After Tarai unrest, lessons the government cannot ignore

The recent unrest in Nepal's eastern Tarai region, which resulted in violence and deaths, served as a stark wake-up call for Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Critics argue that it took such a tragedy for him to emerge from his perceived isolation and act like a leader.

Shah's response was limited to being briefed by security chiefs and issuing a brief address to the nation, which was only uploaded to social media. While the inclusion of Maithili in his speech was noted, the delivery itself was criticized as tentative and insincere. The pre-recorded, multi-cut performance, with eyes shifting from the teleprompter, lacked naturalness and conviction, falling short of expectations for a public address.

Despite the shortcomings in the prime minister's delivery, the act of imploring citizens to shun violence in their own language was acknowledged as potentially significant for the affected population. Similarly, the home minister's presence in the area without the usual trappings of office was seen as a gesture that could make a difference to a population long accustomed to being overlooked by the state.

However, Home Minister Sudan Gurung faces the challenge of addressing underlying issues to prevent future conflagrations. Police attitudes and training are a key concern, particularly following reports of brutality during the unrest. Gurung's own past statements, defending police actions during protests, have been seen as potentially setting a tone for high-handedness, despite his reported quick action to penalize officials involved in the recent firing.