By Babbler

Journalists are considered to be the watchdog of all kinds of wrong deeds. Journalists are thus qualified as the fifth column as they provide critical suggestions to the government. The government can correct its mistakes from an independent journalist’s report. Unfortunately, in the Nepali democracy, such a definition doesn’t work. There is a scarcity of independent journalists as virtually all journalists are affiliated with different political parties. It is interesting to note that the Federation of Nepalese Journalists was unable to hold its periodical election this time. Time and again, the elections have been postponed and one after another captains of the Federation are quitting the post as they failed to hold elections. The reason is that the major political parties want to capture the Federation. It is blamed that journalists belonging to major political parties, to capture the Federation, have given membership to those political workers who are not journalists by profession. As the issue of journalists’ membership has not been resolved, the elections of the umbrella organization of journalists have been affected. Pandora’s Box The two supreme leaders in the government, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba are willing to amend the constitution. They are influenced by the idea of a two-party system by sidelining small political parties. They plan to increase the threshold from the present 3 percent of the total votes to 10 percent. If this happens, the NC and UML may ensure the ten percent threshold but it may be difficult for the Maoist Center. Be that as it may, it would be an attempt to open the Pandora’s box. If Pandora’s box is opened, perhaps, a new people’s movement would start. To note, amendment of the constitution is not enough to correct the present political system. There is a need for an overhaul of the constitution. Otherwise, many Durga Prasain will appear in days to come and it would be difficult for the leaders to stay in Nepal. Their destination will be India like Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. Directly elected President? The Maoist Center is again lauding the agenda of a directly elected president to end corruption and political instability. Maoist supremo Pushpakamal Dahal has started to laude this agenda again. The idea sounds very attractive but in a Nepal-like country, where the voters are not educated and are ready to vote just for one plate of rice with meat, can we choose the right person for the post? Obviously, foreign powers will start to gamble on the presidential post to elect their puppet in the post of chief executive. In such a situation, we may get a foreign agent rather than a Nepal-loving president. Heating the streets It seems the streets are going to be heated day by day. We cannot say, whether all those in the streets are right but we know, the street is going to be heated. Yesteryears, those India-sponsored political activists were heating the streets but now, we don’t see any Indian sponsorship in such street agitation. Surely, frustrated youths from the present foreign-sponsored political system are trying to heat the streets.   QUOTES OF THE WEEK Disagreement with Durgaji is in its place. In the crowd of murderers, corrupts, co-operative cheaters, smugglers, human sellers, sending to America on government letter pad, taking crores and keeping them proportionally, taking 3 crores to make a minister, giving land to son, grasping Giribandhu's land, being dragged into the wide body, Prasain is okay. Purushottam Dhungel Quality hospitals and colleges can be built in every district by abolishing the provincial government. The provincial government created to manage the leaders must be abolished. Dhawal Shumsher Rana If the provincial governments are abolished, the chief minister, ministers, Province council members, etc. will starve! That is why the Congress, UML, Maoist and Madhesi parties do not agree to cancel provincial governments. TA Jung (Reacting on poor presence at the concert organized on the occasion of the constitution day) If King Gyanendra was present there how was it be? By mobilizing 5,000 police, and mobilizing 5,000 activists/republicans, even when large parties such as the Congress and the UML were called to attend, it was poor. If the lone king Gyanendra was to be felicitated at the same place, how many people would spontaneously be present there? You'll guess! Rabindra Mishra When Oli reached the concert venue at the end of the concert, he gave a short speech to the youths who were swaying in the song. During the speech, the young people raised slogans in favor of  Balen in front of Oli. Then the police were irritated. Olly returned from the venue after taking a selfie? Ch Ghimire As soon as Modi arrived in the USA, Biden welcomed him in his home. Gossip is not enough to achieve 'real' equality and respect in the Vaishya era. Talks are not enough. This is the same Modi, who was denied a visa by America. Today, whether it's Biden or his nemesis Putin or even his nemesis Zelensky - everyone is eager to roll out the red carpet to Modi. Vijay Kumar Panday In a country where the minimum hourly wage is less than 70 rupees, the parking charge for a bike is 40 rupees per hour. This is the so-called people's progressive government! Sushil Thapa

Excerpted and translated by Sushma Shrestha.