The tarai is burning, yet it does not seem as if the new interim parliament will be ready to meet any time soon. Where the much-hyped MPs are hiding at this critical point in Nepal's history is anyone's guess. Although over two dozen people have died in the violence, parliament seems not be showing the slightest bit of interest. First impressions mean a lot and this parliament has already failed miserably. It looks as if the only person worried about what is happening in the tarai is the home minister. By looking the other way, the political leadership is sending a clear message that it is not interested in finding a political solution.

It is said that the parliament has not met because House regulations have not been finalised. The parties are said to be discussing petty issues which are in no way related to what is happening in the tarai. The parties that have three seats in the parliament are asking the positions of for whip, chief whip, and a parliamentary leader. The perks and parliamentary privileges of such positions include official cars etc.

Parliament's attention is simply not where it should be. The draft of the regulation could not be finalised because of disputes over these issues and now a 17-member committee has been set up to give the regulation its final shape. The committee has decided that the three positions will go to parties with a 10 percent membership in parliament, but Jana Morcha disagrees, saying this excludes them.

The eight parties cannot use this as an excuse for not doing anything about the tarai issue. Obviously new regulations were needed when the Maoists joined parliament, but this delay is a real problem. All eight parties are responsible, but those currently fighting over petty issues need to stop before it is too late.