A tragedy at Balkhu

The incident of an old UML activist committing suicide at party headquarters on Friday exposes the problem of cadres’ management in Nepal’s political parties. Digendra Rajbanshi (65) of Duwagadhi-5 in Jhapa hanged himself on a tree at the premises of UML headquarters in Balkhu after party leaders failed to arrange a job for his son. He was in Kathmandu with his son for the last two months. They had met with PM, ministers and senior party leaders requesting them to help find a job for his son. He was disappointed with the leaders for paying lip service. Home minister Bhim Rawal disappointed the senior UML cadre by saying that he was not carrying jobs in his pocket. He had told party leaders in Balkhu a day before he committed suicide how a party leader had misbehaved with him. He had even tried to stage a hunger strike about a month ago.
Late Rajbanshi had actively participated in Jhapa revolt, hailed as the most important achievement in UML history. He had taken party membership in 1970s. He was actively involved in political movements in 1990 and 2006. He spent his heydays for the party but the party left him stranded at his last stage. His colleagues in the movement became ministers and earned a lot of money. But the party ignored the contribution of cadres like Rajbanshi. His suicide is the outcome of party’s indifference towards cadres like him. UML is a party based on cadres. It is a shameful act for the party that cadres like Rajbanshi had to commit suicide because of party’s indifference. Parties should realize that their future will become prosperous only if they respect their past.