Online Khabar

Kathmandu, November 22. A number of intellectuals, including former chief secretary Leela Mani Poudel and Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, have submitted to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli a five-point memorandum to deal with the crisis resulting from the Indian blockade.

In their letter to the PM, the 24 intellectuals have asked the PM to keep federalism on hold and launch an investigation into fake citizenship certificates issued in the Tarai by forming an all-powerful commission.

And they have praised the government for making concrete efforts to seek help from China in the wake of disruption in supplies from India.

At the same time, pointing at a worsening situation in the country, they have suggested that the government put resumption of supply of medicines and petroleum products on top priority.

Don’t give in to unjust demands

The intellectuals, while submitting the memorandum, advised the government not to give in to United Democratic Madheshi Front’s demands. On his part, PM Oli pledged not to sign any agreement with any party to the detriment of the country.

Ensure smooth supply of petroleum products, medicines

The group has urged the government to expedite efforts to ensure smooth supply of fuel and drugs. It has asked the government to use all possible diplomatic channels to end the Indian blockade.

The government should request China to supply petroleum products in considerable volume to Nepal through all possible means, it said. The group advised the government to ask China for supply of essential drugs via air without delay. The government should also try to bring medical supplies from Bangladesh, it said.

Put federalism on hold

Federalism mentioned in the constitution is at the root of all problems facing the country at present, the group said. Federalism is not a demand coming from the people of Nepal, it claimed, pointing that the two major parties — the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML — embraced federalism under duress.  In a democratic system, issues related to state restructuring should be address on the basis of referendum, it pointed. The group said the state ignored inputs that people had given during opinion collection right before promulgation of the constitution. It pointed (majority of) people had stood against federalism during the opinion collection campaign. The group said federalism is not suitable for Nepal given its geographical situation and degree of intercultural blending.

Internationalise blockade

India imposed a blockade against Nepal, trampling on international legal instruments and conventions, the memorandum states. Nepal should inform the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Labour Organisation about this flagrant breach, it said, calling the government to invite these bodies to Nepal to study the problems that the country has been facing. Nepal should lobby with those countries, which can be instrumental in fulfilling India’s ambition of  becoming a UN Security Council member.

Long-term deal with China

Nepal should sign a long-term peace and friendship treaty with China, given the possibility of India imposing a similar blockade to make Nepal fulfil its interests. The government should try to open a maximum number of customs points up North, in a bid to promote multifaceted relations existing between Nepal and China for ages.

Citizenship Investigation Commission

Due to liberal legal provisions in the past, a huge number  of Indians acquired Nepali citizenship certificates from the Tarai. Some of these people have been involved in criminal activities, which have put interests of both the countries in jeopardy. Given this situation, there’s a need to form a high-level all-powerful commission to scrap fake citizenship certificates issued in the past.

Border management

Thanks to the open border with India, criminal activities are on the rise in bordering Nepali territories. This calls for regulation of the open border. There’s a need to put in place a system that allows local people to move across the border and the Nepal government to keep record of people involved in the movement.

Controlling movement

In the name of movement, criminal activities are taking place in the Tarai. Attacks against security personnel are increasing. The government should take tough action against criminal elements and save the lives of the public and security personnel. तFor this, the government should step up security in the Tarai.

Self-reliance and development

We should embark on the road to self-reliance, now that we have realised how dependent our economy is at present. There’s a need to strive for national development by putting hydropower at the centre. We should opt for hydropower export only after fulfilling the demand for power in the country.

Signatories:

Marsal Julum Shakya

Hiranya Lal Shrestha

Dipak Gyawali

Surendra KC

Bhup Prasad Tripathi

Bharat Basnet

Ratna Sansar Shrestha

Ratan Bhandari

Sadhya Bahadur Bhandari

Mani Thapa

Tanka Nath Poudel

Achyut Gyawali

Ananda Ram Poudel

Babu Ram Singh Thapa

Aditya Man Shrestha

Bihari Krishna Shrestha

Lila Mani Poudel

Sheetal Babu Regmi

Buddhi Narayan Shrestha

Jagat Bhusal

Dwarika Nath Dhungel

Surya Raj Acharya

Punya Gautam Biswas

Govinda Upadhyaya