Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Loosening Tongue

Minister for Information and Communication Kamal Thapa is known to be one of the sober ministers in the current government. But if his recent remarks are any indication, he seems to be losing his soberness. In a recent press meet, minister Thapa came down heavily against the five agitating parties and their workers. Although some of the workers of RPP, his own party, have demanded his resignation on the ground of his recent remarks, one still has to wait how other parties will react to his statements. For the time being an advice is advisable to him. Being a young and energetic leader, he has to maintain his political decorum.

Regional Mission

Prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is nowadays in a mission to complete his seven nations SAARC countries tour. In his second and last leg of consultation meeting, Thapa left for Bangladesh and Maldives. Although he did not return to Kathmandu this time as a transit passenger, prime minister Thapa seemed to have stuck to his habit of staying in transit. On the way to Bangladesh, prime minister Thapa went through the transit lounge despite suggestion of his security guards. Who knows what Thapa may have in transit back home.

Mysterious Tour

Nobody has said anything why Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala left to Biratnagar last week. It seems that somebody suddenly advised him to go to Birtanagar to avoid important meetings back in capital. Whenever Koirala visits his hometown Biratnagar, he comes back with some sort of political bombshell. When his party has announced the tenth round of agitation along with other four political parties, one has to wait and see what Koirala will deliver to his party workers this time. Since two of his party workers have already landed in prison for making provocative remarks against the constitutional monarch, his reaction will be significant.

Toned Down

In most part of his political career, CPN-UML leader Bamdev Gautam earned name for himself and his party by uttering rash and provocative statements. Surprisingly, Gautam recently talked in a soft tone while addressing a press conference. Tired of listening to various claims for holding the elections from various ministers, firebrand leader Gautam dared the government to fix the polls date. Although Gautam’s statements were intense this time as well, it was softer in message, nonetheless. When Gautam angrily challenged the government, Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, who was also present in the same program, was caught off-guard.

Poudel’s Plays

Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel is busy urging his party workers to take necessary actions to make the agitation successful. At a time when his own leader Girija Prasad Koirala opened a front by allowing his party workers to raise whatever slogans they like, Poudel is trying to cool down his workers. Poudel's role has always been a perplexing one, for the least. When his party leaders asked workers to soften their tone, Poudel starts using provocative statements. Now what has compelled Poudel to change his stance.