now is the time to take bold decision, Pahadi siad, otherwise we would be like Sisyphus playing with the endless game with stone. For him the stone was the monarchy.

Journalist Kanak Mani Dixit was the moderator of the program organized by Himsha Birodhi Abhiyaan (Campaign Against Violence). Other panelists were Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey and Dr. Mahesh Maskey.

Maskey tried to analyze the background of the conflict. “Our state’s basic characteristic is feudal. We tried to exercise democracy twice by keeping that trait unchanged. And both times we failed. The structure of the state, social/economic context is same but we tried to implement democracy and we became unsuccessful.”

Now is the time to change the basic characteristic of the state, he said.

“Maoists didn’t bring the talk of Constitutional Assembly and its election. It has been there for the last 50 years. It was there in 1950. Why the state prevented the election of CA at that time and is doing that now? Efforts to make the regime responsible to the people have always been hampered by the monarchy.”

“There is historical necessity for the Maoists and the parties to come together, at one place. The talks and cease-fire should first happen between parties and the Maoist. And we have already seen some development on that front. If the progressive side becomes one, then there might not be the need of further talks with the regressive regime.”

Dr. Dvendra Raj Pandey said that there was no possibility of holding talks with the king at present. Talks always happen between the state and the rebellious side. “But now, the king has no legitimacy and authority to hold talks with the Maoists. And he is not serious on talks,” he said.

“Because of the recent communiqués, a ray of hope has appeared on Maoist’s seriousness over the talks. This is a positive development. But who will declare the cease-fire first? We hope Maoist declare that. But what about the regime if Maoists declare the cease-fire? The regime is not serious about talks. It is looking for arms.”

The king shouldn’t be given any role now, Pandey said.

तीर्थ न्यौपाने

राजा वीरेन्द्रको काट्टो खाएका ब्राह्मण दुर्गाप्रसाद सापकोटाले चर्को आर्थिक संकटलाई थाम्न नसकेपछि त्यतिबेला उनलाई दिइएको ‘प्रतिलिपी श्रीपेच’ बेच्ने भएका छन । उनले ‘नक्कली’ श्रीपेचसहित राजा वीरेन्द्रले ब्रतबन्धमा लगाएको पहेंलो कपडा, कोट, जुत्ता, चस्मा र खुकुरी पाएका थिए । उतिबेला दरबार र तत्कालीनसँग भएको मौखिक सहमतिअनुसार रकम नपाएको र काट्टो खाएपछि आफ्नो जजमानीमा असर परेकाले पारिवारीक गर्जो र्टार्न श्रीपेच बेच्न लागेको सापकोटाले बताउछन् ।

श्रीपेचको अगाडिको भागमा चाँदी, माथिल्लो भागमा सुनसहित बहुमूल्य धातु र मयूरको प्वाँखले बनेको छ । ‘बिदेशबाट बनाएर ल्याएको हो भन्थे, डेढ/दुइ लाख त पर्छ होला’ उनले भने- ‘किन्ने कोही छन् भने खबर गरिदिनुहोस है बाबु ।’

काट्टो खाने बेलामा तत्कालीन प्रधानमन्त्री गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइराला र दरबारका कर्मचारीले सापकोटालाई घरजग्गाको व्यवस्थासहित हात्तीबापत १० लाख रुपैयाँ दिने आश्वासन दिएका थिए । तर उनले १९ हजार मात्र पाएको बताए । हात्तीबापत १० हजार, घर किन्नलाई पाँच हजार, जग्गाका लागि २ हजार ५ सय, घोडाबापत एक हजार र दासत्तीका लागि ५ सय रुपैयाँ दिएको उनले सुनाए । ‘काट्टोको दान मैले पाइनँ, उनैले (आश्वासन दिनेहरुले) खाए,’ सापकोटाले भने- ‘मलाई झुक्याए ।’

काट्टो खाए पनि उनले परम्परा अनुसार चार भञ्ज्याङ चाहि काट्नु परेको छैन । भनौं उनले काटेका छैनन् । सापकोटाको पुखौली थलो काभ्रेको पाँचखाल हो । उनी अहिले श्रीमति, तीन छोरा नातीनातिनी सहित तिलगंगामा बसेका छन । त्यहाँ उनको सानो घर छ । त्यो घर सापकोटाले काट्टो खानु अगावै जोड्का हुन । सापकोटाले काट्टो खानु अघि सम्म पुरेत्याइँ गरेर घर्रखर्च जुटाउँदै आएका थिए । काट्टो खाएपछि त्यो पेसा छोड्नुपरेको छ । उनी भन्छन- ‘५०-६० घर जजमानी थियो, काट्टो खाएपछि बिटुलो ठानेर बोलाउन छोडे ।’

८० वर्षीय सापकोटा अहिले पशुपतितिर टोलाएर दिन काटने गर्छन् । काट्टो खाएपछि टोल छिमेकीले समेत घृणाको दृष्टिले हेर्ने गरेको उनको गुनासो छ ।

सापकोटाले काट्टो खानुअघिसम्म उनकी श्रीमती होमकुमारीले ठमेलमा सामान्य होटल सञ्चालन गर्दै आएकी थिइन् । श्रीमान्ले काट्टो खाएपछि त्यो पनि बन्द गर्नुपरेको उनले बताइन् । ‘काट्टे होटेलमा के खानु ? भनेर ग्राहक आउनै छाडे,’ होमकुमारीले भनिन्- ‘नखानु चीज रहेछ, आइन्दा कसैले नखाओस् ।’

Stating that the days of Nepal monarchy were numbered, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Monday urged New Delhi to stop any support to King Gyanendra.
"We are sure that this king (Gyanendra) is going to end the spell of monarchy in Nepal because people there are convinced that the monarchy is against democracy," Karat told a news conference here.

"India should not lend any support to the king, particularly in providing the arms," he said.

At the press conference, Karat and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Surendra Mohan issued a joint statement condemning the "anti democratic" moves of the king.

"It is highly deplorable that King Gyanendra resorted to violence against a peaceful demonstration in Kathmandu leading to large-scale arrests," the statement.

Former prime minister G.P. Koirala and other senior political leaders were injured in police action against them during the demonstration.

The statement asked the monarch to remember the promises he gave to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a meeting in Indonesia on restoring democracy.

The leaders also expressed solidarity with the democratic forces in Nepal.

Karat also urged the central government to be "vigilant" about the unrest in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, which has been rocked by a series of bomb blasts blamed on Islamist fundamental forces.


(IANS)

माधव नेपाल, बामदेव गौतम, रामशरण महत, अमिक शेरचन लगायतका सबै नेताहरू गिरफ्तारी दिन आतुर देखिन्थे । मलाई लाग्छ तिनले बाहिर बसीरहँदा हुने झडपको शिकार हुनु भन्दा त प्रहरीको भ्यानमा बसेर ‘हाम्रो आन्दोलन जारी छ’ भन्नु नै सजिलो र सुरक्षित महशुस गरेको हुनुपर्छ । पत्रकार देखेपछि नेताहरू चिच्याउँथे प्रहरी भ्यानभित्रबाट नै ! रमाइलै थियो त्यो दृश्य पनि !
मलाई रूविन गन्धर्वसंग भेट्नु थियो । यो सानो गाइने केटो आजभोली पुर्ण प्रजातन्त्रका लागि हुने जुनसुकै जुलुस, सभा वा कार्यक्रममा पुगेको हुन्छ आफ्नो सारङ्गी बोकेर । उ निकै चर्चित छ, संचार माध्यमले पनि उसलाई अगाडी ल्याएका छन् । उ विरोध कार्यक्रमको एउटा आकषर्ण हो भन्दा फरक नपर्ला तर मैले भने उसलाई पहिलो पटक पाटनमा नागरीक समाजको कार्यक्रममा देखे । त्यसपछि म उसंग भेट्न चाहन्थे तर उसंग कँहा भेट हुन्छ ? कसैले भन्न सकेन ।

म दिक्क मानिरहेको थिए, किरण भण्डारी दाइ (समय साप्ताहिक)ले गगन थापाले भेटाइदिन सक्ने कुरा गर्नु भो र थापाको मोवाइल नं. पनि दिनुभो । मैले थापालाई फोन गरे । थापाले रूविन कँहा भेटिन्छ त्यो त बताउन सक्दिन तर आज बसन्तपुरमा हुने सात राजनितिक दलको निषेधाज्ञा क्षेत्र तोड्ने कार्यक्रम छ, त्यहा रूविन आउन सक्ने हुँदा तपाइ त्यँही आउनुहोस् म भेटाइदिउँला भने । कार्यक्रम तीनबजेबाट सुरू हुने पनि उनले बताए ।


म अफिसबाट हिड्दा ठुलो पानी परिरहेको थियो तर त्यँहा पुग्दा पानी रहीसकेको थियो र घाम लाग्ने छाँट देखियो। पछि त मौसम राम्रै थियो ।

म २: ४५ मा पुगेको थिए, थापालाई यताउता खोजे, रूविनलाई पनि खोजे तर अँह दुवै कतै देखिएनन् । मान्छेहरू क्रमशः भेला भइरहेका थिए । बसन्तपुरमा मेला लागे झै भयो, मान्छेको मेला । लठ्ठी बोकेका प्रहरीहरू पनि मानसिक रूपमा तयार देखिन्थे । जुलुसमा सहभागी नभएका तर एकछेउमा उभिएका एकजना केटो भन्दैथियो, ‘आज त दर्शक पनि टन्न छन् ।’ मलाई चारबजे सितु खरेलको नयाँ एल्बम ‘निर्मन’को बिमोचनमा पनि जानुथियो र्याडिसन होटल, लाजिम्पाटसम्म । जुलुस ढिलो सुरू भयो भने मैले केही हेर्न नपाउने हो की भन्ने थियो मलाई तर ३: १५ तिर सात राजनितिक दलका प्रमुख नेताहरू जुलुसको अग्रपङ्क्तिमा उभिए । जुलुस सुरू भयो, नारा उहि त हो राजालाई गाली गर्ने ।

नेताहरू अघि बढ्दै गए, बिशालबजार अगाडीको जुद्ध सालिक नआउनु अघि त प्रहरीहरू पनि पछि पछि र्सर्दै गए तर जुद्ध सालिक निर पुगेपछि त प्रहरीहरूले लठ्ठीको बार लगाए । तानातान सुरू भयो, म दौडेर जुद्ध सालिक भएको ठाउँमा पुगे । तानातान चलिरहेको थियो , एकजना महिला नेपाली कांग्रेसको झण्डा बोकेकी थिइन चोर बाटोबाट निषेधित क्षेत्रमा पुगेकी मात्र के थिइन महिला प्रहरीहरू पनि त तयार थिए नी पकडी हाले । उनी को रहिछिन् भनेर बुझ्न खोजेको सबै जनाले खोइ ? भने ।

निषेधाज्ञा तोडे नेताहरूले, दर्शकले ताली बजाए (अब जुलुसलाई अगाडी बसेर हेर्ने, नारा नलगाउनेलाई दर्शक त भन्नु पर्ला नी, अघिको केटोको भाषामा !)

‘उ माधव नेपाल ! उ गिरीजा ! उ फलाना ! उ चिलाना !’, दर्शकहरू कराउँदै थिए कि गिरीजा प्रसाद कोइराला निषेधित क्षेत्रमा प्रवेश गरेका मात्र थिए उनलाई प्रहरीले पक्राउ गरे र बिशाल बजारभित्र लगे । म त्यँहा जान सकिन किनकी त्यतिखेर प्रहरीले दर्शक भगाउन सामान्य लाठी चार्ज गर्न खोजेको थियो, भागाभागमा म अन्तै पुगे । पछि कान्तिपुर टेलिभिजनमा समाचार हेरेपछि पो थाहा पाए गिरीजाबाबु त बेहोस पो भएछन् । हुन पनि उनले आराम गर्नु पर्ने उमेरमा त्यस्तो भिडभाडमा आउन नहुने !

माधव नेपाल, बामदेव गौतम, रामशरण महत, अमिक शेरचन लगायतका सबै नेताहरू गिरफ्तारी दिन आतुर देखिन्थे । मलाई लाग्छ तिनले बाहिर बसीरहँदा हुने झडपको शिकार हुनु भन्दा त प्रहरीको भ्यानमा बसेर ‘हाम्रो आन्दोलन जारी छ’ भन्नु नै सजिलो र सुरक्षित महशुस गरेको हुनुपर्छ । पत्रकार देखेपछि नेताहरू चिच्याउँथे प्रहरी भ्यानभित्रबाट नै ! रमाइलै थियो त्यो दृश्य पनि !

केहि मान्छेहरूले निषेधाज्ञा तोडेर अगाडी बढेर बिर हस्पिटलसम्म पुगेका थिए भने केही तोड्ने कोशीसमा थिए । प्रमुख नेताहरूलाई गिरफ्तार गरे पनि मान्छेहरू उत्साहित नै थिए । प्रहरीले गिरफ्तार गर्न खोज्दा प्रदर्शनकारीहरू जन र्समर्थन खोज्थे तर दर्शकहरू ताली बजाउन मात्र जान्दथे । जब पहिलो चोटी प्रदर्शनकारीहरूले निषेधाज्ञा तोडे, म कति उत्तेजित भएछु भने जुद्ध सालिकको छेउमा बसेर ताली बजाउनु त सामान्य कुरा हो नारा पनि लगाएछु । साच्चै त्यो उत्साह गजबको थियो । प्रहरीसंग झडप गरेर जब तीनीहरूले निषेधाज्ञा तोडेर हुरूरू हुलका हुल मान्छे न्युरोडतिर दौडिए तब पुर्ण प्रजातन्त्र चाहने म उत्तेजित हुनु सामान्य हैन र ?

प्रदर्शनकारीहरू न्यरोडतिर पनि दौडिएको हुनाले म त्यतातिर लागे, यद्यपी प्रदर्शन बसन्तपुरमा पनि भै रहेको थियो ।

म भिडसंगै सरासर न्युरोडमा अघि बढिरहेको थिए की अचानक प्रहरीले टियर ग्याँस छोडे । यो मेरो पहिलो अनुभव थियो । मान्छेहरूले मुख थुनेर पछि पछि आउन थाले तर मलाई मुख त्यसरी थुन्नु पर्छ भन्ने थाहा थिएन फेरी मसंग रूमाल पनि थिएन । म पछि नआइ अघि नै बढे र खिचापोखरी जाने बाटोतिर लागे । म रून थालीसकेको थिए, सुक्क सुक्क हैन न त ह्वा ह्वा नै मात्र आखाबाट आँशु झारेर । अति भएपछि एउटा पसलमा एकछिन बसे र केही कम भएपछि म फेरी जुद्ध सालिक निर पुगे । सडक सुनसान थियो, दर्शक र प्रदर्शनकारी दुवै तितर बितर थिए । देखिएका मान्छेहरू रोइरहेका थिए । प्रहरी आफै पनि आशु पुछ्दै थिए, मेरो आखाबाट लगातार बहिरहेको आशु देखेर एउटा प्रहरी मलाई पानीले भिजाएको रूमाल दिएर सहयोग गर्न चाहन्थ्यो तर मैले पदैन भने । म जुद्ध सालिकमा पुगेको त अघिदेखि मैले खोजेको गगन त त्यँहा पो रहेछन् । उनी नेतृत्व गदै थिए जुलुसको र भन्दै थिए, ‘हामी निषेधाज्ञा तोड्छौ तोड्छौ !’

म पनि आशावादी थिए, थापाले अबश्य मत्थर भइसकेको आन्दोलनामा फेरी जोश ल्याउने छन् तर एकछिन पछि प्रहरी यसरी खेदाए कि उनीहरू कँहा पुगे कँहा ?

घरी झडप त घरी सामान्य ! हुदै थियो । कतिखेर कुन कुनामा झडप हुने पत्तै नहुने । घरी यता दौडियो त घरी उता । एकजना नेपाल विद्याथी संघका कार्यकर्तालाई प्रहरीको लाठी मजासंगैले लागेछ । उनलाई प्रहरीले भ्यानमा हालेर लग्दै गर्दा मैले भ्यानको झ्यालबाट हेरेको ती बिद्यार्थीको अर्ध बेहोस जस्ता देखिन्थे ।

मैले घडी हेरे चार भन्दा धेरै बजीसकेको थियो । मान्छेहरूको आवतजावत पनि सुरू भै सकेको थियो । अब र्फकनु पर्ला भनेर र्फकन लागेको त एकजना प्रदर्शनकारी ‘टियर ग्याँस र लाठीमात्र हैन गोली हान मलाई भन्दै थिए’ अरू उनको हो मा हो मिलाउँदै थिए । एकजना आमा प्रहरीलाई सम्झाउँदै थिइन की प्रहरीले पनि आन्दोलनलाई र्समर्थन गर्नु पर्छ भनेर । प्रहरीहरू भने आफुहरूलाई माथीको आदेश छ भन्दै थिए । एउटा प्रहरी मेरो परीचय पत्र पढेर नाम ambika हुनु पर्ने anbika भएछ भनेर आफ्नो साथीलाई भन्दै थियो । मेरो नामको ठुलो कथा हुन्छ कुनै दिन लेख्छु । म आन्विका (anbika)हो, अम्विका (ambika) होइन भनेर चिच्याउन सिवाय कुनै उपाय हुन्न कहिले काँहि !

म फर्कीदै गर्दा मैले केही महिला प्रहरीलाई देखे । उनीहरू आराम गर्दै थिए किनकी जुलुस फेरी ब्यँतिने सम्भावना एकदम कम थियो । रसीला रहेछन् केटीहरू । गफ गरे एकछिन अनि ठट्टा पनि । ‘चोट लागेको देख्दा त माया लाग्छ’ भनी एउटीले । उ वखलढुंगाकी रहिछ, ‘चोट लगाउँदा नी ?’ मैले सोधे । ‘त्यो त हाम्रो ड्युटी हो ।’, रामेछापकी गोरी केटी बोली । मलाई ढिलो भै सकेको थियो, लौ त भनेर म हिडे ।

गल्लीबाट जुलुस निस्कीने भएर होला प्रहरीहरू प्रत्येक गल्लीमा तैनाथ थिए । मान्छेहरू र्सतर्क भएर हिडिरहेका थिए । म आर.एन.सी.मा आए र गाडी चढेर होटल र्याडीसनतिर लागे । म सोच्दै थिए के होला यो आन्दोलनको परीणाम ? के यस्तै आन्दोलनले ०४६ सालमा प्रजातन्त्रको पुनःस्थापना भएको थियो ? मेरो आँखा जमलनिर आइपुग्दा एउटा घरमा पर्यो । एउटा केटा हातमा चियाको कप लिएर पारी पट्टीको घरमा भएकी एउटी केटी (केटाको हाउभाउले उ कुनै केटीलाई नै जिस्काउँदै होला भन्ने लागेपछि मैले वारीपट्टी हेरे) लाई जीस्काउँदै थियो ।

सीतु खरेलको कार्यक्रम पनि एक घण्टा ढिलो हुने भएछ, म ठिक्क बेलामा पुगेछु । मेरो आँखा पोलीरहेको थियो, बाथरूममा गएर मुख धोए । यो अर्कै माहोल थियो जँहा आएका मान्छे अघिको जुलुसबाट बिल्कुल बेखबर थिए । यीनीहरू केवल संगितको कुरा गर्दै थिए , केवल सितु खरेलको नयाँ एल्बम ‘निर्मन’को कुरा गर्दै थिए ।