Few interesting notes from my hometown, Biratnagar!
I
spent my last end of the week in my hometown, Biratnagar. As I told you through this
column in my previous issue that rumors and nothing else guide the country. Event in fact
follows the rumors. One such tattle spread like a wild fire that Prime minister Bhattarai
was bed ridden and that a weeping man wished to see his 'most friendly' political rival,
Girija Prasad Koirala, so that he could hand over the mantle of power to him. The gossip
also had it that Prime minister Bhattarai told his ring-men that it was time that he
sorted out his political differences with Koirala and spent the rest of his life in peace.
Bhattarai's craving, however, could not be realized because at that very particular moment
President Koirala was on an gallant tour to the areas controlled and virtually ruled by
the Maoists'.
That
Prime Minister Bhattarai is bed ridden is for sure as all the available media reports
conforms to this fact. Whether the ailing Prime Minister has met his friend as per his
wish or not, God knows. Perhaps not. Because Koirala is out of the valley. The
authenticity of the rumor spread in Biratnagar could not be challenged because this news
emanated from the citadel of the Koiralas' in Biratnagar. Some even said that Mrs. NONA
Koirala, the sister in law of President Koirala briefed her party men regarding the
deteriorating health and the wishes of the Prime minister. Currently she is preparing for
a weeklong Yagna. After politics, some time for remembering the Almighty. This is Hindu
tradition.
However,
the intensity of the hearsay was so high that many believed that President Koirala would
assume the most coveted seat of the Prime minister in a matter of days. Upon my return,
what I perceived is that indeed Bhattarai was sick but never spoke of handing over the
sovereignty of power to his old rival. I also knew that our ailing Prime minister had not
only the Spinal Chord problem but is also suffering from chronic Arthritis. The latter
attacks generally the knees, which is why our Kishunjee has to seek the support of his
military men attending on him. Some also say that the Prime minister must not visit Delhi
under such conditions. However, KPs press advisor is reported to have told the press that
the nation's Prime minister is all set to go to Delhi. God willing, he will go but perhaps
after proper treatment. It would be really interesting when the two Bachelor Prime
ministers of India and Nepal will meet each other. What they would talk about theirs yet
remaining a bachelor would perhaps leak after a couple of days after the visit hopefully
by the media men handpicked by the Prime minister's close aides or the foreign ministry.
The
third story, which I have brought from Biratnagar, is about the state of the Mahendra
Morang Campus, the establishment from where I secured my Intermediate in Science degree.
Only a few days back, some politically active students had ruthlessly burnt a small
segment of the campus. The time when the building was being inflamed, the incumbent campus
chief suddenly surfaced at the Police quarters. When the police told him that they needed
his permission to enter into the campus premises, the campus chief declined and said,
well! Look, I too have been told of this fire. However, let me go there and watch the
situation. Then I will allow you to enter the premise. God was great for it was the
central VC in Kirtipur, Kathmandu whose timely intervention saved the rest of the
structure of the institution.
For the road:The last piece is
yet again about our ailing Prime minister. This is perhaps a joke but then people in
Biratnagar talked about it.
One district level delegation met the Prime
minister some time at the fag end of the last year. The delegation informed the executive
chief about their district and the local problems for the redressal of which they needed
the governments' support. After carefully listening to their problems, the Prime minister
assured the delegation that "all the Nepali hostages inside the IC 814 Indian
airliner were safe. Nothing to panic. Our government had been in constant touch with the
authorities at Kandhar airport. Do not worry about your relatives. They all will come
safe". Understandably, the Prime minister was pretty concerned for the release of the
hostages. Yet this speaks of his waning memory power. |
