Plantation in the name of BP

The next day, his mortal remains were carried in a truck decorated with the four-starred flag, circumambulating the capital city, to the Pashupati Aryaghat amidst immense crowds. The top leaders of the Nepali Congress, their family members and Indian guests who had come to join in the ceremony were attended by more than one lakh people, but the presence of the police was nowhere to be seen until the truck reached Aryaghat. He was brought home from Thailand before his death. He wanted to take his last breath in his motherland, Nepal. His funeral was unprecedented. On those days, there was a complete ban on parties, but the people came out openly as if the ban had been lifted on that day.

After the death of BP, the Congress decided to celebrate 'BP Memorial Day' every year by 'planting trees'. After all, why the tree planting program? In the background of its decision, the history of a whole period of change is hidden. The government's approach to the 'plantation' program was not as the party thought. The government's policy towards the workers and helpers who went to plant trees was completely negative and repressive. Protests were organized, brutal beatings and torturous arrests took place.

Despite that, every year hundreds of activists came out with a mindset ready for struggle. It was like a form of 'non-violent movement'. By the year 2042, the nationwide 'Satyagraha' was started on this basis. Top leaders of the Nepali Congress, including Ganeshman Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala, participated in the thousands. Arrested, jailed, tortured. This period of Nepali politics almost reminds of Gandhiji's 'Salt Satyagraha' or 'Salt Movement' in Indian politics.

The 'Tree Plantation' program not only commemorates BP, it also recalls Congress' deep emotional commitment to forest conservation. After seven years of revolution, BP led the Janata Party of the Interim United Government formed by the Rana-Congress alliance. He was the Home Minister. At that time he was 36 years old. Suvarnaji became Finance Minister. The country's first budget was equal to 52.5 million. Among the income within the country, the highest was 19 lakh 16 thousand from cargo and 22 lakh 12 thousand from timber (forest). The importance of forests in national income is clear from this.

After various conspiracies and disruptions, all the ministers resigned. After leaving the government, BP's attention was focused on the entire party organization. After the noble disobedience movement, the king was forced to hold an election. BP and his party had resolved to hold general elections in the country one day. The Congress General Committee meeting held on 20-22 January 2014 passed various resolutions regarding the general elections. In addition, a resolution was passed to strongly oppose the fact that a large number of forests are being destroyed when forest contracts are given to individuals for the extraction of forest timber of the nation and that 'forest felling contracts should be stopped and attention should be paid to the protection of forests immediately'. It was proposed by Bhishmajung KC and Lokendra Bahadur Shah. The supporters were Suryabhakt Adhikari, Govardhan Sharma and Chintaharan Singh. It was called 'Forest Conservation Proposal'.

The moral pressure of the 'Bhadra Awagya Andolan' (Civil Disobedience Movement) of 2014 forced the king to announce an election. It was also announced that a council of ministers was formed under the chairmanship of Suvarnaji for the purpose of holding elections. The election was held at the appointed time. The country was divided into 109 regions. Nine political parties had given their election symbols by admitting to fielding a minimum of 22 candidates. Among these, the election symbol of Congress was 'Rukh' (Gachi). In this way, the emotional relationship of the Congress towards trees, trees and plantations was getting stronger.

2015 In the country's first elections held on February 7, the Congress won two-thirds of the seats. On 21st May 2016, a joint meeting of the Congress Central Working Committee, Parliamentary Committee and members elected to the House of Representatives (lower house) held at Suvarnashamsher's residence Lalita Niwas (currently Rashtra Bank) unanimously elected Chairman BP Koirala as the leader of the parliamentary party. This proposal was from Suvarna Shamsher. It was supported by Ganeshman Singh.

Similarly, Ram Narayan Mishra supported Singh's submission of Suvarna Shamsher's name as the deputy leader of the parliamentary party. In this way, King Mahendra announced that the cabinet was formed with BP Prime Minister and Suvarna Shamsher Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister and 6 other ministers and 11 deputy ministers. In the history of Nepal, it became the first elected cabinet. From the point of view of inclusiveness, this was a model cabinet made up of those who were in the parliament at that time. This government first introduced the first scientific 'National Forest Policy 2016' in the history of the country. According to this, there was a 17-member 'Forest Advisory Council' under the chairmanship of the Forest Minister and the Deputy Minister as the Vice-Chairman. Members of the House of Representatives, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests, Finance, Planning, Heads of various departments and offices related to forest protection, Chief Conservator etc. were members. Among the members of the House of Representatives were 2 Lokendra Bahadur Shah, Durganand Singh of the Gorkha Parishad and Bakhan Singh Gurung of the Congress among the members of the Mahasabha.

Under the 'National Forest Policy', the government divided forests into five categories. Protected Forest, Production Forest, Panchayati Forest, Forest Park and Special Forest. One of the objectives of the National Forest Policy was to give special attention to the protection and conservation of forests and wildlife. The government's priority was to increase domestic revenue. At that time, the second five-year plan was also being prepared. The first five-year plan was a total of 33 crores only.

Even though only 220 crores have been spent, the elected government was preparing an ambitious second five-year plan of 1 billion 96 crores. The first five-year plan was made during the reign of Raja and it was the first plan of the second elected government. In which it was said - 'Our country's source of income is forestry, agriculture, mining, river canals and industries (small, medium) ... the second five-year plan will pay special attention to it.'' And there was to be a great leap in construction. Realizing this, the king deposed the one-and-a-half-year-old government on January 1, 2017, killing democracy. BP was imprisoned in Sundarijal Military Jail for eight years. The dream of the first elected government stopped there. On December 16, 2033, BP left his eight-year long exile in India and entered the country from Patna on an RNAC plane with a policy of national reconciliation. While flying, the green country of his time was seen bare and desolate. He was moved to see the forest destroyed, devastated by landslides and floods.

In 18 years of autocratic independent Panchayati Raj, the great campaign of country development is being blocked, various obstacles are being created in the spontaneous participation of the people. The slogan 'green forest Nepal's wealth' was limited, the poor people became poorer. A bottom class always dominated the regime. He did not stop to express his concern that the green country has become deserted many times, keeping his opinion that the development has been blocked.

Today, a special leader who deeply cares for the country like him is remembered at least on July 6 through 'BP Memorial Day'. Still, the 'plantation' has not been able to gain momentum.