Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

For Fund

Nepal : Changing lane

The CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal declared that this government would not resign till it holds the elections and brings peace and normalcy to the country. Nepal seems to have changed his earlier stand when he had asked his colleagues to prepare for sacrificing the post of ministers. Now it seems that general secretary Nepal wants to have longer life of this government. CPN-UML, which was out of power for more than four years, seems to be interested to collect some amount of funds so that they don't have to face crunch in case of early elections. At a time when the ministers are collecting the fund for the party, Nepal does not have other option than to defend the government.

Deuba In Defense

Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba seems to be busy nowadays coordinating with the leaders of four political parties. He has to speak the common voice of four different leaders including general secretary Nepal, RPP leader Pashupati Sumsher Rana, Royal nominee Dr. Mohamad Mohsin and Nepal Sadbhavana Party leader Badri Prasad Mandal. When CPN-UML general secretary is demanding for the unilateral ceasefire, Deuba has to defend him by calling for permanent ceasefire. Likewise, Deuba also has to defend leaders of other three parties. Obviously, Deuba is walking a tightrope here. Known as a best compromiser, Deuba knows the art of compromise and can always plead his case among his colleagues. However, nobody is sure how long he will be able to exhibit the balancing act.

Acharya Breaks Her Silence

Acharya : In the race

After a month of silence, Nepali Congress leader Shailaja Acharya announced her candidature for the post of party president. Acharya argued that she took the decision following her consultation with Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala. At a time when there are many aspirants for the party presidency in Congress, Acharya has to face many other contestants including Ram Chandra Poudel and Sushil Koirala. Poudel has already said that he is willing to contest the election for the post. General secretary Sushil Koirala has also said that he will contest the elections in case the present president Koirala decides not to. When all the second generation leaders are preparing to battle it out, octogenarian leader Koirala's role will be crucial. However, till now senior Koirala has kept mum on this issue.

Panta's Ploy

Panta : Serving whose intrests ?

Minister for Labor and Transport Raghuji Panta seems to be committed to destroy Nepal's burgeoning foreign employment business. Minister Panta has already destroyed the relations with South Korea. Following attack on Mosques, Nepalese working in the Gulf countries are already in trouble. His recent decision to stop Nepalese going to Ajarbaijan is another move that could discredit the sector. Although Panta's party (UML) claims to be a nationalist party, how Panta is allowed to take anti-national stand is a mystery. Who will benefit by stopping Nepalese workers from going abroad? In the name of regularizing the foreign employment sector, minister Panta seems to be serving the interest of others.