Prachanda flunks governance test

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today admitted that the Maoist-led government has failed in bringing about “desired good governance”.The PM owned up to the shortcomings during an interaction with select civil society members. He, however, waxed eloquent on the Maoists’ stellar role on the political front.“We are yet to bring about desired changes. Corruption and irregularities are still rampant in the administration. People are denied of timely service. The man on the street wants change, but it has remained elusive due to various bottlenecks,” said Charan Prasain, a human rights activist, quoting the PM.Prachanda briefed the visitors about the government’s imminent task: To expedite the statute-drafting process and integrate the PLA combatants into Nepal Army.“The integration will help the drafting of the constitution as many are sceptical of it,” said Prof Krishna Pokhrel, quoting Prachanda.The PM also dwelt on the government’s intention to convince the main opposition Nepali Congress to join the ruling coalition. “This will help the drafting of the constitution,” he said.Dahal also hinted at the government’s move to set up six commissions, including ones on restructuring and disappearance before Tihar. “Bureaucratic reshuffle, too, is on the anvil,” the PM told the visitors. The civil society members, in turn, urged Dahal to look into the human rights record. Home Minister Bamdev Gautam’s rigid posturing in the name of reformsalso came in for scathing criticism. Former SC justice Laxman Prasad Aryal requested the PM to refrain from interference in the judiciary. Justice Aryal is in favour of segregation of the constitution-drafting process and the legislative work in the CA. Seventeen civil society members attended the programme at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar.