Bimalendra Nidhi US Tour

Bimalji,

I look forward to seeing you in the US. Ee ajeeb ke baat chhai du go Janakpurwasi ke pratham bhent America mein hotai se. Logistics ke je baat chhai, se kripaya spasht ka del jao. Katek cheej State Department ke karyakram antargat chhai, katek nai se baat. Email se pratyek dost sab ke se baat jankari kara debai. I will do all I can on my part. And much can be done in NYC. The madhesi network can be used also for some of the other cities.

Your party might be the first large party to have come for federalism. I followed that in the news long time back. But have the UML and the Koirala Congress also come for federalism like they have now come for a democratic republic? I have not seen anything official from them.

I think I learned something new from you about the Maoists' idea of federalism. How accurate is that? What you suggest might have been true if they were still for a communist republic. But if they come around to a democratic republic, don't you think that changes a few things?

This might be one issue to discuss with them in the Maoist-Democrat talks right now.

If the Sadbhavana, NC(D), the UML and the Koirala Congress are all for federalism, what is the form of federalism you envision? How many states? Along what lines? Have you had a chance to look at my three states, three languages idea?

I think it is important for the seven party coalition and the Maoists to really think through this. All parties need to come clearly for federalism, and they also should put forth their version of the same, so the discussions on the details can start right away.

What you are saying about the Maoists and federalism might as well be true, but we must also allow room for a transformation on their part. From a communist republic to a democratic republic is a transformation. From the gun to a peaceful transformation of the state is a transformation. Perhaps they will also move from centralism to federalism. And if they don't, they can always compete for their idea during the elections to a Constituent Assembly after they are no longer an armed group.

Let's take the peace process in stages.

From: "Bimalendra Nidhi"
To: paramendra@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Federalism: The Common Minimum Program For All Madhesis
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 14:31:55 +0545

Dear Parmendra Bhagatji.

Yes , I am for Federalism. And large number of leaders and workers of my party(Nepali Congress Democratic), and UML and Nepali Congress, plus many scholars and intelectuals are in favour of Federalism. But for your kind information Maoist is not in favour of Federalism.Because they do not believe in the theory of Power devolution or power distribution or power share which is fundamental base of the Federalism.Nine proposed "JATIYA STATE " by Maoist are not the one that you think of Fedralism. Rather they are totaly controlled by the Center. Because they believe in Centralim and not in Federalism. So, keep it in mind that they do not want Federal structure in real sense in Nepal.
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My US visit is as follows as arranged by organizers :-
13 oct. --- Departure from KTM to Boston.
20 oct --- Boston to Washington
24 oct ---Washington to Atlanta
From 26 oct we are free to roam arround at our own.

So after that I want to see some friends like you, Binod, Bimal, JP, Ramnarayan Ranjit, Shyam shrestha, Lav Shrshtha, and others. For that I want to come to NY, Bufallo, Miami, Davis, Denver, California, plus LE and LV. But only if I get full support from you and friends for everything.

With hope .
And with best wishes.

Bimalendra Nidhi.

>From: Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
>Subject: Federalism: The Common Minimum Program For All Madhesis
>Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:27:05 -0700 (PDT)

http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com/2005/09/physical-abuse-of-peaceful-protestors.html

From: "Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav"
To: paramendra@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Federalism: The Common Minimum Program For All Madhesis
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 12:33:50 +0000

Dear Mr Parmendra

Best of luck. I fully agree with you on "Federalism".

I feel , Madheshi politics needs alot of patience. No place for agitation of mind. Movement always keep going on. Hero gives direction to movement. Let us prepare madheshi population for this demand. thanks

Bindeshwar

Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:49:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Anand Jha"
Subject: Re: Federalism: The Common Minimum Program For All Madhesis

Agree 100%. There ought to be federalism and it ought to be along ethinic lines. Thats what Maoist want too.

Maybe the slogan should be: Federalism along ethinic lines.

As divisive as it may sound, its curicial to prevent internal strife in the future and to make sure that every Nepali in the Federal Republic feels proud to be a Nepali.

Anand Jha

From: "Mahendra Lawoti"
To: ____________
Subject: Re: Federalism: The Common Minimum Program For All Madhesis
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:09:57 +0000

Hello everyone,

In case you not aware of it, my new book "Towards a Democratic Nepal: Inclusive Political Institutions for a Multicultural Society" (2005, published by Sage publications) argues that federalism is necessary to include various groups in Nepal. The book is available in Nepal, India, England, and the US.

Good Luck,

Mahendra

-----------------------------------------------------------
Mahendra Lawoti, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
Western Michigan University
3408 Friedmann Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5346
Telephone: ________, Fax: __________
Email: mahendra.lawoti@wmich.edu