Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

PM Thapa : Mellowed down

Changed Personality

Prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa seems to have lost his stamina. These days prime minister Thapa, who was previously known as a ëroaring lion' because of his vociferous public addresses, just relaxes at public programs. Some of the organizers have even complained that prime minister Thapa does not care what he says while addressing the meeting. Although Thapa's loyalists have claimed that he still is one of fittest prime ministers the country had ever seen, his performance speaks in difference language. At a time when the country needs a prime minister who can work up to 18 hours, how can Thapa be able to push the country forward remains to be seen? Thapa's roar has turned into a whimper.

Nepal : Calculated silence ?

Defending Monarchy

After a month of anti-monarchy statements by the various political leaders, Minister for Information and Communication Kamal Thapa finally came out to defend the King. At a time when prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa claims that he is a prime minister with the executive authority, it is strange to see his junior defending monarch. How effective Kamal Thapa's counter-statements against the heavy weight politicians is anybody's guess? If prime minister Thapa considers that the monarchy does not require his defense, there was no point asking junior Thapa to come to the rescue. And if PM Thapa really thought the government needed to come to the monarch's defense, it should have come from the Prime Minister, himself and no less. Previously when accountable governments ruled the country, prime ministers used to come forward to defend the constitutional monarchy.

Win-Win Situation

After the two-months-long film strike came to an end last week, the two warring sides have begun to make contradictory claims of victory. Film producers claim that they have won the battle against the theater owners. Likewise, Nepal Motion Picture Association, an umbrella organization of Film Theaters have also claimed that have won the battle. Although both groups have lost the battle financially and socially, it is beyond the comprehension of the common people to understand such contradictory claims. Perhaps, their win-win formula could be applicable in the ongoing government-Maoists negotiations. It would be highly gratifying if they lent their formula so that the peace talks can easily succeed with both sides emerging victorious.

Humbling Assertion

After the announcement by Congress Supremo Girija Prasad Koirala that CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal is the common candidate to lead the future all party government, Nepal has abruptly stopped his outbursts. The assertion by the giant Koirala seemed to have humbled the fiery comrade who is now trying to show that he is a somber and sober leader of the country. Even as Congress leader Koirala leads the crusade spitting venom at his perceived enemies, CPN-UML general secretary Nepal is calmly standing by and reaping the benefits of Koirala's tactics. Although it seems strange to see Koirala, who is known as a die-hart anti-communist, defending communist leader, it is nothing new to see Nepali politicians changing their hats to suit the weather.