Optimism Prevails

By Prem N. Kakkar

TIME is drawing near for the 10th general convention of the Nepali Congress party to take place. There is a lot to be seen what will be the outcome. Of course, all the NC leaders are hopeful that the meet will be to the liking of all.

It is interesting to note that NC as a party has still remained as the largest political force in the country with more than 50 years of service to the nations. But the question remains that why even trivial issues are brought out in the glaring daylight instead of being resolved within the party itself.

May be it is the democratic culture of the party that makes every issue to come out into the public or something else is yet to be understood. The very fact that democratic culture exists within the party is amply demonstrated by the fact that not only the present NC party president but also
other leaders like former
prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Shailaja Acharya have declared to stand up in the fray for the top post of the Nepali Congress party.

The tidings are good in the sense that no authoritarian type of system exists within the party. It is the able and fit person who will be able to lead the party which has a long history behind it. No one can deny the fact that, for the sake of democracy, Nepali Congress has always been at the forefront whether in armed clashes or in non-violent moves.

When Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced that he would contest the election for the post of the president of the Nepali Congress party at the 10 general convention, a few eye brows may have been raised but they are not right. The very conception of young leaders to be in the fray or lead the party is right but they ought to have the capacity to do so. It is not age that matters, it is one’s credibility and the power to lead the party forward that matters.

There may be people within Nepali Congress who go on talking about power passing on to the second generation but how far that is valid has to studied. Age may make some people senile but at the same time the experience gained over the years become useful in taking the country forward.

Nepali Congress has a glorious history and even after the reinstatement of democracy in the country in 1990, it has gained majority in two general elections. It has remained the focus of trust of the Nepalese people in general. Though there were minority and coalition governments in the period between 1994 and the last election in 1999, yet the way Nepali Congress was able to be in the front proves that the people have faith in the party as being the most democratic.

As far as the allegations regarding nepotism and favouritism are concerned, it is plainly clear that democratic norms and values are followed within the party. It is this very fact that so many NC members have declared to stand up for the post of the president of the party at the 10th general convention. This is enough evidence that the party has that aura through its contributions of being a democratic party and working for the welfare of the people in general.

It must also be remembered that miracles are not possible overnight, one has to wait for the results by working through a myriad of strategies. And that is what exactly Nepali Congress is trying to do.

The Other Views

Since I could not complete my task of strengthening the party, I am now again fielding my candidacy for Party President by getting support from Kisunji.

—Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Party president Girija Prasad Koirala at a press conference organised at his residence last week.

Party president Girija Prasad Koirala has declared his candidacy for the party president in the upcoming NC convention without consulting me. My standpoint is that the leadership of the party should now go to the second generation.

—Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, reacting to Prime Minister Koirala’s statement that he has decided to field his candidacy with his support.

There is no logic behind Deuba’s candidacy for the party president. He can’t lead the second generation because he has no moral power with him. He lost it when he was the prime minister.

—Nepali Congress leader Shailaja Acharya trying to prove that she is the only candidate fit for the party president from the second generation, in Bimarsha.

The reason behind the delay of the talks with the Maoists is not only them (Maoists) but also the government.

—Former Prime Minister and convenor of the High Level Commission for the Resolution of the Maoist Problem Sher Bahadur Deuba after he presenting the report to the Prime Minister Tuesday.

People now do not listen to us. And it is because we (political leaders) have cheated them by speaking a lot and doing nothing.

—Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat at a programme organised in the capital.

There is a great conspiracy behind the release of Maoist leader Dinesh Sharma.

—Lawmaker and leader of the CPN (Masal) Chitra Bahadur K. C., in Budhabar.

There is much rigging for the active membership and for the representation in the NC’s upcoming general convention. And it has been done under the direction of Prime Minister and Party president Girija Prasad Koirala.

—Gyanendra Bahadur Karki who resigned from the membership of the Central Election Committee of the Nepali Congress, in Jana Bhawana.

Before talking about the amendment to the country's Constitution, let’s talk about improving our ways of abiding by the Constitution.

—Prof. Dr. Sridhar Prasad Lohani, in Ghatana Ra Bichar.

The present Constitution is outdated. It should be scrapped.

—RPP leader Rajeshwor Devkota, in Nepalipatra.

Jottings Idle and Otherwise

By MRJ

YOURS truly recently traipsed off to Pakistan and Kashmir where he joined eight other scribes from various corners of this planet on a sponsored visit designed to highlight the sorrowful tale of Kashmir from their point of view.

OFF-BEAT: Here, I wish to take readers on a non-serious or off-beat excursion of that part of the world, recalling some aspects or human interests highlights of that trip.

Perhaps, the very first observation is that although Islamabad is less than two hours away by jet, my five-day programme took 10 days to complete!

That is because then there was no direct flight between the two capitals (this has since changed, happily): also, there were no daily flights, either.

Hopefully, it will now be possible for more travel, including that for conference and the like, to take place between Kathmandu and Islamabad. (For instance, it is possible to take part in a two-day seminar in Bangkok and be back in Kathamndu in three days’ time.)

Another tit-bit of my recent journey to Pakistan is the happy coincidence of meeting former Information Minister Javed Jabber at the PIA ticket counter at Karachi airport for a flight bound for Islamabad.

Jabber, a member of the seminar circuit, is, of course, no stranger to Kathmandu. He appeared his usual friendly, urbane self and even showed interest in what was happening in Nepal.

Though we were in fact flying on the same aircraft, I could not unfortunately manage more than a brief conservation as he was with a travelling companion and could not be spotted once inside the Airbus which was fully packed. Many travellers I discovered, including Jabber, were flying back to Karachi the very same day.

A quick side-trip to our Embassy revealed that it was very poorly staffed: there were just two officials, apart from Ambassador Kumar P. Gyawali who found time to share and exchange some thoughts on various subjects under the sun with this pen pusher.

On my flight out to Karachi by PIA, I discovered that quite a large number of Nepalese nationals were bound for various cities in the Gulf, many of them travelling there for the very first time. Mostly, of course, the passengers consisted of Western tourists — as was the case during the return trip.

At the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi it came as a bit of a surprise to see loads of happily chatting Gujaratis queuing up for a PIA flight to Mumbai.

The security check at TIA was stricter than usual — a consequence, as we know, of the Christmas Eve hijacking incident of last year. There was a further check by PIA staff just before one entered the aircraft’s cabin. Earlier, one had to identify one’s checked-in luggage on the tramac alongside the aircraft.

Inside the plane I noticed at least two commando types, with concealed weapons — no doubt a further security measure on the part of the Pakistani flag carrier. Ditto for the return journey.

LIKE NEPAL: Our journey to Kashmir — in particular to Muzzafarabad by mini-bus and a helicopter trip to the Line of Control from there — was memorable and even enjoyable, except for the stomach-wrenching visit to two refugee camps.

For This jotter, the Kashmir portion was very pleasant since the terrain and scenery were so reminiscent of Nepal — minus the spectacular view of snow-clad Himalayas. Murree, where we stopped for a tea-break on our onward journey, has the delightful flavour of Darjeeling though it is much smaller and less crowded.

The Pearl Continental Resort Hotel in Bhurbun, 15 kms from Murree, where we stopped over for lunch on our way back from Kashmir, was impressive and seemed to attract a load of clients from Islamabad — mainly well-heeled local types, besides tourists and diplomats.

One was mildly surprised but pleased to be informed that most of the pushmina shawls that were stocked in Muzzafarabad and Islamabad outlets were from Nepal. One also noticed various souvenir items and artifacts from Nepal along with Pakistani handicrafts on sale in shops catering to tourists.

The popularity of Nepalese pushmina shawls was demonstrated by most members of our groups: a Jordanian editor alone bought ten such expensive items, eight in Islamabad and two in Muzzafarbad! This chappie bought only one — for his better half. Naturally, it was Kashmiri shawl rather than one imported from Nepal.

Leather goods were also popular with members of our groups, though not as much as it is for Nepalese visitors. The dry-fruits markets was also a big draw — during the little spare time that one had during the packed five-day programme that had been arranged.

A female colleague, a Thai TV executive, went all out buying five kilos of virtually everything that she could see in the Aapara Market not far from our hotel, the Holiday Inn.

Unlike most other members of our group—barring, of course, my Bangladeshi colleague—your truly had the advantage of understanding some Urdu (even if not venturing to speak it).

This naturally made one’s stroll through the well laid out thoroughfares of Islamabad and the crowded lanes of Muzzafarbad more interesting that it might otherwise have been though one had, often, to act as interpreter for members of the group.