Kathmandu. Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Chairman Upendra Yadav has represented Bara constituency-2 in the House of Representatives this time. Earlier, he was elected to the House of Representatives from Morang constituency-5 and Sunsari-5, Sunsari constituency-5 in 2070 BS and Saptari constituency-2 in 2074 BS.
Yadav, who was born in Bhagwatpur of Saptari in 2016 BS, started his political journey from the Communist Party in 2032 BS. He joined the CPN (UML) in 2048 BS and started the Madhes movement by forming the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum in 2063 BS.
Yadav has served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Health and Population, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Rss correspondent Sushil Darnal interviewed Yadav on his day-to-day activities, parliamentary practices, constitution implementation and amendment, demands and issues of Madhesi community, strengthening federalism, political system and the condition of the people, migration of youth abroad and unemployment problem, activities of political parties, economic development of the country, commitment to the people and contemporary issues of
the country.
What are you busy with these days?
The budget session of parliament is currently underway. Lawmakers are putting forth their views on the budget. Earlier, the government’s policies and programmes and principles and priorities were discussed in the parliament. I have also been involved in law making in the House. I am also busy with the day-to-day activities of the party as I am the president.
How do you view parliamentary practice?
The democratic culture has not yet developed in the big political parties. As a result, parliamentary practice has not been conducted in a healthy manner. The parties are suffering from prejudice. The parliament has to bear the tussle of the executive. That is why I have not got the effectiveness of parliament as it should have. The attention of the entire people is now on the Parliament. The Parliament has not been able to play its role in fulfilling the expectations of the people towards the Parliament. Although the parliament seems to be running, the parliamentary proceedings have not been carried out effectively.
How do you view the implementation of the constitution?
Not all people have been able to take ownership of the constitution. At the time of promulgation of the constitution, if it had been issued after extensive discussion and debate on the amendment proposal in the Constituent Assembly, everyone would have taken ownership of it. There are some important things in the Constitution. There are also some discriminatory issues. There are also some double issues. Important issues in the constitution have also not been implemented. For example, federalism has not been fully implemented. The structure of the province has been created, but it has not been fully implemented as it is not free from centralized and unitary mentality. The work and powers to be done by the state and local levels have also been kept at the center.
How will federalism be implemented when resources and power are kept at the centre? There is neither law nor bureaucracy to implement federalism. There is no resources. How will the state government work in such a situation? The special areas and safe zones mentioned in the constitution have also not been implemented.
How do you view the issue of constitution amendment?
The government does not want to amend the constitution. Since the promulgation of the constitution, there has been talk of amendment, but it is limited to it. There is no question of what to amend. I don’t know what goal to amend to achieve. The constitution amendment has become like a fund.
The constitution needs to be amended to speed up. Therefore, a team of experts should be formed to amend the constitution first. Amendments should be made based on the suggestions given by that team.
What subjects should be amended?
The electoral system should be amended first. In a least developed country like Nepal, there should not be such an expensive electoral system. The current electoral system destroys the country. Another form of governance should also be amended. The current system of governance has not been practically successful. Now there should be an executive president directly elected by the people. The president should form a government with experts. Parliament should make laws, monitor and carry out parliamentary work. The government and parliament should be separated.
Similarly, the judiciary should also be reconsidered. There is a lot of delay in the judiciary. There is also a shortage of manpower. Once the country has gone to the federal system, the judiciary cannot be so effective in a unitary system. People should get justice services cheaply and easily. Justice should not be like a commodity bought from the market. The constitution should be amended to bring the local level under the jurisdiction of the province and empower the province.
What is the demand of the Madhesi community?
The main demand of the Madhesi community is equal participation in the executive, judiciary and legislature on the basis of population. The Madhesi community should have equal participation in all the structures of the state, including the Constitutional Commission. In a democracy, everyone should be represented on the basis of population. But now inclusivity is also disappearing.
What should be done to further strengthen federalism?
The basic principle of federalism is self-government in the province and common governance at the centre. We have to move forward from this policy. Seven provinces should be restructured. On federalism, the State Restructuring Commission has said that 10 provinces should be considered on the basis of strength and identity. The state should be empowered. Resources and human resources should be given to the state.
What should be done to further improve the condition of the people?
The condition of the people will not improve by keeping only their own people in the structure of the state by the big parties in power. The situation of the people will change so much if people are placed in the courts, authorities and other constitutional bodies more qualified than their own people. Therefore, the mindset of the political leadership needs to change to change the condition of the people. How will the country develop if the mindset of the political leadership does not change? How do people get jobs? How will people’s condition change if they don’t get jobs?
How can youths stop migrating abroad?
How to survive in a country after poverty and unemployment? There is no alternative to migrating abroad when it is difficult to survive. It is natural for the youth to migrate due to lack of good education, health, employment and security in the country. Therefore, we have to run our country’s industries to stop the migration of youth. Agriculture should be developed. If development and good governance can be given, the migration of youth will be stopped on its own.
What are your suggestions to big political parties?
Corruption must end. Good governance should be given to the people. The parties should move towards the pace of development. Politics should be done on the basis of values and values. The system has changed politically. But the system of governance remains the same. The structure of administration is the same. The behavior is the same. Therefore, the main thing is that political parties need to be reformed.
What should be done to make the country self-reliant?
Education is the basis of development. Education needs to be radically changed from the bottom to the top. There should be an age-appropriate education system. There had to be education that would enable people’s lives. At the same time, our country is based on agriculture. Agriculture should be modernized and commercialized. Closed industries should be operated. The tourism sector should be developed. Development should be done in electricity. If this can be done, Nepal can become the happiest and most prosperous country in the world.
How much did you fulfill your commitment to the people?
Whoever runs the government has to carry forward the development work by allocating the budget. How will development proceed if the government does not provide budget? I have written to the government to fulfill the promises made for the development of bara district, which is my constituency.
What is your message to the people?
People should rise up against injustice and injustice. Everyone has an equal responsibility to move the country towards good governance and prosperity by ending corruption and commission system. Corruption is rampant in the country. The people should wake up to this issue. RSS
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