Quote Unquote (Spotlight Weekly)

"Since we are sitting together with the Maoists, why do we need mediators? We don't want to hire anyone in the peace process. We have a bitter experience about the last failed negotiations."

Deputy Prime Minister and convenor of government team Badri Prasad Mandal in Rajdhani.

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"The negotiation process is like a drama. As a helicopter pilot, Minister Narayan Singh Pun is ferrying the Maoist leaders from place to place. What the drama is all about would be unveiled soon."

Biswobandhu Thapa, senior politician and leader of RPP, in Space-Time.

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"We want to conclude the peace talks as soon as possible. We want it to conclude them within two months."

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, member of the Maoist negotiation team, addressing a press meeting.

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"The talks cannot be concluded in a hurry, as it is a long process."

Minister of Housing and Physical Planning and member of the government negotiating team Narayan Singh Pun in Himalaya Times.

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"CPN-UML leaders will tell you what dictatorship is all about."

Bachaspati Devkota, former central committee member of CPN-UML, on the authoritarianism that has crept into the party.

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"I always say that I will charge Rs.5,000 for each song. Despite my determination, I have yet to receive that amount. Mostly I used to write songs without getting any money."

Ratna Sumsher Thapa, well-known poet and songwriter, in Bimarsha.

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"This is a game played by Rabindra Nath Sharma and Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani."

Buddhiman Tamang, former minister and senior RPP leader, reacting to reports on the formation of a parallel RPP forum, in Janabhavana.

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"The King is also inefficient. The failure to hold the election of Free Students Union of Tribhuwan University of which the King is the Chancellor, proves it."

Sher Bahadur Deuba, former prime minister and president of Nepali Congress-Democratic, who was sacked by the King last year terming his government inefficient for failing to hold general elections, in Rajdhani.

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