EDITOR'S NOTE
The most vaunted tenth convention of Nepali
Congress has concluded in Pokhara. There were no surprises and everything passed off as
anticipated. Girija Prasad Koirala has won his party's presidentship with much ease. The
new ruling that hence forth no partyman can become President for more than two terms has
been introduced at the initiative of the two septuagenarian leaders of the party. It needs
no elaboration why they initiated this ruling which was approved by the convention. That
Koirala has secured majority in the central committee need not surprise any body. That
Sher Bahadur Deuba has posed a tougher challenge and his achievement could in no way be
minimized and must be giving the Koirala camp big hiccups. That he secured more than one
third of the total votes is a clear signal that Koirala's influence has started waning and
five years from now it there is another Nepali Congress convention. Koirala's family may
be totally obliterated from the scene. Be that as it may, our expectations that young
honest and dynamic Congressmen would come forward to lead the Nepali Congress have been
dashed. There is not one new face in the elected eighteen. It is nothing more than old
wine in new bottle. with another eighteen nominees of the President, how will the Congress
function no ghost from hell need come to tell us. As far Koirala's promises of setting off
like one solid bloc are concerned, we know what will happen. It is the third convention
after the restoration of multi-party democracy. And everytime we have had heard such
promises and matters have only worsened. Corruption is increasing all the time,
non-performance has crossed the limits, people's meseries have become unbearable and
security of life and property has totally vanished into thin air. What more is left there
for Koirala to give to the poor nation? Koirala's love for the country and the poor people
needs no more proof than the just concluded convention. How could a poor country like
Nepal afford such an ostentatious show? Could not these millions be put to better use?
When the country has millions of starving sick and dying people, wasting millions to
satisfy personal and partisan egos can never be justified. If this is not a reflection on
their lack of concern for their country and countrymen what else could be. And one more
important thing is where did the Nepali Congress get all this money from? If the party has
guts and if the money is not tainted, make it transparent. Koirala's standard of morality
was bared once again when the governmental machineries were grossly misused for party
purposes. Since morality is a word non-existent in Nepali Congress lexicon, no body
expresses any surprise on the use of money and muscle that get prominence in all sorts of
elections. And this factor, many believe, played an important role in the defeat of
Taranath Ranabhat, Ram Saran Mahat and Chakra Bastola. It is sad comparatively better
persons got defeated. Even though Girija Prasad Koirala must be feeling mighty happy at
the outcome of the Convention, he stay complacent as, if is only his mercenary followers
who are happy at his success. Rest of the country still wants him to quit. So, he should
quit when the quitting is good.
| 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 |
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