Durga Kandel (Chhatkuli) writes - Political parties walked the path of destruction, not of correction, due to which society took the step of change and the old regime collapsed.
What you should know
On Bhadra 23, 2082, the Gen-G group began a protest against corruption and the social media shutdown. Within two days of the protest, an unprecedented event occurred in history, forcing the government of about two-thirds to its knees. There are no accounts of arson and vandalism.
There had been major movements in the country before. In 2007, the anti-Rana movement was organized by a political party. In 2046, there was a movement against the Panchayat system, and in 2062/63, there was a movement for democracy and republic. These and other movements continue to cause terrible damage to the country. Unstable politics continues to exist in the country. Political parties continue to take the lead for power and authority. However, false hopes are also being spread among the people. Leaders do not hesitate to make any compromise for power and authority.
Overall, the commercialization, corruption, and familyization of politics have prevented the people from ensuring good governance in the country. It took almost four decades for democracy to come to the country. However, the situation of the country and the people has deteriorated further. Commercialization, corruption, and familization in politics can be clearly understood in this way.
Commercialization in politics
Politics is the policy of running the state. Politics is the process of determining how to use power to solve common problems of social and national life and distribute resources. Since politics is a game of reaching power by taking the votes of the people, it is considered a duty to act according to the will of the people.
Politics is a practice used in the interest of the group and the nation rather than the individual. Making and implementing policies for the minimum needs of the people is serving the citizens. The misuse of power and power in the name of doing such a sacred work has caused extreme disappointment among the people. The commercialization of politics is because the tendency to operate politics and democracy on the basis of business, profit, and money is institutionalized.
Be it at a specific level and stage, whether it is getting tickets in elections or in big contracts or in the presence of middlemen in small jobs - the issue of commission and financial side has become institutionalized everywhere. This has turned politics into commercialization rather than service, where 'ours' get priority over 'good'. With the rule of the rich, a situation has been created where the lower class has descended further. For some time now, there has been a situation where expressions like 'Cryptocracy Nexus' and 'Nepo Baby' have been in the making.
Corruption in politics
Corruption in politics means the misuse of public positions, policies and resources for personal, group and party benefits. It hinders the path of democracy, good governance and development. When corruption is encouraged in politics, people lose faith in political parties in society. This weakens democracy, 'meritocracy' disappears, there is no proper distribution of means and resources, and the people have to take to the streets. Political alliances in contracts, ticket buying and selling within the party, contacts and relationships required to get jobs and positions, and even MPs being bought and sold for money weaken accountability in politics, which has resulted in the current Gen-G movement.
Familization in politics
Familization in politics is the process of family or lineage dominance in the state and power structure. In this, leadership, positions, opportunities, and decisions are transferred through family members and relatives. In such an environment, making the successor to leadership from within the family, giving priority to family members over those who are qualified, depriving qualified and capable people of opportunities to advance, and making party decisions based on family interests are all part of familization in politics. This creates extreme discontent among capable, qualified, and experienced people, activists, and citizens. It is looking for an environment to express anger, which came from the name of the Gen-G movement.
In addition, the aspect that is connected with these mentioned characteristics is the criminalization of politics and the politicization of crime, which creates discontent in the society. A few years ago, the murderer could not be found in the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta. This is politicization of crime. The act of granting amnesty to those who burn people alive in brick kilns is also politicization of crime. The tendency to sacrifice crime to fulfill political interests is not new. The society became agitated by the totality of such issues. Political parties chose the path of destruction, not correction, due to which society stepped on the path of change and the old regime collapsed. In the context of the collapse of the old regime and the formation of a new government in the country, new hope has been imagined. The country has become economically weak, it is in disaster. The country has experience of facing repeated disasters and movements. It has become physically and mentally weak after facing earthquakes and COVID. Nepal has experience of managing disasters even while in armed conflict. Even though the current movement and destructive situation has made the country dilapidated, the physical and mental condition of the people is sound. Therefore, the people will rise from the ashes.
