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Kathmandu,Monday March 13, 2000 Fagun 30, 2056.
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Current politicians blasted
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, March 12 - Doubts over the
country’s ruling politicians and present politics were expressed, today, by a host of
politically engaged figures, past and present.
Once again, negative outpourings on the
nation’s political health were shared at a ceremony and prize distribution to honour
the country’s freedom fighters of the first democratic movement which ousted the
Ranas from power.
"The present array of politicians are so far
removed from the real reality of this society," said the Mayor of Kathmandu, Keshav
Sthapit, "that even if another Jungbahadur were born, I would follow him if he was
for the nation’s development."
The sentiment was echoed by one of the surviving
freedom fighters. "It really seems that the sacrifices made have gone in vain. Now it
seems that we have to rely on social service outfits for help, rather than the
government."
"It is a sorry state when even the position of
Prime Minister is in doubt. There is no stability when a country is governed by
eunuchs," said Sthapit, who is also a member of the CPN/ML.
Various surviving and recently dead freedom
fighters were given certificates of honour by the Association for Promoting the Welfare
and Honour of the Democratic Freedom Fighters which was established in 1980.
Some of those honoured were, Basudev Shrestha and
Jitbahadur Karki who set up the Satyagraha with the then Congress Party in 1950;
Ranabahadur Shah and Sharan Bahadur Limbu; and Govinda Vaidya who gave shelter to
Ganeshman Singh when the latter escaped from jail.
The Association’s Secretary, Shanta Shrestha
called on the government to grant the surviving freedom fighters with special
identification cards so that they would be recognised. She also pronounced that the
association had been granted Rs.100,000 by the office of the Mayor of Kathmandu.
"These programmes must be held to protect our
history. It is important since the collective memory of our nation’s martyrs and
freedom fighters can help to make the future more secure," said former Deputy PM,
Shailaja Acharya, who was also present.
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