Unit : Seven History Lesson : A history of democratic politics 2007- 2017

1. Why was the Interim Government act of Nepal 2007 Promulgated?

 According to Delhi agreement, a coalition government of Nepali congress and Rana’s
cabinet passed the “ Interim Government act of 2007” on 17 th Chaitra 2007. Which was
implemented from 29th Chitra 2007 with the following objectives:
 Creating a popularly elected constituent assembly to draft a new democratic
constitution
 To hold election for new parliament under the new constitution
 To facilitate a smooth transition of Nepal into a multiparty democracy.

2. Write some of the provisions of Interim government act 2007.

 The provisions of Interim government act of 2007 were-
 Directive principles of the state policy were introduced
 It had treated fundamental rights as part of directive principle of the state
 The king was declared the source of the Interim government act
 There was provision of supreme Court, Public service commission and advisory
council
3. Why did Mohan Shumsher resign on 25 th Kartik 2008?
 Mohan shumsher resigned from the coalition government of Ranas and Congress
because of the following reasons:
 Chiniyakaji, a student leader was murdered during the protest on 20 th karktik
2008 and both Rana and Congress blamed each other for the murder
 Ranas intention was to reestablish their old regime. So, Rana’s supporter Bharat
Shumsher, Raddhir Subba opened the Gorkhs Dal( Khukuri Dal) and attacked
Congress and Bp Koirala’s house. It was later banned.
 All the members of the Nepali congress cabinet resigned and Mohan Shumsher
was compelled to resign
 Defense minister, Babar Shumsher, a close ally of Mohan Shumsher was
removed from the cabinet.

4.What were the responsibilities of the Single- Party government of Martika Prsd. Koirala formed on 1 st
Mangsir 2008 ?

 A 14 member cabinet was formed by king Tribhuwan under the premiership of Matrika
Prsd. Koirala on 1st Mangsir 2008 to fulfill the following responsibilities:
 To establish an independent judiciary
 To ensure the fundamental rights to the citizens
 To hold the election of constituent assembly within 2009
 To regulate the public Service commission effectively.

5. Why was Martika Led Government formed on 1 st Mangsir 2008 was dissolved?
  The Matrika led government got criticism from all angles and finally was dissolved.
 Some parties including Nepal Praja Parishad and Nepal Communist party formed
a People’s United Democratic front and demanded for multi- Party government.
 The conference of Nepali Congress made B.P. Koirala, his half brother the Party
president in 2009 Jestha. So, there was misunderstanding between him and
Martika.
 There was strike for the first time in government office on 19 th Jestha 2009
which puts lots of pressure in him.
 Dr. K.I. Singh revolted against the government, captured Singha Durbar on 2008
Magh 08/09th and later fled to Tibet.
 There were 14 ministers. 8 were from Nepali Congress and 6 were from king
who couldn’t go well with each other. Few Ministers from Nepali Congress like
Ganesh Man Singh, Subarna Shumsher resigned to give pressure to him.

6. Why did Dr. K.I. Singh revolt? What were his demands? Why was he called a traitor?( Treason)
 Dr. K.I. Singh was the commander of the western Front Bhairahawa during the armed
revolution of 2007. He was dissatisfied with the Delhi agreement as it was signed on
foreign soil and Ranas were not completely thrown out of power. He would continue
the revolution until the full sovereign power comes in the hand of Nepali. He had 8000
muktisena with him who was utterly dissatisfied for not including B.P. koirala in the
council of ministers. He along with Eastern Muktisena commander Agni Prsd. Kharel
attacked Singha Durbar on the night of 2008 magh08/09 th putting 5 points demand.
 Formation of all party government
 Implementation of 5 year plan
 Conference of all parties
 Equal relation with all the neighboring countries must be maintained
 Peaceful governance must be maintained for the welfare of the nation.

He was declared a treason as he had opposite views with the government and opposed Delhi agreement
& Started an armed revolution against the government.

7. When was sole government of Nepal Praja Party formed? Why was it dissolved?
 After the Internal conflict within the party Martika Prasad Koirala split Nepali Congress
and opened a political Party named Nepal Praja Party on 16 th of Baisakh 2010. King
Tribhuwan formed a 5 member cabinet under the chairperson of Nepal Praja Party on
2nd Asar 2010. It was dissolved on 19th Falgun 2011 B.S. because of the following
reasons:
 Koshi agreement was done on 2011 Baisakh 12 th which was against the
nationality and welfare of Nepal as all the management of the dam was given to
India.
  Bhim Dutta Pant, a freedom fighter was killed in 2010-Shrawan-20 th by Indian
soldiers which brought huge dissatisfaction to the people.
 The government was restructured with the inclusion of General Keshar
Shumsher on 2010 Falgun 07th which many people dislike.
 Boycotting big parties like Nepali Congress and forming the government with
newly opened political party lacking Public base and support was illogical.

8. Who was Bhim Dutta Pant? Why was he killed?

 Bhim Dutta Pant was born in 1981 B.S. in Dadeldhura from TaraNath and Inshwori Pant.
He was the commander of Far- western front during 2007 armed revolution. He was
deeply influenced by the leftist ideology and was the peasant leader. He was against the
social discrimination that led peasants to pay high price for salt and other daily
commodities. He started the revolution and got wide spread support. 5000 Rs. Reward
was announced to the person who would bring him dead or alive. He was accused of
being a robber. Eventually, through the request of Nepal government led by Martika
Prsd. Koirala Indian Soldiers landed in the land of Nepal and killed him along with his 7
supporters on 20th Sharwan 2010. They injured 50 persons and captured 272 people.
Martika government faced the stiff criticism because of this incident.

9. When was the government of Nepal Praja Parishad Under Tanka Prasad Acharya Started? What
were the reforms brought by it and why was it dissolved?
 The government of Nepal praja Parishad was formed under the premiership of Tanka
Prasad Acharya on 13th Magh 2012 B.S. with 7 cabinet members. The reforms brough by
it were-
 Established Nepal Rasta Bank on 14th Baisakh 2013
 Diplomatic relation with Russia was established
 First 5 year planning started from 2013 B.S.
 Royal Nepal academy was established in 2014 B.S.
 Peace and friendship treaty was signed with China on 5 th Ashoj 2013 and he
visited China becoming the first prime minster to visit China from Nepal
 Nepal became the member of United Nations on 14 th December 1955 A.D.

He was unaware even the election would be of parliament or the constitution assembly which brought
great dissatisfaction among people. Because of the inability to hold the general election, extreme
economic crisis, ban and censorship on newspaper, conflict with B.P. Koirala etc. reasons, King
Mahendra dissolved the government on 31 st Asar 2014.

10. What is meant by advisory government? Discuss the features of that government.
  The government without much power formed for the purpose of offering advice to the
person with real executive power is known as an advisory government. In Nepal,
advisory government was formed by king Tribhuwan under Keshar Shumsher and King
Mahendra also formed it under Gunjaman Singh. King Gyanendra also formed it in 2061
B.S. These were the times of crisis or unstable conditions in which the rulers tried to
exercise absolute power. Some major features of advisory government are:
 It advises the person with real executive power
 It is not responsible to people as it’s not elected by them
 It is responsible to the executive ruler or appointer
 It is undemocratic and not common form of government formed occasionally
during crisis by an autocrat ruler.

11. How do you justify that there was political instability from 2007-2017 B.S.?
 There was political instability from 2007 to 2017 B.S. which could be justified by the
following points.
 The government changed 10 times in 10 year. The heads of the government that
time were nominated rather than being elected.
 None of the governments could bring actual social,economical or political
change. There was always the game of power in politics.
 Political parties were not matured and Ranas always favored to reestablish their
rule back. So, they played negatively to make democracy a failure.
 King Mahendra never supported and favored democracy. Instead he seized and
established partyless panchayat system in 2017 B.S.
 General public were not familiar to democratic norms and values. They didn’t
know how to support the ruling of the government effectively and smoothly.
 The points of Delhi Agreement were not implemented. None of the government
could hold election in the country.
 Nepali Congress though the largest political party was out from the government.
There was no unity among the political parties and mostly were the puppet in
the hands of King.
 Advisory governments were formed under pro- Rana ‘s Keshar Shumsher and
Gunjaman Singh by the king who were powerless and only nominal.
 After his complete failure in the first reign Martika Prsd. Koirala was given
second chance to be the prime minister whose new party hadn’t people’s base
and support
 There was economic crisis, so many revolts by people in different parts of the
country and people’s were fed up with the political instability in the country.

Points for Very Short questions

 1. When was the First General election held in Nepal- 7 th of Falgun 2015 B.S.
2. How many seats Nepali Congress won in that election- 74 out of 109 seats.
3. Who is the first elected prime minster and first female minster of Nepal- B.P. Koirala and
Dwarika Devi Thakurani respectively.
4. When was the Constitution of the kingdom of Nepal was promulgated and under whose
chairmanship it was drafted?- On 1st Falgun 2015 B.S. and under the chairmanship of Bhagwati
Prasad Singh.
5. Party formed by K.I. Singh- United Democratic Party.
6. Party formed by Martika Prasad Kirala- Nepal Praja Party.
7. Khukuri Dal- It is a party opened by Rana’s supporter Bharat Shumsher to threaten Nepali
Congress.
8. Two functions by caretaker government of Subarna Shumsher- to held the general election and
to maintain peace and order in the country.
9. Multi Party coalition Government- Government of Nepal Praja Party, Nepali national congress
and People’s congress

Important dates from the Lesson

Date Incident
th
29 Chaitra 2007 Implementation of Interim government act of 2007
20th Kartik 2007 Murder of ChiniyaKaji, a student leader
25th Kartik 2007 Resignation of Mohan Shumsher from the Prime minister
1st Mangsir 2008 Government formed under Martika Prasad Koirala
08/09th Magh 2008 Dr. K.I Singh attacked Singha Durbar
20th Sharwan 2010 Murder of Bhim Dutta Pant
14th December 1955 Nepal became the member of United Nations
2013 B.S First 5 year planning started
1st Falgun 2017 Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal was promulgated
7th Falgun 2015 First General election held
13th Jestha 2016 B.P koirala became the first elected prime minster