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| OFF THE RECORD |
Democratic Reply
Two years ago when the Nepali
Congress decided to support Rastriya Prajatantra Party candidate Dr. Mohammed Mohasin for
the chairmanship of the National Assembly, many Congress leaders criticized their party's
decision, saying Dr. Mohasin was a hard-liner pancha who did not have faith in democratic
values. In recent legislative debates, Dr. Mohasin proved how firmly he is committed to
democracy than self-proclaimed democrats. His actions have shown that he is strong
believer in freedom, democracy and the constitution. As House of Representatives Speaker
Taranath Ranabhat, a former Congress general secretary, failed to discourage MPs from
denigrating the independence of the judiciary, the Muslim leader of the world's only Hindu
kingdom strongly issued a ruling asking elders not raise any controversy. Whatever
so-called democrats said about Dr. Mohasin, he has proved his loyalty and commitment to
the constitution and an independent judiciary more than anyone else has. A man can be
evaluated not on the basis of his face and race but based on his commitment to the
fundamental values of the existing system. Is not Dr. Mohasin's commitment a fitting reply
to his critics? Man Of Words Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has
endeared himself to many as a man of sweet words. As far as action is concerned, the
premier is regarded as too leisurely or, sometimes, outright indifferent. Ever since
becoming prime minister in July, Deuba has made so many commitments in so many areas that
his aides must be having a hard time helping him keeps his word. At a recent function,
Deuba projected himself as the only head of government concerned about children's welfare.
He directed the Ministry of Health to put in place incubators at Pokhara Hospital as soon
as possible. If experience is any indication, Deuba's words are likely to amount to little
more than fleeting sweetness. Whether the prime minister can break from the mold, only
time will tell. Birds Of A Feather When Subhas Nembang, chairman of the House
of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, recently made a speech that, in effect,
advocated limiting the independence of the judiciary, it made little news. It's no secret
that his Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist has always wanted the judiciary
under the control of the party. However, when Nepali Congress MP and former home minister
Purna Bahadur Khadka backed Nembang's demand, many were confounded. How was it possible
for a die-hard Nepali Congress member and a UML leader to speak the same language? The
answer is simple: both have the same guru. But who is that guru? Speaker's Sense After his involvement in the high-level
committee formed to probe the June 1 massacre at Narayanhity Royal Palace, House of
Representatives Speaker Taranath Ranabhat appears to have acquired special knowledge in
investigative procedures. Last week Ranabhat claimed that he knew how bureaucrats bribed
ministers. In two public meetings, Ranabhat even challenged ministers to prove his
statement wrong. The speaker's strong words did not surprise his long-time colleagues.
Ranabhat's favorite author in his college days was Hindi novelist Col. Bed Prakash Sharma,
who has written several thrillers on espionage and conspiracies. It seems Ranabhat is busy
trying to prove that he is that rare breed of politicians with honesty and integrity.
Wherever he goes, Ranabhat spares wastes no time in criticizing bureaucrats and ministers
for their corrupt behavior. If Ranabhat's sixth sense is actually so alert to the
slightest hint of graft, he might actually prove to be more effective as the head of the
country's anti-corruption watchdog.
Koirala's Way Former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala
has mastered the skill of tackling people in all kinds of settings. One favorite tactic of
Koirala is to praise the place and people he is addressing. If Koirala happens to meet the
people of Baitadi, he immediately declares that he has a personal affection with the
place. When he visits Mustang, he does not hesitate to claim that the place is more or
less like his hometown. On many occasions, Koirala's ploy works. But sometimes it
backfires. This was what happened at a public function at Biratnagar, his hometown. In his
speech, Koirala revealed that the city was the place where he started his political
career. While the people endured Koirala's exertion in stating the obvious, the former
prime minister continued as if he was addressing anything but a hometown audience. Red Rhetoric Communist leaders are proficient in using
hard-hitting words and ear-splitting delivery to outdo opponents. This is why they always
tend to launch impassioned exhortations to workers to fight on, even if the cause is hazy.
CPN-ML leader Bam Dev Gautam is known as a man of fiery rhetoric. Whenever he addresses
public meetings, he spares no time in coming out with a heavy-dose vocabulary to prove
that he is a genuine communist. In a recent speech, Gautam even used words that went on to
discredit his party leaders. But who is Gautam to worry about the image of his leaders
when the audience seemed to be going along with him? Democratic Reply Two years ago when the Nepali Congress
decided to support Rastriya Prajatantra Party candidate Dr. Mohammed Mohasin for the
chairmanship of the National Assembly, many Congress leaders criticized their party's
decision, saying Dr. Mohasin was a hard-liner pancha who did not have faith in democratic
values. In recent legislative debates, Dr. Mohasin proved how firmly he is committed to
democracy than self-proclaimed democrats. His actions have shown that he is strong
believer in freedom, democracy and the constitution. As House of Representatives Speaker
Taranath Ranabhat, a former Congress general secretary, failed to discourage MPs from
denigrating the independence of the judiciary, the Muslim leader of the world's only Hindu
kingdom strongly issued a ruling asking elders not raise any controversy. Whatever
so-called democrats said about Dr. Mohasin, he has proved his loyalty and commitment to
the constitution and an independent judiciary more than anyone else has. A man can be
evaluated not on the basis of his face and race but based on his commitment to the
fundamental values of the existing system. Is not Dr. Mohasin's commitment a fitting reply
to his critics? Man Of Words Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has
endeared himself to many as a man of sweet words. As far as action is concerned, the
premier is regarded as too leisurely or, sometimes, outright indifferent. Ever since
becoming prime minister in July, Deuba has made so many commitments in so many areas that
his aides must be having a hard time helping him keeps his word. At a recent function,
Deuba projected himself as the only head of government concerned about children's welfare.
He directed the Ministry of Health to put in place incubators at Pokhara Hospital as soon
as possible. If experience is any indication, Deuba's words are likely to amount to little
more than fleeting sweetness. Whether the prime minister can break from the mold, only
time will tell. Birds Of A Feather When Subhas Nembang, chairman of the House
of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, recently made a speech that, in effect,
advocated limiting the independence of the judiciary, it made little news. It's no secret
that his Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist has always wanted the judiciary
under the control of the party. However, when Nepali Congress MP and former home minister
Purna Bahadur Khadka backed Nembang's demand, many were confounded. How was it possible
for a die-hard Nepali Congress member and a UML leader to speak the same language? The
answer is simple: both have the same guru. But who is that guru? Speaker's Sense After his involvement in the high-level
committee formed to probe the June 1 massacre at Narayanhity Royal Palace, House of
Representatives Speaker Taranath Ranabhat appears to have acquired special knowledge in
investigative procedures. Last week Ranabhat claimed that he knew how bureaucrats bribed
ministers. In two public meetings, Ranabhat even challenged ministers to prove his
statement wrong. The speaker's strong words did not surprise his long-time colleagues.
Ranabhat's favorite author in his college days was Hindi novelist Col. Bed Prakash Sharma,
who has written several thrillers on espionage and conspiracies. It seems Ranabhat is busy
trying to prove that he is that rare breed of politicians with honesty and integrity.
Wherever he goes, Ranabhat spares wastes no time in criticizing bureaucrats and ministers
for their corrupt behavior. If Ranabhat's sixth sense is actually so alert to the
slightest hint of graft, he might actually prove to be more effective as the head of the
country's anti-corruption watchdog. Koirala's Way Former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala
has mastered the skill of tackling people in all kinds of settings. One favorite tactic of
Koirala is to praise the place and people he is addressing. If Koirala happens to meet the
people of Baitadi, he immediately declares that he has a personal affection with the
place. When he visits Mustang, he does not hesitate to claim that the place is more or
less like his hometown. On many occasions, Koirala's ploy works. But sometimes it
backfires. This was what happened at a public function at Biratnagar, his hometown. In his
speech, Koirala revealed that the city was the place where he started his political
career. While the people endured Koirala's exertion in stating the obvious, the former
prime minister continued as if he was addressing anything but a hometown audience. Red Rhetoric Communist leaders are proficient in using
hard-hitting words and ear-splitting delivery to outdo opponents. This is why they always
tend to launch impassioned exhortations to workers to fight on, even if the cause is hazy.
CPN-ML leader Bam Dev Gautam is known as a man of fiery rhetoric. Whenever he addresses
public meetings, he spares no time in coming out with a heavy-dose vocabulary to prove
that he is a genuine communist. In a recent speech, Gautam even used words that went on to
discredit his party leaders. But who is Gautam to worry about the image of his leaders
when the audience seemed to be going along with him? |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
