E-Kantipur

The family of Dr. Bhakta Man Shrestha must be congratulated for having received the doctor with his body intact. It is not yet certain if his mind is intact. It can be called a miracle if nothing has happened to him after a three-week-long stay in unknown wilderness. For all the physical discomfort and pain that he endured blindfolded, he looked quite healthy. If he is to be believed, the abductors were not only nice and informative, but also very entertaining and instructive. They were trying to teach him political lessons on being a good person of credible reputation. They were looking for a famous man to make a credible launching of their new party.

If the story the doctor told is to be believed, the abductors were a new political party in the making, the so-called Hinduite Janata (People’s) Party (HJP). This name does not exist in the political dictionary of Nepal. It is said to have branches in some 15-16 districts in Nepal. Where are they? Are they spread out in the Tarai districts? Are they registered? If they are registered, what are said to be their main political objectives? Who are their patrons? What following do they have? The main political party with a declared Hinduite agenda is the Rastriya Prajatantra Party/Nepal headed by Kamal Thapa. But why would it give its support to a non-existent party when it is itself fighting for the restoration of the tag of Hindu state for Nepal?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is said to have an agenda for the revival of Hindu statehood in Nepal. Recently, they held an international conference in Mumbai where our Hinduite leader Kamal Thapa made his conspicuous presence. In Nepal, Hinduism is connected to the institution of the monarchy and the BJP is supporting the revival of the monarchy by proxy by ordaining the revival of Hinduism. This connection seems to have some credence. The BJP has made public utterances regarding its support for the concept of Hindu state with proxy support for the restoration of the Hindu kingship in a predominantly Hindu state. The BJP had lent its support to some Hindu revival programmes in the bordering Tarai districts before Nepal declared itself a secular republic. Restoration of these two political values is, thus, a declared BJP agenda.

However, the BJP would preferably support an existing and relatively well established party like the RPP/Nepal rather than supporting a bunch of anonymous people in launching their platform. Moreover, the BJP’s hand being involved in a terrorist type of abduction of an innocent person is a ridiculous charge. They are a conservative, orthodox, revivalist type of organisation that does not believe in the theory of secularism. But they are a big party of a big country and they have the credibility of running a big state. Their involvement in a terrorist activity in a neighbouring state would be self-defeating. There may be other elements of Hindu supporters in India who may try to influence the Hinduite concept in Nepal. But allegations of their support for a terrorist activity is again a ridiculous excuse to hide our own weakness.

There are some pro-monarchist and pro-Hindu kingdom elements in Nepal like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and people like Bharat Keshar Singh who gave their best to save the position of the king even during Jana Andolan II. They are still endeavouring their best to sell their concept of a Hindu kingdom. Their connection with the ex-king Gyanendra can be a foregone conclusion because even he has been speaking lately of the distant possibility of a revival of the monarchy. But this line of reasoning is also incredible to be connected to the tragic event of the abduction of the doctor because these elements could choose more legitimate types of forums or platforms to launch a new party. Gyanendra must have realised by now that if he wants to come back to power, the religious track would be hopelessly fragile. There are other credible secular paths like opening a new party or patronising an existing party like the RPP/N.

There are other aspects to the mystery. Was the doctor speaking under more daunting duress of further terror? Was he speaking the truth? Was he made to pay a heavy ransom? The Maoist party has been loudly dragged in as the perpetrator of the tragic-comic episode. The fact that senior leaders Baburam Bhattarai and Amik Sherchan had to be involved in the investigation parade shows that the party took the allegation very seriously. But they have not been completely able to wash their hands of it. Both leaders claimed that the doctor was safe and would come out soon. In fact, the doctor came out sooner than eight hours of the report from Sherchan. How could they be certain if the abduction was carried out by a completely unknown element? If the abduction was done by the alleged HJP and the Maoists knew it, what was the connection?

The truth may come out soon, or never as in so many serious cases like the assassination of Madan Bhandari or the palace massacre. The doctor’s safe return has given space for relief to everyone for the time being. But it has added several other dimensions of national concern. The highest concern is that the security outfit is totally incapable. It can neither get to the bottom of a crime nor provide credible security to the citizens. The fact that the police failed to track the abduction route for three weeks indicates the most deplorable state of our national intelligence services. The country was assured that all the branches of the police were involved in the investigation of the episode, but their efforts were of no avail. Finally, the police claim that they had rescued the doctor from the abductors turned out to be false. There was no regret. How can we rely on the police service that lacks the barest sense of morality?  

Serious crimes have been committed in the capital city itself. There have been political murders under the very nose of the police. Some crimes have monetary motives. Some crimes have recrimination as the motive. But this had a peculiar motivation. The alleged abductor committed the crime to create waves by abducting a reputable but innocent CEO of a politically neutral health institution. Who will be safe in this country? The government does not feel embarrassed. The home minister should have resigned not only out of embarrassment but also by way of assumption of moral responsibility. Action should have been taken against the concerned police officer for having made a false claim. But the government has been turning a completely deaf ear to this embarrassing episode.

The Maoists have said that serious efforts will be made to find out if some party cadres had been involved in the case. Is it possible that the fake HJP was a drama sponsored by the Maoists? If it is proved that there was a Maoist hand in the episode, it will cost them a political fortune. They are already on the descending ladder in terms of moral image. All their ploys to get back to power have backfired. The list of their failed commitments is piling up. If this episode was planned with the knowledge of the party leaders, its timing has been a superlative mistake. The party will have to produce evidence of its innocence to sustain its high image.

knsad66@yahoo.com

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