Nepal’s hijacked Republic Day: A celebration of corruption, injustice, and people’s betrayal

KATHMANDU: As Nepal’s government marks yet another Republic Day with pomp and parades, the majority of citizens are left questioning: What exactly are we celebrating? The once-hopeful promise of republicanism in Nepal has turned into a deeply corrupt, exploitative, and failed system that has pushed the country into misery, poverty, and humiliation on the global stage. Under the banner of the “federal democratic republic,” Nepal today is more authoritarian, unequal, and chaotic than ever.

While political elites and their party loyalists cheer in the streets, general Nepali citizens continue to suffer under a collapsed system where no law, no governance, and no justice exist unless you are rich or politically connected. This so-called republic has become a tool of organized looting, used to empower a handful of corrupt leaders and their cadre networks, while squeezing every ounce of hope and dignity from the people.

A Republic Designed for Party Cadres, Not People

The slogan this year is that “people will preserve the republic,” but the reality is far darker. What are the people preserving? A broken system where nepotism, bribery, and political favoritism decide who gets justice, jobs, and resources? In Nepal’s so-called republic, only political party cadres matter—they get the benefits, the contracts, the promotions, and the impunity.

The common man, on the other hand, is nothing more than a voting machine, activated every few years with cheap propaganda, only to be discarded right after elections. The government continues to promote an illusion of “democracy,” but it is now a system that punishes merit, punishes honesty, and rewards sycophancy, loyalty to corrupt parties, and mafia links.

No Human Rights, No Rule of Law, No Accountability

Nepal’s governance structure is a complete sham. While citizens are subject to arbitrary taxes, police harassment, and decaying public services, the ruling class lives with impunity. No laws apply to the ministers, lawmakers, or politically protected offenders. Police have become political tools, used to suppress dissent, protect criminal politicians, and intimidate activists and journalists.

The judiciary has collapsed. Courts are no longer a place for justice, but a marketplace where verdicts are decided based on political pressure and bribes. If you have enough money, you can buy your freedom—even if you’re a criminal, tax evader, or rapist. If you have no political or financial power, even your basic rights as a citizen are denied.

State Institutions Hijacked by Corruption

Nepal’s government offices, which were once meant to serve the people, are now dens of corruption, run not by civil servants but by brokers, middlemen, and political henchmen. To get a passport, a citizenship certificate, or even basic services, one must pay bribes or know someone close to a minister or political cadre.

Recruitments are sold, tenders are manipulated, and public funds are looted under the guise of “development projects.” Billions are drained from the state treasury every year, yet hospitals lack oxygen, schools are collapsing, and roads remain death traps.

The so-called federal system has only created more layers of corruption, with provincial and local governments acting as miniature mafias under party control. The only people prospering are politicians and their cronies, while millions of Nepalis are forced to migrate abroad for survival—often dying in the process.

Divide and Rule: The Age-Old Tactic of Nepal’s “Democrats”

Nepali leaders have mastered the colonial tactic of “divide and rule”—fragmenting society along ethnic, caste, religious, and regional lines. Instead of promoting unity, they fan hatred and conflict, manufacturing divisions to stay in power. Every decision, every reform, every policy is made not in the interest of the nation, but to secure vote banks and political dominance.

This toxic practice has eroded social cohesion, fueled discrimination, and blocked genuine progress. It is no surprise that Nepal is now considered one of the most corrupt and least developed nations in the world, despite having vast natural and human potential.

Republic of the Rich: Buying Power in the New Nepal

Nepal’s so-called republic has become a “Republic of the Rich.” If you have money, you can buy the executive, legislative, and judiciary. Government contracts, favorable laws, police protection, and even Supreme Court verdicts are for sale. Business tycoons control political parties, and in turn, politicians protect criminal businesses.

While the middle class shrinks and the poor suffer from inflation, unemployment, and disasters, the ruling class builds mansions in Kathmandu and buys properties abroad. Republic Day means nothing to the mother in Rolpa who lost her son to a broken ambulance system, or to the young man in Bajura who was beaten for protesting against food shortages.

Pride Nation Turned Into a Beggar State

Once hailed as a sovereign, proud nation nestled in the Himalayas, Nepal has been reduced to a beggar state. The government survives on foreign aid, remittance, and loans, which are often misused or embezzled. Every budget is filled with unproductive spending and politically motivated programs. Every year, Nepal’s debt increases, but the results are invisible.

Where has the development gone? Into the pockets of politicians, fake NGOs, and corrupt contractors. Nepal’s international image is now one of inefficiency, corruption, and failed governance. The republic system, rather than empowering the people, has turned them into slaves of a parasitic elite.

A Celebration of a System That Keeps People in Chains

Today, the streets of Kathmandu are filled with flags, songs, and staged ceremonies. But it is a celebration only for those in power. For the general population, Republic Day is a reminder of betrayal—a betrayal of the revolution, of the people’s sacrifices, and of the democratic dreams that once inspired a nation.

Nepalis are not free. They live in an invisible cage built by corrupt leaders, unjust laws, and a rotting system. Freedom of speech is under threat. Media is politicized. Dissent is criminalized. The republic has become a dictatorship of the political elite, shielded by a fake constitution and backed by police and bureaucracy.

Final Thought: When Will the Real Republic Begin?

Until there is accountability, justice, and equality—there is no republic in Nepal. The current system is not democracy, but a mafia republic, where the people are only useful during elections and protests. The time has come for Nepalis to stop celebrating this false republic and start demanding a real one—a system that serves the people, protects their rights, and punishes those who betray the nation.

Until that day comes, Republic Day will remain a dark joke—a symbol not of freedom, but of fraud.