QUOTE UNQUOTE(Spotlight Weekly)

"All good things begin in a small way. If Prime Minister (K. P. Bhattarai) is really committed to curb corruption he should start it by taking action against his own cabinet members who are indulging in corruption instead of making speeches. Otherwise, there is no need of such a drama."

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, criticizing the high-level program on checking Corruption, organized by the Prime Minister's Office in the capital.

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"Kantipur daily which treats me like an enemy has misquoted me. All I had said in Birgunj was that it was not as serious a crime for a low level employee to take bribe of Rs 10 or 20 compared to if I take a bribe of Rs one million."

Prime Minister K. P. Bhattarai, claiming that he did not encourage low level employees to take bribes, at the PMO organized seminar.

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"The nature of fire, water and agitation is almost same. The UML's upcoming agitation will bring storm in the country."

Madhav Kumar Nepal, UML general secretary, addressing his party's meeting in Pokhara.

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"Some of the members of our party got nominations for last general elections as per the recommendations of the mafia. Why is it that both the party President and Prime Minister are inducting corrupt people within the party and government?"

Rajendra Kharel, Minister of State for Education and a Nepali Congress leader, at an interaction program on strategies to contain corruption, in the capital.

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"Instead of resigning from their posts on moral grounds, the ministers related to maintaining security at the TIA are busy taking action against police constables."

UML leader K. P. Sharma Oli, commenting on the role of concerned ministers during IC-814 Air Bus hijacking, in Kantipur.

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"If I were the minister concerned, I would have resigned from my post much earlier."

Sushil Koirala, general secretary of Nepali Congress, commenting on the role of concerned ministers during Indian Airlines' plane hijacking, at an interaction program organized by the Reporters' Club.

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"Nobody is born great. It is his/her endurance, good thinking and attitude that helps him/her to reach at the top."

Mrs. Mira Basnet, Mrs. Nepal International '99, replying to a query by a member of the judge panel why men are considered superior to the women right from their birth.

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