BABLES

By Babbler Dr Baburam Bhattarai has now started to advocate for Nepal declaring a Zone of Peace (ZoP) for the survival. Earlier, Maoist Center leader Ram Thapa had also advocated for ZoP. For Nepal, ZoP is not a new thing for the peace-loving Nepalis. King Birendra, on the occasion of his coronation, had proposed for declaring Nepal a Zone of Peace for Nepal’s survival. King Birendra had seen annexation of Sikkim by India. To save Nepal from a forceful annexation, King Birendra has proposed for declaring Nepal a ZoP. Nepal had included ZoP as an important organ of the Nepali constitution and above 116 countries except from India and the then USSR had recognized this proposal. Unfortunately, without any explanation and justification, the 1990 constitution had removed the proposal from the constitution and we didn’t listen a single word for ZoP by the leaders as they were afraid of the Indians. Now, perhaps, the Indians have realized the significance of ZoP when the Americans came to Nepal with MCC and SPP projects. Understandably, the Indians have not spoken against MCC and SPP, they are not in favour of the American projects of deploying its army in Nepal. That’s why, the leaders who are keen to please the Indians, have started to advocate for ZoP! Building border fence Chief of Army Staff (CoAS Gen Prabhuram Sharma, addressing a seminar on cross border security between Nepal and India, has opined for constructing border fence along Nepal-India border for further strengthening friendly relations between the two immediate neighbours. Construction of border fence and regulating cross border travelling are essential for Nepal and India in safeguarding security and curbing cross border criminal activities. We don’t know, why the Indian security organs are intended for keeping opened the international border! The Indian government has not yet received the Eminent Persons’ Group report jointly prepared by the EPG members from both the countries! The Indian intention is suspicious. Petroleum price As the Nepal government has signed an agreement with the Indian government for procuring petroleum products from the Indian Oil Corporation by ending the previous practice of procuring crude oil from the petroleum producing countries directly, the Nepali consumers are now compelled to pay high price that given by the IOC. In fact, the IOC is procuring above 65 percent of the petroleum products from Russia at a discount of 30 percent than the international price. Russia is Nepal’s friendly country having its embassy in Kathmandu. The Nepal government could deal with Russia and import petroleum products at cheap price. Unfortunately, when the leaders in the government are involved in the commission business, policy corruption and setting deal, they will never try to work on behalf of the commoners. In result, Nepalis have become victim of the leaders’ mal-practice. Meanwhile, under the influence of the brokers and commission agents, the government is planning to privatize the NOC, a government undertaking, according to the leaders from the ruling alliance. It happens when politics becomes a business! Instant citizenship These days, we have instant photo studios, instant noodles and many things we can get instantly. Now, Nepal is planning to enter into the era of instant citizenship. “Get married to the Nepali national and instantly get a copy of the Nepali citizenship!” Oddly, when we are planning to enter into the era of getting things instantly, we have to wait months to get a passport; years to get a driving license and also years to renew that driving license once it is expired. In a country, where the government cannot provide a passport or a driving license instantly, one can get citizenship instantly, how surprising! Citizenship is a sensitive issue. In India, foreigners married to an Indian national should wait for a minimum of seven years to start the process of obtaining Indian citizenship. But in Nepal, under Indian pressure or to please the Indians, our political leaders in the government have decided to provide instant citizenship to those foreigners, mostly those Indians, who marry Nepali nationals. Understandably, this is a population encroachment move initiated by the Indian rulers. QUOTES OF THE WEEK What happened in Sri Lanka can easily happen in South Asia! How do you know, you aren’t next? Poor leadership, bad governance; self-serving policies instead of citizens’ welfare; uncalculated geopolitical choices; debt crisis, national assets in a garage for sale; dynasty not merit! Navita Srikant
  • Most of the leaders who came to power after the 1990 change have contributed immensely to making Nepal financially bankrupt.
The country has so far escaped bankruptcy for the time being as many young men and women have shed blood and sweat abroad. Roshan Sibakoti
  • Nepal's ministers and leaders are sleeping even when the country is on the brink of economic collapse and on its way to Sri Lanka. When the Nepali people would let those VIPs for a night of deep and peaceful sleep?
Dwarika Nath Dhungel
  • There is a local level to do development works. There is a House of Representatives and a National Assembly to formulate necessary policies. What is the job of these provincial governments? For what purpose are these provincial governments then?
Manoj Prasad Shah
  • Sri Lanka's per capita income in 2021 was more than 38 hundred dollars, the second-highest in South Asia.
Due to the careless investment in the physical infrastructure of some leaders, it has reached this stage today. Can Nepali leaders learn a lesson? If failed to learn a lesson, Nepal's destination is Sri Lanka. Ratna Sansar Shrestha
  • The events that unfolded in Sri Lanka could have been avoided to a large extent if SAARC was functional. At least as the chair of SAARC, Nepal should have come up with a statement on the precarious situation with a particular emphasis on the importance of regionalism.
 Gaurab Shumsher Thapa
  • 'Damage-control' has also been damaged in a way that does not work!
It is not uncommon for the finance minister and the PM himself to come into controversy at this level. What would be the response of the people if the country is caught in an economic crisis? The concerned party/leader should think well. Surya Raj Acharya
  • The time has already been out! Isn't the example of neighbouring Sri Lanka enough? Let the people wake up!
Laxman Ghimire