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OFF THE RECORD |
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OFF THE RECORD |
Double Speak The CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar
Nepal and his former adversary Bamdev Gautam seem to have buried their hatchet. Nepal, a
long time rival of Gautam, has finally regretted his earlier decision, which termed Gautam
as the number one corrupt politician of the country. Four years ago almost all CPN-UML
leaders used to spend their times castigating Gautam and his colleagues Radha Krishna
Mainali and other communist leaders. They were portrayed as country's enemy at a public
rally organized in the capital. In its recent central committee meeting, the CPN-UML,
however, retracted the charges it had leveled against Gautam and his colleagues.
Interestingly, Gautam - who had filed a defamation case against Nepal and other UML
leaders - is yet to withdraw the case that is pending at the district court. It shows that
UML leaders do not mind ranting offensive words in pulling the legs of their
comrades-turned-foes. And they are equally adept at retracting such accusations whenever
they bury their enmity. If one goes through the history of CPN-UML, changing of stands
will come as a frequent event. In the last twelve years, CPN-UML leaders have used
derisive remarks against all individuals who were hostile to them.
In God Chand Trusts Prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand sets
aside a couple of hours every morning for offering Puja. No matter what crisis the country
is in, no one dares interrupt the morning ritual of the gentle and soft-spoken prime
minister Chand. His morning spiritual exercise begins with one-hour meditation and another
hour of worship. During all his four tenures as the chief executive of the country,
whether as elected or nominated, Chand's trust in god has been unquestionable. His
wholehearted trust on god is understandable as he was appointed prime minister in 1983
after the ouster of then powerful prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. In his second
tenure, he led the ad-hoc government for the week replacing another strong PM Marich Man
Singh. Chanda was elected as a prime minister in his third tenure although his party had
just 19 seats in 205-member house. He was appointed fourth time as the prime minister
following the dismissal of elected prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. When many powerful
politicians were lobbying for the post, Chand emerged as the dark horse. This remarkable
achievement, it seems, has bolstered Chand's trust in the Almighty. Unique Attraction There is a competition among various
political forces to flex the muscles and show that they are stronger and better crowd
pullers. Country's bigger parties have their cadets and organizations to mobilize the
masses but smaller parties also do not lack followers, it seems. When major parties like
Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, RPP and Nepali Congress (Democrat) organized big rallies in
various parts of the country, Nepal Samta Party, a small party formed less than three
months ago and led by minister for Works and Physical Planning Narayan Singh Pun, too,
devised a unique strategy to woo the people. Renowned helicopter pilot himself, minister
Pun ordered his crew men to welcome his supporters by showering them with flowers from
above. Big parties always welcome their supporter using high-sounding slogans but minister
Pun offered flowers to his worker. Is it not a unique way to pull the crowed? Shah's Revelation While most of the Nepalese film actresses
do not tire of boasting their beautiful faces, slim bodies and sweet voices, there is an
actress who seems to be a brand apart. Jal Shah has confessed that she does not have all
the 32 virtues. Shah - who was a leading heroine for quite sometime - is now trailing to
secure second and third position. As Niruta Singh and senior actress Karishma Manandhar
are leading the film industry, Shah is said to be trailing behind because of her fatter
profile. Shah- a daughter of poetess from Birgunj Prema Shah - a southern bordering town,
has already hit the markets numerous times in the past and hope to do it again despite her
burgeoning physique.
Divided House Although the newly elected president of the
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pahsupati Shumsher Rana publicly announced that he would
accommodate all his part colleagues to transform the RPP into the largest party in the
coming general elections, it seems a hollow claim. When two senior most members of the
party were missing in the first central committee meeting convened after the conclusion of
the third general convention, the new party president must be pondering hard how he would
succeed in keeping his promises. As Rana is yet to nominate his new team, Rabindra Nath
Sharma and Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, the two candidates he routed during the election
for the party presidency, will remain out of the party meetings and the party will
continue to remain divided |
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editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
