By Babbler

It appeared unusual when visiting Indian External Affairs Secretary Vikram Misri sat cross-legged while paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. During the meeting, Misri also handed over a formal invitation to PM Oli for a visit to India.

Although Oli himself made no comment, a UML parliamentarian criticized the posture as a breach of diplomatic protocol. Social media platforms such as Facebook and X were soon filled with remarks condemning the Indian diplomat’s attitude.

As a seasoned and senior diplomat, Misri is certainly not naïve about protocol. This raises a pertinent question: what was the intention behind such a gesture? Was it a simple oversight—or a subtle message?

Why is UML against a cooling-off period?

The controversy over the “cooling-off period” has sparked heated debate in Parliament. The provision was removed from the final draft prepared by a parliamentary committee, forcing the committee chair to resign. Yet, those directly responsible for removing the clause escaped any accountability.

The reality is clear: UML has long maintained a strong influence over the bureaucracy. Many bureaucrats close to the party are rewarded with lucrative posts immediately after retirement. By opposing a cooling-off period, UML ensures these loyal officials remain usable assets even when the party is out of power. In essence, the provision’s removal serves as a calculated move to tighten UML’s grip on the state machinery.

Buying government positions—an open secret

Recently, the Chief Executive Officer of NABIL Bank openly revealed that even after offering 50 lakh rupees to the Nepali Congress, he failed to secure the leadership of a government institution.

This only reaffirms what is already an open secret: political appointments in Nepal are largely based on money and connections rather than merit. When such malpractice becomes normalized, one must ask—how can the nation ever hope to rise?

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

62 years ago, on Bhadra 1, 2020 BS, King Mahendra issued the New Muluki Ain that banned caste discrimination; banned child marriage; banned polygamy; created uniform civil law for all castes and religions, and developed a modern legal system.

Raghab Mudwari

During the reign of King Mahendra, many postage stamps, including ethnic costumes, were issued to mark the ethnicity and living in almost all the geographies of Nepal. Why have such things not been brought into discussion?

Krishna Sharma

It should not be taken negatively that 75% of the medical doctors produced in Nepal go abroad. Our medical education is so excellent that the world accepts almost everyone. Now we have to double this success.

Dr Bishal Dhakal

It is foolish for the country and the people to expect anything from the police who are unable to arrest the person who killed a police assistant sub-inspector and the former prime minister who welcomed the killer of the police in the party!

Bhismark 1962

The prime job of the cabinet of ministers seems to approve foreign visits of the ministers. So many ministers are travelling to foreign countries, but no minister from a foreign country is visiting Nepal.

Narendra Bikram Chand

It is shocking that our media seems to follow the Indian media pattern in benchmarking every visit of the Nepalese PM to the north, whether it came before or after a visit to the south.

Hemanta Arjyal

Trump is trying to separate Russia from China and destroy their friendship: "Russia and China are basically natural enemies. Russia has a tremendous amount of land, and China has a tremendous amount of people. China needs Russia's land."

Megatron

The avoidable Ukraine-Russia war was ignited by the West’s NATO expansion, Ukraine’s immature and divided politics, and Russia’s fear of encirclement. The EU fueled it to weaken Russia, but the UK’s push against the 2022 peace talks backfired. Now, Trump sidelines the EU, forcing it to lean on Zelenskyy to secure its interests. Power politics humbles Brussels.

Surya Raj Acharya


The decision of the ruling Nepali Congress to file an impeachment motion against Deputy Speaker Indira Rana to bag a majority of the ruling party in the Constitutional Council is an abuse of the constitutional system.

Rajendra Lingden

Excerpted and compiled by Sushma Shrestha