The egotistic decisions of our politicians without careful deliberation of issues at hand have always helped in facilitating the impoverished condition of our country. The recent demand from our madam president, Bidhya Devi Bhandari, for an armored car and vehicles to escort her worth millions is a good an example of such decisions. While our country is facing numerous predicaments due to unemployment, lack of educational facilities, and scarcity of basic resources, this unwarranted want from the president’s office has created a great discontent among youth. The constant harangues of the politicians and the insatiable demands of the leaders are making our youth question the very essence of the newly obtained democratic system. The Week’s Swasti Gautam spoke to some people to find out what they have to say about the president’s expensive concerns about her security while she commutes through the roads of the capital.
Aaryan Rijal, 19
Communism and aristocracy have historically remained very distant concepts, as there exists a fundamental conflict between the very essence of these ideas. But when I heard about the request made by the office of the president, who represented the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) prior to being selected for the highest office, I felt that the president's superfluous desire to be aristocratic was even larger than that of the now defunct monarchy. I agree that security is an entirely legitimate reason for a head of state to commute in an armored vehicle, and be surrounded by a motorcade. Nevertheless, this does not justify the enormous request that was made by the office of the president. Upon reading that the proposed presidential vehicle is more expensive than the one used by the president of China, a nation whose GDP is roughly 530 times greater than that of ours, I was certain about the excessive nature of the president's request. Should we not be utilizing taxpayers' money for much more pressing needs of the nation?
Kanchan Sharma Regmi
Pragya Gautam, 27
As a student of sociology, I look at every development in the country from a sociological lens. Bidya Devi Bhandari as the first woman head of state of a country that had historically oppressed women was a positive step towards social change. It paved a way towards achieving an equitable society in Nepal and giving women their due share in the governing process. As a woman it made me proud but my pride came crashing down soon enough. Being the first women president of Nepal, Bhandari could have become an icon for the world to remember by working for the women community that she represents or rather we the one we thought she represented. But instead she chose a completely opposite path with her unwarranted demands and crushed the faith that the women of the country had in her. Where millions of women are malnourished, thousands die due to the lack of health care, suffer from cultural constrains, lack freedom in every step of their lives and are subjugated throughout their life journey, our president gives importance to maintaining her luxurious lifestyle. In a country where most women lack basic facilities of health services, education, nutrition and shelter, women in power positions are least concerned about dealing with the issues but rather misuse the state treasury and the taxpayer’s money for their personal gains.
Sudan Ghimire, 21
Our president seems indifferent towards the economic condition of our country. While there is rampant unemployment in Nepal and majority of our youth are seeking livelihood abroad, she intends to abuse the hard earned money by satisfying her unrealistic desires. Nepal is a small country and does not have any prominent enemies. Who is she scared of? There was a lot of expenditure in the recent local elections. The head of the state must be thinking of utilizing the state money by allocating them to the elected mayors for the betterment of each community. Instead she seems to be demanding an enormous amount of money for bulletproof cars. This unviable appetite for money and power really alarms me and, I’m sure, every citizen of this country.
Kshitiz Karki, 22
I find this demand extremely absurd and superfluous. Holding one of the most prestigious positions of political authority in the country, she should have sound decision-making abilities. Instead, her voracious desire for luxurious vehicle makes us all question the significance of a democratic system. Five years later there might be another president with a more expensive taste. I’m more concerned about what significant difference will it make altogether. I do not think the inconvenience caused to the pedestrians and vehicles that face hours of blockade to make way for the president is going to change after the latest technology bulletproof car arrives. These new cars, when they arrive, are only going to increase the animosity among the citizens.
Sanvritti Rana, 20
When I first read the news about the president’s demand for three expensive bulletproof cars, Robert Caro’s famous quote came to my mind “Power does not always corrupt but power always reveals”. Being the second president of Nepal and the first woman to hold the office she made it to the Forbes Most Powerful Women in the world where she is placed at number 52. However, her current actions have aroused a lot of discontentment and questions among the public. Setting aside the previous matters and only concentrating on the current controversy at hand – the fleet worth hundreds of millions. Agreed that the current vehicle being used by the president isn’t in a condition to serve the dignitary and has been repeatedly giving troubles, but such an enormous amount of investment for the president to commute is futile. She says the set aside amount of 40 million is not enough. One wonders if it is insufficient for the vehicle or for her greed. Investing 80 million into a single vehicle while thousands still have no roof over their heads tilts her leadership more towards personalized power rather than socialized power. Unnecessary expenditure on extravagant items is not what the country needs right now.
