Quote Unquote (Spotlight Weekly)

"I am accused of having become another Tulsi Giri and Matrika Prasad Koirala. Giri helped subvert democracy to become prime minister. But I am already prime minister. Why would I want to subvert democracy?"

-Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, responding to criticism that he is undermining democracy.

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"I will take the appropriate decision to strengthen the party after analyzing the Maoists' strategy and the national and international situation."

-Girija Prasad Koirala, president of ruling Nepali Congress party, before leaving for a visit to China.

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"The party could split if the action taken against the prime minister is not revoked."

-Khum Bahadur Khadka, Home Minister and powerful Congress leader, addressing a gathering of party workers.

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"Tickets will be given only to those candidates who are working hard in villages. Merely running around leaders will not ensure a ticket."

-Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of Unified Marxist-Leninist, on conditions to qualify for the party's election ticket, in Gorkhapatra.

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"To protect democracy and the constitution, we have no choice but to courageously fight the mid-term election."

-Ram Chandra Poudel, senior Nepali Congress leader, in a statement urging reconciliation within the ruling party, in Kantipur.

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"Not only accusations, there have been attempts at character assassination. Very irresponsible and objectionable statements are flying back and forth. This must stop immediately."

-Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, former finance minister, expressing concern over growing rifts in the Nepali Congress, in Bimarsha.

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"People do not have faith and hope in the Nepal Congress at present. The situation is such that if a crisis really hits democracy, the people will not come forward [in defense]. Democracy can be saved only if the Congress party abandons the politics of arithmetic and sticks to its core values and norms."

-Shailaja Acharya, senior Nepali Congress leader, in Himalaya Times.

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"I had not expected such a huge crowd, especially at a time when the World Cup is going on."

-Dr. Khagendra Bahadur Shrestha, royal physician whose collection of photos of late King Birendra, late Queen Aishwarya and other royal relatives was shown at the Birendra International Convention Center, in Gorkhapatra.

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