OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

'Politicians Do Not Have Rational Answers'

-- RAJESH KAJI SHRESTHA

RAJESH KAJI SHRESTHA, president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), believes frequent bandhs will destroy the country's hopes for economic progress. Shrestha spoke to journalists about the NCC's opinion on bandhs. Excerpts:

How do you see the three-day bandh called by six left parties?

It will destroy the national economy and the people will have to face further hardships. As Nepal's tourism industry is struggling to recover from earlier blows, the three-day bandh will severely affect the process of recovery.

Haven't you talked over this issue with the organizers?

We have requested them to withdraw the three-day bandh on the ground that it is in nobody's interest. We also informed them how much money Nepal stands to lose from the strike.

What was the response of the organizers?

They agreed with us on the economic impact but they put their political agenda in front of us. Politicians do not have rational answers. It seems that the agitators have certain compulsions.

Is this the right way to press demands?

No, it is not a rational way to press demands. I don't know why the main opposition party is sticking to its hard stance.

The leaders of the main opposition party have said the bandh is part of the sacrifices the nation needs to make to achieve certain goals?

Why does the nation need to make sacrifices to fulfil petty political interests? We don't care about their political interests. What we want is a peaceful society with no political agitation like this. If responsible political parties organize frequent bandhs, what would stop other groups from doing the same?

Shuttling Ranabhat

House of Representatives Speaker Taranath Ranabhat is busy these days shuttling between the residences of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba. As the two former prime ministers live at opposite ends of the capital, Ranabhat’s journey must be very taxing. In hopes of gaining something after the removal of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Ranabhat doesn’t seem too bothered by having to make several trips each day. But who foots the transport bill? As long as he is the speaker of the House of Representatives, that’s not something Ranabhat should worry about. But shouldn’t we?

Oli’s Strategy

Oli : High on air

CPN-UML leader K.P. Sharma Oli is ranked among the more firebrand of our comrades. Wherever he goes, Oli does not miss a chance to talk about corruption in airline deals. His mention of the words "air deal" has sparked new interest among party workers. After the House of Representatives Public Account Committee subcommittee on the China Southwest Airlines deal issued its report on alleged irregularities, Oli has given up using the word Lauda. Whatever Oli’s motive may be in doing so, supporters of party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal are worried.

Thapa’s Destination

Thapa : Many buyers for my idea

It may be truly frustrating for RPP leader Surya Bahadur Thapa to have found few people seriously responding to his proposal for a national consensus. Nevertheless, he continues to harp the theme wherever he goes. After his meeting with different political leaders, the RPP leader is now visiting different parts of the country to sell his vision of national consensus. If Thapa fails to impress the people as well, where does he expect his next destination to be?

Radical Race

It seems there is a feverish race among student unions affiliated to communist parties to prove who is the most radical in standing up for the cause. After the Maoists-affiliated group burned two cars and a school building in the capital last week and the Marxist-Leninist-linked union set afire a private bus, the student wing of main opposition party has come out with a novel way of proving its fiery credentials: burning the chairs of the District Education Officers. In a week, UML’s student wing set on fire three chairs in Kathmandu valley. When they see their leaders setting government vehicles on fire, the students must be thinking that their pressure tactics are mild enough.