‘Harsh measures could lead to starvation deaths in Nepal’

Do not penalise the vast majority of people in Nepal for kinks in the newly-formed Constitution, said Binod Pahadi, former Member of Parliament and Dalit leader of Nepal.

Mr. Pahadi, who delivered the 5{+t}{+h}S.R. Sankaran Memorial Lecture on the Constitution of Nepal and Dalits under the aegis of Centre for Dalit Studies, a non-governmental organisation, on Saturday, said that though parts of Nepal’s Constitution is representative of upper caste lawmakers, India’s action should not penalise Dalits and other downtrodden communities in that country.

Most of those suffering under the burden of unofficial road blockades are the downtrodden in Nepal, he stressed. The high and mighty in Nepal are unaffected by India’s measures, Mr. Pahadi reiterated. Nepal is edging towards a Dalit political solidarity, he confirmed. “Dalit leaders across political parties will come together to oppose anti-caste clauses in the Constitution. We expect the Indian leadership to support this cause,” he said.

Mr. Pahadi, who is also associated with the Jagaran Media Centre, an organisation which has been rallying for freedom of the press and democratic rights, said the new Constitution allows 13 per cent reservation of Dalits and representation of the community in the national Parliament.

“When it comes to certain parts of the Constitution which deals with the rights of men and women of certain marginalised sections, the Constitution has remained a Brahmin entity. While India should guide the lawmakers, those in power should realise that rash and harsh measures could lead to starvation deaths in Nepal,” he said. The landlocked country is highly dependent on India for food and oil imports.

Currently, protesters in Nepal are demanding the implementation of reservation based on population density. Nepal should emulate the Indian model of affirmative action, he said.