With Malice to None
CDO to lead Nepali delegation at Johannesburg Meet next month

The South African government has sent official invitation to Nepal government requesting the active participation of the latter at the Johannesburg meet on Sustainable Development beginning this August. Nepal's prime minister summons his cabinet to discuss how Nepal should present itself at the Johannesburg Meet.

PM: Well friends, I have a good news for you all. The news is that I am told to send some ministers to attend the meet on Sustainable development being held in South Africa next month. Suggest me what should be our agenda and who should be sent that Nepal's participation is applauded there. Your opinions please!

Home Minister: Since I remained instrumental in elevating your ranks to the party president this time so you must consider my name for the Meet in South Africa. More so, I have only visited "New Delhi" and hence I wish to see how the home minister there maneuvers such eventualities. If you do not propose my name I might join the other camp as you all know my chameleon habits.

PM: Do not frieghten me! I am the party president. But yet I will consider your name.

Local Development Minister: But Mr. Premier, since the word development is common in my portfolio and the Meet so I think that I would be the best choice for the Johannesburg Meet.

PM: There is point in your claim.

Foreign Minister: I object your honor! Since the Meet is being organised in a foreign country and hence myself as the foreign minister should take part in the said Meet.

PM: But it is not a meet where foreign policy discussions would take place. Your claim is a weaker one.

NGO development minister: Dear Sir! since I am connected with the NGOs and since the meet has some thing to do with the sustainability of the development processes initiated so far by the NGOs so I consider myself to be the most suitable candidate for the Meet. After all, it is these NGOs who have been championing the cause of sustainable development.

Pocket development minister: I beg to differ with the previous speaker sir! Development is development. Whether it is sustainable development carried by the NGOs or by my institution. Unless one develops one's own pocket first how could he or she develop the society and thereafter the nation? I strongly appeal that my name be considered for the Meet.

PM: So far as I recollect, I did not have any ministry called Pocket development. How come this ministry came into existence?

Culture minister: Sir! Who will be finally sent to South Africa is not known to me. But you should consider my case. Being the culture minister, If I were allowed to visit Johannesburg, I would initiate cultural contacts with several countries of the world and in the process we will receive countless invitations to visit their respective countries. Just consider the flow of dollars in going, coming and the TA and DA plus the gifts accompanying!

PM: It is tempting indeed. I will look into that.

Minister without portfolio: Well Mr. Premier! Since the country is in a sort of crisis, I would humbly suggest not to send ministers who have serious jobs to do here. The other camp is very serious and to counter their seriousness our competent ministers must remain in the country. Who knows what would happen next minute. Since I have no portfolio, my absence in the country will not matte much.

PM: Brilliant idea indeed.

(Suddenly the Mobile telephone of the PM becomes active and the PM listens to the call and becomes nervous. He then declares the meeting adjourned. Some one in the phone communicates the prime minister that the person to attend the Johannesburg meeting has already been finalized on his behalf already. Those who were close to the Prime Minister could guess that it was a lady voice but could not ascertain who could be that lady. Others in the hall claimed that it were a male voice).

Next morning Nepali newspapers printed: " The Corruption Development Officer" will head the Johannesburg Meet on Sustainable Development.

Other newspapers wrote editorials on the right choice and the fair selection of the personality to attend the Johannesburg Meet.

Our sleuth in Johannesburg informed us that Nepal's participant was missing all along the Meet there. Back in Kathmandu, there have been preparations to greet the CDO who will later give a lecture on "Nepal's active participation" in the said Meet.

I wish the organizers also invited the Telegraph weekly to listen to the lecture of the CDO who in effect did not attend the meeting in Johannesburg at all. I can't imagine how the CDO will lure the attending participants by his lecture. Hair raising phenomenon indeed.

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