 |
Kathmandu Wednesday May 02, 2001 Baishakh 19, 2058.
|
Nayar’s stature
Kuldip Nayar’s "New Delhi’s
finger in Nepal’s pie" (Between the Lines, April 24, 2001) is rather interesting
in that it shows how ill- versed he is in Nepalese affairs. For example, he writes that
the Prime Minister was not informed beforhand regarding the King’s visit to India in
January last year (it was actually in 1999). I am sure that a respected and experienced
journalist of Nayar’s stature is aware that a head of state undertakes "state
visit" only on the recommendation of the government, which also co-ordinates all
programmes and logistics. Purna Bahadur Khadka who was looking after the Youth and Sports
portfolio at that time and a number of high-ranking Foreign Ministry officials as well as
journalists had accompanied the King during the visit, which received much media
attention.
As for Nayar’s allegation that the King
has "stalled" the passage of the Citizenship Bill, it is more than enough to
state that most Nepalese, including the amicus curiae set up by the Supreme Court, have
appreciated the King’s move. Is it not a more democratic exercise to seek an advice
in keeping with constitutional provisions than be coerced into decision-making ?
As far as nominations to the Upper House are
concerned, unless stated otherwise by competent authorities, and Nayar is definitely not
one of them, it must be assumed that they are made according to constitutional provisions.
Lack of space prevents me from raising other
points but what surprises me is that this article (a reproduction of what appeared in The
Daily Star, Dhaka on April 19) has been published in TKP at a time when the country is
passing through a very critical phase.
Laxman Chettri
Shreepur, Birgunj |
