Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Partisan Action

At a time when the country's anti-corruption agency is accused of working against those politicians and bureaucrats closely affiliated with a section of the liberal democratic camp, those who are with the Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist and Leninist seem to have heaved a sigh of relief. Although the anti-corruption watchdog filed cases against dozens of politicians, all of them were affiliated to the Nepali Congress and Rastriya Prajatantra Party. Despite frequent scandals and controversy, CIAA anti-corruption watchdog is yet to take any actions against the CPN-UML leaders. Everyone knows that many leaders of the CPN-UML, too, have built bungalows in Kathmandu along with their Congress counterparts. Nobody understands the reason why the CIAA is keeping its one eye closed.

Thapa Cautions

The RPP leader and former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa recently said that there is no possibility of talks as long as prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba keeps his mouth open - indicating to the recent statements given by Deuba through the media. Being the longest serving prime minister of Nepal in recent years, Thapa knows the limitations of a prime minister. As far as the negotiation is concerned, he is known as a person with wide knowledge as the ceasefire had broken down during his last tenure. Whether Deuba understands the indication given by Thapa is one matter but there are definite message behind the cautionary words from an octogenarian leader. Soon after his pronouncement, King Gyanendra also gave a royal audience to Thapa.

Deuba Ignores

Despite the strong words of caution by former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, the prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba seems to have chosen to ignore them. In his personal quest to achieve peace, Deuba has been meeting with the leaders of the mainstream political parties. Soon after joint royal audiences by King Gyanendra to the leaders of political parties who are included in the High Level Peace Committee, Deuba has increased his volume. Deuba has clearly ignored the prescription given by Thapa. One has yet to see whose prescription will prevail in future.

Adhikary Returns Wiser

After attending the meeting of World Bank, deputy prime minister and finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary seems to have learnt the ways for survival. When more than a dozen senior officials of the Ministry of Finance went to receive him at the Tribhuwan International Airport upon his return, Adhikary gave a long sermon on austerity measures in the government expenditure.