Was it all a mere conjecture
or…?
I've told my readers through this column so many
times in the past that the main source of news in Nepal originates from rumors. If one
wishes to get the recent events that might have happened either in the ruling party, in
the government or even in other parties in opposition, one must visit the legendary PIPAL
BOT( Peepul tree) in the down town widely known as New Road. The road has become pretty
old, however, the name at least gives one the impression that the road is still new. The
Pipal Bot factor has always attracted the attention of the Nepal's so-called leaders and
the self-styled intellectuals. This breed believes in Pipal Bot gossip that is some times
wild. A regular evening walk to this place not only brings friends closer but also enables
one to keep him abreast with the latest events in the country. More often than not it has
also been found that street damsels also loiter around this short thoroughfare, not even a
furlong in terms of distance, to lure sexy academicians, leaders, journalists, businessmen
and the likes. And this they solely do for their livelihood. A few cases also have been
traced when these sexy and naughty girls lure their customers for the purpose of
"entertainment". In some way or the other, New Road is some what like the
Pegaulle Street of Paris. However, Pegaulle was a serious man indeed and is still
being respected by the French people. However, today's story is not the rumor or for that
matter the creation of the New Road. This is a tete-a-tete talk in between myself
and a very close friend of mine who is equally a competent journalist and is very much
running a prestigious newspaper. This happened last Thursday.
The story runs like this as told by my friend.
Some three days prior to the resignation submitted
by former Prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai to King Birendra , His Majesty the King
invited the two old hats of the Congress party to his official chamber at the Royal
Palace. It was a meeting between the three: H.M.King Birendra- the Head of the State; the
would be Prime minister that is Koirala and indeed the outgoing Prime minister that is
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. After few minutes of unofficial talks, suddenly His majesty King
Birendra changed the topic and appeared to have assumed an assertive posture.
" Find a solution at the earliest to the
ongoing crisis in the congress party or else I'll have to think of some 'alternatives', is
what the constitutional monarch told his official guests.
Stunned thespians of the congress got the point
perhaps. Later what ever happened we all know because every thing was televised. The
meeting followed Bhattarai's sentimental address to the nation in which he did not spare
his own friend Koirala who created problems for him from day one in the chair of the Prime
minister.
However, the whole episode has one thing worth
watching and pondering over. Prime minister Bhattarai had to face the onslaught from his
own party men under Girija's command. And this onslaught came as a result of the airing of
the French Agency AFP interview with the then Prime minister Bhattarai in which he
unhesitatingly said that some men in the palace in the name of the King had been a source
of trouble to the system now in place. It could be mere conjectures but then the things
that followed immediately after that interview did away with Bhattarai's Premiership. More
interesting is the fact that the new Prime minister Koirala told the press men that
"he would not listen to any comments that goes against the constitutional monarch and
the monarchy". Look the contradiction in between the two stalwarts of the congress
regarding their perception towards the constitutional monarchy. The rest I leave it for
intellectuals debate. |
