Popular Movement I

Popular Movement I

          Panchayat system was unconstitutionally established by King Mahendra in BS 2017 against the wish of the general public and democratic parties of the country. It was a non-party system in which the monarch exercised absolute power with active suppression of public freedom. So its opposition started from its very inception. Parties, though underground, started making efforts to restore multiparty system in the country. In BS 2028 a communist faction attempted a violent revolt called Jhapa Revolt against the system in the eastern ‘Nepal. Some leaders caught were brutally killed in the Sukhani of Illam. In BS 2036, mounting student agitation forced the reigning King Birendra to declare national referendum for the two choices- ‘reformed’ non-party system and multiparty system. The following year there was polling in which even the democratic parties enthusiastically took part in their hope to get victory. As  it turned out, the result was ‘manipulated in favour of the  existing system’.

            After the referendum, the democratic parties of were better consolidated. Eight communist parties formed an alliance called the United Leftist Front (ULF) under the leadership of Sahana Pradhan. Five other communist parties were united into United National Popular Movement Committee by Tulsilal Amatya. The Nepali Congress was ever committed against the system. It held a national conference at the premises of the party leader Ganeshman  Singh from 5-7 Magh 2046. The meeting was keenly participated by the leaders of other parties in the country as well as those from India. The conference passed a resolution to start a mass movement from the following national democracy day i.e. Falgun 7. In the meantime, India refused to renew the traditional trade and transit treaty with Nepal. All the transit points except two were closed.

            Accordingly protests in defiance of the government started on the democracy day. Processions from different streets came out to the city centre in Kathmandu. There were instant clashes between the police and the demonstrators. The police resorted to violent suppression. Still greater nationwide demonstrations followed the next 49 days. The movement was worthily peaceful and included agitations such as general strikes, black outs and sit-ins. The anti-Panchayat movement was joined overwhelmingly by all kinds of people - students, women, workers, professionals, journalists, etc. They did not yield to any omissions and commissions, cabinet reshuffles and commitments of the’ Panchas. About 100 demonstrators sacrificed their precious life to the inhumane response of the police.

            Realizing that the situation had turned uncontrollable, King Birendra summoned an all-party meeting on Chaitra 26. The meeting attended by veteran leaders such as Girija Prasad Koirala, Krish’na Prasad Bhattarai, Sahana Pradhan and Radha Krishna Mainali unanimously reiterated the demand for multiparty democracy. At about mid-night the king gave a radio address declaring that the ban on the political parties had been lifted. Following the royal declaration, there were victory celebrations across the nation. The caretaker Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand resigned from his post. By and by all the Panchayati mechanisms were dissolved. A Nepali Congress leader KP Bhattarai was appointed Prime Minister with two major responsibilities: drafting a democratic constitution and holding general elections that were fulfilled in stipulated time.