QUOTE UNQUOTE(Spotlight Weekly)

"Will the representatives come from another planet if an election for a constituent assembly is held?"

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, criticizing the Maoists' demand for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution, in Gorkhapatra.

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"This shows the government's weakness."

Girija Prasad Koirala, former prime minister and president of ruling Nepali Congress, criticizing the government's decision to repeal the public security regulations in response to the Maoists' demand, in Kantipur.

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"Their decision is good and correct."

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, former prime minister and senior leader of the ruling Nepali Congress, commenting on the Maoists' decision to abandon their demand for a republic, in Kantipur.

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"From the standpoint of constitutional development, the last 11 years were not only positive but also encouraging. But from the standpoint of political decision-making, these years were not only negative but also discouraging."

Dr. Surya Dhungel, constitutional expert, in Deshantar.

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"As the meeting decided to give priority to least developed countries for the membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO), it will help our bid."

Bhanu Prasad Acharya, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, after returning from the WTO Doha conference, in Gorkhapatra.

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"The Nepalese government announced several incentives for Information Technology at a time when this sector is heading towards recession from boom. Perhaps we lost opportunities because of the delay."

Allen B. Tuladhar, chief executive of Unlimited Numedia, a software company, in Gorkhapatra.

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"We will stage a hunger strike after Tihar."

Dhojman Moktan, karate gold medallist in the 8th South Asian Federation games, referring to the government's failure to keep its promise of providing land and property to all Nepali gold medallists in the games, in Spacetime daily.

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"She eats everything I tell her not to. Who will marry her if she gains more weight? We are scared."

Ram Prasad Bhattarai, father of Goma Kumari Bhattarai, who at 18 years weighs 118 kg, expressing concern over his daughter's obesity, in Spacetime daily.

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