OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

Yes Man Bhattarai

During the Panchayat days, former minister Jog Mehar Shrestha was known as the "yes man" as he never hesitated to entertain any request from anybody. The Jog Mehar era has long gone but the behavior is still prevalent among many people. Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is one of such persons whose personal lexicon seems to be devoid of the word NO. Bhattarai always says yes and entertains whatever requests his colleagues make. Recently, he phoned one of the renowned constitutional lawyers asking him to favor a particular candidate in the forthcoming election of Supreme Court Bar Association. Bhattarai requested the senior advocate to cast his vote in favor of the candidate.

Bhandari In Distress

CPN-UML MP Bidyadevi Bhandari challenged her senior colleagues that she would remove her two daughters from Budhanilkantha Boarding School if party leaders continue to discredit her by protesting the admission of her daughters in "a famous bourgeois" school. In a public ceremony recently, Bhandari - the widow of CPN-UML's charismatic leader Madan Bhandari - termed some of her leaders as jealous. "I sent my two daughters to the Budhanilkantha school after the approval from the party," Bhandari wailed. Whatever one might say, the bourgeois culture is fast growing in the party of the proletariat.

Copy Cats

Nepalese producers and actors are known for their skill at copying foreign films. While speaking, the producers and actors give a feeling that there is nobody in the country more nationalist than them, Sometime, they even ask the authorities to stop the public screening of foreign films as it is hurting their market. But when it comes to actual screenplay, most Nepalese films are nothing more than cheap imitation of Indian Bollywood cinemas. Not only in the cinema production, they are now "seeking inspiration" also in award ceremonies. Recently, Nepalese film industry announced their plan to organize a major award-giving ceremony in the likes of similar ceremonies held in Bollywood.

Deuba And Trouble

Whenever former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba leaves the country it witnesses political turmoil. Last time when Deuba was in Australia, then government led by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai fell into trouble. As Deuba is now on his visit to USA, former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is taking fresh steps to pull the rug from under his rival Koirala. Surprisingly, former Prime Minister Deuba does not seem to be worried about this.

"I Got Justice From The Court"- Dr. Prkash Chandra Lohani

Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani was declared elected from constituency no. 1 of Nuwakot District following the decision of Special Election Court, Lalitpur, last Tuesday. After the verdict Dr. Lohani participated in an interaction program organized in the capital last Friday (June 30). Dr. Lohani was declared elected by a margin of one vote only. Excerpts:

How do you see the result?

Finally, I got justice from the court. The decision of the court showed that injustice can be corrected through the judiciary.

But your rival has claimed that it is unfair.

The party of my rival, Rajendra P. Lohani, has a long practice of denouncing the court verdict whenever it goes against their interest. It shows that UML will not accept the verdict if it goes against their interests.

So, are you an MP now?

Of course, I am an MP now and my competitor has lost his ground to remain an MP.

If the Supreme Court reverses the decision, what will you do?

As a democrat, I will abide by the decision of the apex Court. I can not attack the judiciary in a naked way as is being done by the UML leaders.