Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Swift Moves

RPP leaders are champions in changing their stands. At a time when the country’s five agitating parties are trying to dislodge the government led by their former party president Surya Bahadur Thapa, some RPP leaders who had been launching the campaign against him have found it an opportune time to hit back. Roshan Karki, one of Thapa’s main opponent and spokesperson of the party, termed her leader inefficient and incapable. Karki has declared that RPP does not mind to support the agitation launched by five parties. And strangely, RPP president Pashupati SJB Rana has kept his mum in this whole episode.

Deuba Goes Lonely

With the failure of subsequent unity talks, leader of breakaway Nepali Congress and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has vowed to launch a nationwide agitation on his own. Despite his willingness to join agitation launched by five parliamentary parties, former prime minister and his guru Girija Prasad Koirala opposed his efforts to share the platform. Although former prime minister Deuba has already launched a number of agitations in the past, he did not receive much publicity. This time Deuba claims that his party will show the real strength in front of large population of capital.

History Repeats

CPN-UML leader and former deputy prime minister Bamdev Gautam is a man of action. This is one of the reasons why he always hugs the news. Unfortunately, last week Gautam was in the news for wrong reasons. He was highlighted by the media after he sustained injuries he incurred during agitation at Ratnapark. Few years ago when he was home minister, Gautam had ordered police to take all necessary actions to prevent the opposition from visiting the polling booth. The current Congress spokesperson Arjun Narsing K.C was badly beaten by police that time. Interestingly, last week it was the pair of Gautam and Congress leader K.C who were beaten by police. Thanks to his skill, K.C. received only a minor injury but Gautam had to be hospitalized. In the past, K.C. had organized a hectic press conference to lodge protest against Gautam’s police but this time K.C. defended him.

Pressure Politics

Following the resignation of Minister Sarbendra Nath Shukla, it became clear who really enjoys executive power. It is well known that Shukla had resigned under pressure from the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). After protest from chief commissioner and commissioner, prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa asked for Shukla’s resignation. Shukla’s crime was that he decided to stand as witness of former minister Rabindra Nath Sharma, who is facing corruption charges from CIAA. It seems that whoever holds the minister’s portfolio, he can be in the position only as long as CIAA chief commissioner and commissioners are satisfied.

Wavering Attitude

Nepalese intellectuals have a history of twisting from one side to another. From former university professor to former ministers, all of them try to project themselves as men of stance. As most of the intellectuals have sided with one or other party, they have to do what their masters want them to do. Following a strong notice of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, at least six former ambassadors were compelled to issue statements. Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have already issued a statement announcing that the government appointment in the future will be made on the basis of their participation in the agitation. Harsher and stronger the statements they issue, better will be their prospects to get appointed as ambassadors in future.