Quote Unquote (Spotlight Weekly)

"The Maoists want the political leadership to be weak and military leadership to be strong. Hence they attacked the Dang barracks when there was a weak prime minister in power."

Girija Prasad Koirala, former prime minister and president of the ruling Nepali Congress, speaking at a party program in Kathmandu.

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"The present situation is the result of bad governance. But can the army chief say so? Why is the Nepali Congress protecting this ëdummy' government? Has it run out of leadership that can deliver?"

Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition and general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist, speaking in parliament, raising concern over the recent statement by army chief, in Himalaya Times.

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"According to the army chief, except Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and few youth ministers, all others are ineffective and useless. Aren't other Congress ministers feeling ashamed?"

Surya Bahadur Thapa, former prime minister and president of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, speaking in parliament, criticizing the army chief's statement, in Himalaya Times.

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"We will crush terrorism."

Khum Bahadur Khadka, Home Minister, indicating that action by security forces has become more effective in recent weeks, in Spacetime daily.

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"The so-called bandh called by the Maoists to coincide with SLC exams is going to put the future of hundreds of thousands of students in peril. It is anti-national thing."

Ram Chandra Poudel, former deputy prime minister, speaking in parliament.

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"At a time when terrorists are in no position to physically appear and enforce their so-called bandh, the government appeals to all the people to defeat their call and go on with their usual business without any fear."

Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, Minister for Information and Communication and spokesman of the government, on Nepal Television.

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"If the home minister is in the country, he should inform the House about the deteriorating law-and-order situation. If he himself has been abducted, our party is willing to search and rescue him."

Pradip Nepal, UML MP, giving a satirical statement in parliament, in Himalaya Times.

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"The impact of the emergency is felt more by political parties and ordinary people (in districts) than the Maoists."

Hari Acharya, MP from the National People's Front, a radical leftist party, in Jana Aastha.

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"The present situation emerged because the political parties traded accusations, instead of trying to find out the root causes of Maoist problem."

Radha Krishna Mainali, former minister and leader of Unified Marxist-Leninist, in Spacetime daily.

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