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LETTERS |
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LETTERS |
Skewed Analysis Apropos your cover story "Bouquets and
Brickbats" (SPOTLIGHT July 25), it is ridiculous to see the political leaders bending
over their back in criticizing, deploring and outright condemning the budget. It is
ludicrous that these very politicians who had drafted the budget for the last 12 years
could be so stupid as to criticize the new budget. What new things had they done in their
budget that is not present in the current one? The whole criticism is based on political
differences and nothing more. Jeevan Satyal A Balanced Approach The new finance minister has sensibly
treaded a middle-path in formulating the budget for the current fiscal year 2003/2004
("Bouquets and Brickbats" SPOTLIGHT July 25). He has mixed reformist as well as
populist measures in the budget. The ultimate thing is implementation. If he is not able
to implement them, then the whole budget will become an effort in vain. At this point of
time, however, the minister should get the benefit of doubt. Kiran Sharma Political Credibility The new budget does indeed lack the
political legitimacy ("Bouquets and Brickbats" SPOTLIGHT July 25). As the
palace-installed government, the team of Surya Bahadur Thapa will have hard time
convincing the political parties as well as the people that they have the authority to
propose budget. There is popular statement in Britain that there should be no taxation
without representation. By that yardstick, this government cannot propose new tax policies
and sundry other items. Lashkar Bista Ground Reality Those who have questioned the legitimacy of
the government have claimed that it should not have proposed the budget at all
("Bouquets and Brickbats" SPOTLIGHT July 25). But they have failed to say what
could have been done instead. Should the government have altogether refrained from
drafting the budget? Should the government have remained mute spectator even if the
salaries of hundreds of thousands of its staffs would have been stopped in absence of new
budget? Should the development of the country have been brought to total standstill? There
should be a limit of criticism. Constructive criticism helps in making things better but
blind and misplaced condemnation can only be counter-productive. Bishnu Lal Shrestha Democracy In Action You cover story on Local Bodies in Limbo
"Power to Nowhere" (SPOTLIGHT July 18) revealed a number of things about the
present state of local bodies. I agree with you that nobody wants to see vibrant local
bodies since it will threat the undemocratic leadership at the center. The experiment of
democratization in the grass root level have shown that there requires an effective and
accountable local leadership to carry out development activities. Although some of our
cynical so-called development experts criticized our friendly donor countries for their
role in manipulating development activities, they have never thanked them for their major
contribution to institutionalize the local bodies. The chief executive of the District
Development Committee of Kavrepalanchowk have shown how effectively they can work under an
institutional set up. We have to appreciate the donor communities helping to build the
strong grass root level political bodies. The contribution made by the Participatory
District Development Program is commendable. Krishna Shrestha Due Recognition Our history is replete with derogatory
remarks about our leaders. I would like to thank SPOTLIGHT for highlighting the role of
King Mahendra in introducing the grass root level democracy ("Power To Nowhere"
SPOTLIGHT July 18). At a time when South Asia's two powers China and India were in the
hostile situation, King Mahendra tactfully planted the democracy at the grass root level.
Of course, King Mahendra dismissed the elected prime minister placing the country under
his direct rule, he introduced the constitution showing his faith on the constitutional
monarchy. I have not seen any one praising the role of King Mahendra for his contribution
to the grass root level democracy. Giridhar Bista Fallout of Insurgency The story "Startling Findings"
(SPOTLIGHT July 4) has portrayed how the insurgency is having consequence on Nepalese
society. The fact that the influx of displaced persons has led to surge in the number of
girls working in cabin restaurants and discos where they are often exploited is one such
fallout. In the absence of mechanism to address to the concerns of the displaced people,
more similar negative impacts are highly likely in the days ahead leading to serious
upheavals in the whole society. Chintan Tamang |
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editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
