EDITOR'S NOTE
Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola is
still to come back from his trip to the Indian capital to normalize the chilled relations
between the two age-old friendly neighbors. as such we are not in a position to comment on
what Bastola has done in Delhi. As reports go, it seems Bastola had positive discussions.
The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Ashok Kantha was very
confident when he assured this scribe that the suspended flights of the Indian Airlines
would be resumed within a fortnight. That relations between Nepal and India seldom run on
an even keel for a longer time is very surprising indeed. If Indian officials are finding
it hard to change their mind set, the Nepalese seem no less stubborn to give in easily.
First of all, the flights need not have been suspended at all due to the hijacking of the
Indian aircraft. Pinning the whole blame on lack of security at TIA would neither be
justified nor rationale. May be, this came as a god sent opportunity for the Indians to
press for the presence of their security staff at the Nepalese international airport.
Their obsession that Nepal is looking the other way when the ISI agents are getting active
in Nepal has greatly contributed towards generating the present imbroglio cannot be
denied. Are not the ISI agents active in India itself? For that matter who can deny that
even the Indian agency RAW is equally active in Nepal? It does not, in any manner,
substantiate that Nepal is actively supporting either agency. Moreover, Nepal has
assiduously followed her avowed policy of not permitting Nepalese soil to be used against
any friendly country. It will never be in her interest to forsake or ignore that policy.
If Bastolaís current visit to Delhi melts the ice and brings back the relations to the
track it would be taken as a worthwhile trip. According to the latest reports talks are
progressing quite satisfactorily. If the reports are correct, it must be taken as a
gratifying development.
* * *
The national flag carrier - the Royal Nepal
Airlines Corporation - has always been embroiled in obnoxious controversies ever since its
inception. Whereas Airlines established elsewhere during the same period have not only
made hundreds of millions of dollors profit, but carved out a strong niche for themselves
in the field of international aviation. The state-owned airlines has all along been
exploited by corrupt politicians who have always used them as their personal milch cow.
Consequently, it has neither been able to establish its credibility not been able to
sustain itself. If only Royal Nepal Airlines had been able to expand itself into a
dependable and honorable airlines, the country would have been spared the agony it is
going through due to the suspension of their flights to Nepal by the Indian Airlines.
Despite the big hue and cry about the rampant corruption in the corporation, the
politicians are so thick-skinned and insensitive that they keep on nursing their interest
most callously. And the government does not bother. As such, dreams of a strong service
oriented and dependable RNAC will never come out true as long corrupt politicians rule out
the country. And the country will never cease facing problems she is facing now. The
incumbent Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has listed rooting out corruption as one of
his top three priorities. If he can only cleanse RNAC that would be a big contribution to
the country. Since he is on a dilapidated leaky boat how far can he go has become a sixty
four dollar question. And whether he will be able to devote any attention on this sick
corporation is yet to be seen.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
| Consulting Editor |
: Keshab Poudel |
| Senior Correspondent |
: Bhagirath Yogi |
| Senior Reporter |
: Navin Singh Khadka |
| Reporter |
: Sanjaya Dhakal / Sunil Kumar
Gupta(Nepalgunj) |
| Photographer |
: Shyam Chitrakar |
| Editorial Office |
: GPO Box 7256,Baluwatar,Kathmandu, Nepal. |
| Telephone |
: 977 1 423 127 |
| Fax |
: 977 1 417 845 |
| email |
: spotligh@mos.com.np |
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