KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe has said reason and wisdom have disappeared from Nepal’s politics, arguing that parliamentary and street politics have increasingly been dominated by insults and arrogance.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the party’s ‘Jara Abhiyan’ (Roots Campaign) and the launch of a new campaign in Kathmandu on Thursday, Angdembe said the Nepali Congress’ socialist ideology had been overshadowed by the pursuit of political power.
Recalling the late B.P. Koirala’s policy of national reconciliation, Angdembe said Koirala had stressed that nationalism and democracy were complementary, but claimed the party had drifted away from those ideals.
He also urged the party to reflect on whether its newly launched campaign represented a genuine new direction or merely a continuation of previous efforts.
Referring to remarks made by senior party leaders during events marking the 44th B.P. Memorial Day on Wednesday, Angdembe expressed dissatisfaction over public criticism directed at party president Gagan Thapa.
“When reason disappears, it turns into arrogance. When logic disappears, it turns into abuse,” he said, adding that the trend reflected the current state of the party.
Angdembe also criticized the functioning of Parliament, alleging that legislative proceedings were increasingly driven by arbitrary decisions rather than reason, wisdom and due process.
He further argued that the tendency to treat politics as a business rather than public service had weakened the Nepali Congress, saying leaders had often prioritized those within their own circles.
Calling for a change in political culture, Angdembe said future politics should focus on the interests of the poor, farmers and working people.
He expressed confidence that the party could help transform the country if it recommitted itself to integrity, discipline and principled leadership.
Comment