OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

'Nation's Health More Important Than Interest Of A Group'

— SHIVA RAJ JOSHI

After the announcement that vehicles older than 20 years would barred from operating in Kathmandu valley, Minister of State for Population and Environment Shiva Raj Joshi is considering a plan to remove polluting industries from the capital. Joshi spoke to reporters recently on the issue.

At a time when transport entrepreneurs are opposing the ministry's decision to ban vehicles older than 20 years, how deeply are you committed to implementing that decision?

We will ban all vehicles that are older than 20 years from Kathmandu valley. There is no alternative to doing that. In fact, I am considering a plan to remove all polluting industries out of the valley.

How supportive is the government of your move?

The prime minister and other ministers are supporting our ministry's effort to evict these old vehicles. As the environment of Kathmandu is getting bad from worse, we need to take some harsh decisions.

What alternatives have you given to assure the transport entrepreneurs?

I have told them that the decision is in the interest of the country and people. The nation's health and environment are more important than the interests of specific groups.

Khadka Dictates

Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is well-known for his unorthodox style of functioning. As he has demonstrated throughout the past decade, he is one of the most unpredictable politicians. One can only sympathize with Dr. Narayan Khadka, who, as spokesman for the former prime minister, has to report Bhattarai’s statements to the press. However, it seems Dr. Khadka is relatively comfortable with dealing with Bhattarai’s twists and turnarounds. In fact, Bhattarai speaks the words put into his mouth by Dr. Khadka. Last week Dr. Khadka disclosed that Bhattarai had asked Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to resign from both the party presidency and prime ministership. It seems that Dr. Khadka is writing the script for the Bhattarai camp.

Deuba In Distress

Following the registration of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the Nepali Congress parliamentary party office, chief sponsor Sher Bahadur Deuba heaved a sigh of relief. However, the former prime minister’s satisfaction did not last more than three hours. Two of the signatories flew back to the Koirala camp by withdrawing their names from the oust-Girija campaign. They said they did not intend their signatures to be used for the motion. Nobody knows how many more signatories will withdraw their names by the day votes are cast. Although Deuba’s mentor, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, is yet to sign the motion, that won’t be reassurance enough for Deuba in the days ahead.

Nervous Moments

At a program in Chitwan last week, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut had to go through some difficult moments when one of the speakers ruthlessly criticized the government in front of the chief guest, Crown Prince Dipendra. Chataut looked on nervously in a conspicuously uncomfortable posture as Chitwan District Development Committee President Bishnu Ghimire described the government as ‘nikamma’ (virtually ineffective) and ‘niriha’ (powerless). Inside, though, the minister must have been seething with rage as the speaker, who represents the Communist Party of Nepal Marxist-Leninist, was tarnishing his government’s image in front of the august gathering.

Hrithik Mania

No one would have ever imagined that rumours of insults that a Bollywood new-comer hurled against Nepal and Nepalis would wreak so much havoc on Kathmandu. As one satirist observed, there is no dearth of actors and actresses across our southern border. And if each were to start making disparaging remarks about Nepal every now and then, the city would fall into a perpetual reign of terror and destruction. Let us just hope elements inimical to better Nepal-India relations do not take that comment as an advice.