Politics is leadership – serving, listening and providing solutions. But when the leadership forgets the language of people's pain and power is limited to convenience, corruption, profit and show of speech, then people's patience wears thin. The latest incident of UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai in Taplejung has shown the first wave of that bursting dam today.

He is not a leader from a people's war front. He was a representative of a new generation born of democratic practice, from whom the country had hoped in the past. But if the politics of policy, integrity and results were not done correctly, that face of hope became a satire on itself over time. The speech in the Parliament was applauded, but the people were forced to sit at home staring at empty pots. The 'future' poster he was carrying was torn, his expression was limited to the whims of 'kids'. When the people struggle to survive and the leader's style starts flowing into a flood of funny comments, cheap popularity and speeches, then the people no longer have faith in that leadership. In Taplejung, that pot of faith has broken. When people take to the streets saying 'No Cable Car', the quiet voices and demands now turn into screams of anger and fearing that anger, Yogesh Bhattarai was forced to stay in the toilet for an hour and a half. It is not just a matter of security, it is a deep political message, which has now shaken the public consciousness.

Of course, physical attack is never the solution, but when people's pain and expectations are repeatedly ignored, when their faith is shattered, then their voices echo on the streets, on social media, in the ward, in the square. This is a warning to leaders. People are no longer asking for 'party' but for 'results'. They are no longer looking for a leader's gossip, but a roar, and that roar is for their rights, a response to outrage.

If the voice of the people is still not heard, the toilet door will no longer be closed, the street rebellion will no longer be stopped. This is the time for serious self-examination by the leaders in power. If they are not committed to making policies on people's livelihood, justice, education, health, poverty, employment, and implementing them, and fulfilling everything they say, the day is not far when the people themselves will start sealing party offices, not toilets.

– Santosh Simkhada , Tokyo, Japan