BABBLES

By Babbler What is called offensive and what is called regressive in Nepali politics, is very difficult to define. Today, those, who were claiming themselves as the offensive force in bringing a historical change in Nepal, have already been exposed for being the foreign stooge. They have become very unpopular among the people and they have even afraid to go to the elections. From the next year, the election season is going to be started. Even if avoided the general election for the new House of Representatives, the political parties have to face the local elections. Now, the parties in the alliance government – NC, Nepal faction in UML, Maoist Center, and JSP – are trying to forge an election alliance perhaps to save their prestige. When a question was created on federalism, secularism and republicanism, they are found replying promptly, “the past days cannot be returned”. The query is that then how the erstwhile dead parliament was restored in 2005? In Nepali politics, everything is possible, dear revolutionaries! Learning from Ethiopia When will be the Budhigandaki multiple project is going to be constructed, we don’t know. The consumers of the petro-products are paying taxes for the Budhigandaki project as well as for the infrastructural development projects. How much amount has been collected for these projects, we have not been informed by the government. Perhaps, the government is misusing the fund collected from the petro-product consumers. It is believed, the government is collecting above 25 billion rupees per year from petro-products consumers. If invested 25 billion rupees in a year on construction of the Budhigandaki project, within five years, Nepal, without the foreign support can complete the project, say hydropower exports. To end load-shedding during the winter season, Nepal must construct the reservoir model hydropower projects, therefore, the Budhigandaki project should be constructed at any cost earliest as possible. There is no shortage of investment as the taxation on petro-product has proved. Our leaders should be aware that foreign countries won’t come here to make Nepal prosperous. The Ethiopian President had thus urged the citizens to raise funds for maximum utilization of the water resources in the country. Finally, Ethiopia constructed several hydropower projects solely from local investment. Shouldn’t we try to learn from Ethiopia? Melamchi, Melamchi, no water! When will we receive drinking water from the Melamchi project, we don’t know. Perhaps, the Kathmanduites are unfortunate that after the decades-long wait, the rays of hope was seen but the recent floods have swept away the hope of Kathmanduites. How long will it take to repair the intake of the Melamchi project, even the experts are unknown. How much investment is needed to repair the project, nobodies know! Bhutan is great! The liktantrik Nepal has shown its real status by begging three hundred thousand doses of the Covid vaccine with Bhutan. Bhutan, a tiny nation in the South Asian region, has decided to donate the remaining stock of the vaccine to Nepal after vaccinating all its citizens. Democracy with good governance, transparency, accountability, a system run under rule of law, and experts on the concerned field becoming the minister is the clue of Bhutan’s prosperity. There is an age bar for political retirement. Nepali leaders can learn a lot from Bhutan! Constitution amendment The high-level mechanism to run the country has drafted the common minimum programmes to be done by the present coalition government. There is an agenda of amendment of the constitution to meet the Tarai parties' agenda. The Tarai agenda is for amending the citizenship law and releasing those prisoners jailed on the charge of murder. The plan is to release Resham Chaudhari, Aftab Aalam, among others. Perhaps, this is called the rule of law in this loottantra. The majority of the population are of the view of scrapping the foreigners-imposed agendas -- republicanism, secularism and federalism. But the government doesn't want to listen to it! Can a constitution run without ownership of the majority of the population? Quotes of the Week Delhi should not hesitate to do what it did in 1994, and offer an apology to Kathmandu. Friday’s incident on the Mahakali river was an inhuman act of Indian SSB cops. Nepal’s Jayasingh Dhami’s family deserves both consolation and compensation. Denial can’t resolve the issue amicably. Dhruba H. Adhikary Perhaps if prime minister Jung Bahadur Rana, kings Mahendra and Birendra like statesmen were born in today’s Nepal, the life of Jaisingh Dhami of Darchula would not have been lost today due to Indian atrocities. Pilot Ajayasen Somhyang Rai The struggle of King Mahendra to Gyanendra to save this nation cannot be underestimated. Rabindra Mishra, chair, Bibeksheel Sajha Party India is encroaching Nepali soil, its border security force is involved in harassing Nepalis across the Nepal-India border, they are looting, kidnapping and killing the Nepalis. We have been watching such bullying of the Indians for years. Why is the government silent? Talks should be held with India immediately to stop such inhumane acts. We are the people of a sovereign country, not slaves. Jeevan Shrestha The "republicans" who oppose the people's right to collective self-determination are, in fact, standing up against the fundamental tenets of democracy. There must be debate and review on republicanism, secularism and federalism, which are external gifts. Change without public consent cannot be long-lasting. Yubraj Ghimire Yesterday I got a chance to hear a presentation in favor of MCC. The claim that "Nepal must consider US security interests" is not written anywhere in the agreement. But Article 5.1 (iv) of the MCC Compact Agreement states that "no action shall be taken against the interests of American security." What is the explanation? Surya Raj Acharya  Until the Panchayat period, Nepal was viewed differently by the world. It was being compared to the developed countries of the world, it was self-sufficient in many ways, now it is worth comparing with the African countries. Shambhu Chouhan