Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Agitated Traders

Following the beginning of five party agitation, the shopkeepers at Bagbazar areas have found themselves in trouble. Thanks to the pitched battle between protesters and police, the street has been turned into a deserted place with very few people other than agitators venturing there during the daytime. Tired of looking at day-to- day demonstrations, a group of shopkeepers recently developed a new method to open their shops. Most of the shopkeepers opened their half shutter – indicating that demonstration and business can go side by side. Whenever the demonstrators gather, the shopkeepers shut the door and once they leave, they will half of the shutter. At a time when other parts of the core areas are also facing similar kinds of problems, the new way developed by shopkeepers of Bagbazar could be a good model.

Enraged Gautam

Gautam : Hunt in on

After having undergone a week long treatment, former deputy prime minister and home minister Bamdev Gautam is said to have ordered for a search for the person who charged lathi at his forehead. CPN-UML’s firebrand leader Gautam apparently ordered his own set of investigation officers to identify who actually had issued order to beat him. As the police battalion changes from day to day and from place to place, it is going to be difficult for him to recognize the person. Gautam has already declared that he will take revenge. It remains to be seen what exactly Gautam has in mind when he talks about taking revenge. He has already shown his way of revenge five years ago while holding the local bodies elections. Gautam not only used police to stop his opponents from visiting the poll centers, but also ordered them to strike against those who defy him.

Khadka and Gautam

The two former home ministers Bamdev Gautam and Khum Bahadur Khadka share a long history of cozy-bitter relationship. Gautam and Khadka hail from the same zone of mid-western Nepal and maintain close relations. When Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML were in ruling and opposition benches in the parliament in the recent past, the party leaders and workers often kept close watch on these two leaders. Few years ago when CPN-UML split, NC leader Khadka was accused of playing a pivotal role to break the party. CPN-UML leaders including Gautam had even accused Khadka of bribing their comrades. The situation has changed now and the two leaders are found shaking hands and taking part in agitation together. Thanks to the agitation of five political parties, Gautam and Khadka’s friendship has deepened.

Deuba Vs Chand

Deuba : Western rivalry

The two former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of Nepali Congress (Democrat) and Lokendra Bahadur Chand, a leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), have never maintained good relations. Although both of them belong to same zone and speak similar language, RPP leader Chand sees Deuba as his main enemy. This was proved Chand supported to dislodge the government led by Sher Bahdur Deuba in 1998 and became prime minister with support from UML. Despite their obvious rivalry, people from far western region, however, have compelled them to share same platform and dance together in a rhythm of Deuda, a well known folk dance of the region. Notwithstanding their differences, Deuba and Chand danced together and hugged each other last week during New Year celebrations. At the end of the celebration, however, the two went their separate ways. The friendship lasted for less than two hours between the two important people of far western region.

Back To Bickering

The ceasefire broke between National Sports Council and Nepal Olympic Committee following the end of the SAF Games in Pakistan and the return of Nepalese squad from Islamabad. At a time when Nepalese team did not perform well at the SAF games, the officials from both the camps are busy accusing each other for the failure. This new round of debate will finally overshadow Nepal’s debacle at the SAF games.