Quote Unquote (Spotlight Weekly)

“Politicians, civil servants and businessmen all are equally involved in corruption.”

-Ram Prasad Shrestha, former chief commissioner at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, in Bimarsha.

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“The government may extend the state of emergency. But it will be lifted for the polls.”

-Chiranjibi Wagle, Minister for Works and Physical Planning, inaugurating the SAARC police conference, in Himalaya Times

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“Women’s development based on foreign aid alone cannot be sustainable.”

-Prativa Subedi, social worker and ex-president of Women Education Center (Nepal), in Gorkhapatra

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“The debate within the Belgium government over weapons sales to Nepal is their internal matter. It is merely a coincidence that Prime Minister Deuba happened to be there when the debate intensified.”

-Gyan Chandra Acharya, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Kantipur

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”I will not bow to any kind of undue pressure while carrying out my responsibilities.”

-Tapa Bahadur Magar, newly appointed chief of the special court that will hear cases of corruption and crimes against the state, in Kantipur

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”The Election Commission shouldn’t consider political consequences while giving its decisions. Since it is a constitutional and semi-judicial institution, it should consider only the legal aspects.”

-Narahari Acharya, central member of the Nepali Congress led by Girija Prasad Koirala, in Kantipur

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”Security of the voters will be assured even after the polls.”

-Madan Prasad Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Defense, in Spacetime

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”The process of negotiations is indeed very difficult. However, for the good of everybody, there is no alternative to dialogue. The Maoists should declare a cease-fire and so should the government for the sake of dialogue.”

-Himalaya SJB Rana, senior economist, who is leading a civil society’s efforts to bring the Maoists and the government to the negotiating table, in Deshantar

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