Date Line The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)

D A T E L I N E

1. Use it and throw it

The increase in low standard products from north has done both good and bad for the country.

First they are cheap, which means, country's low income mass can also afford these high-tech products.

Quality does not make sense to us, but they are not so bad, this is what a shopkeeper at Maha-Bouddha said last week.

These days average Nepalese homes are well equipped with these products.

A family in a remote village who could have never thought of having a television is watching Nepal Television in a dark room where cattle and human being live together. This is what is development?

Instead of buying a product from Japan one can buy a look alike from North: cost 10 times cheaper.

Use it and throw it, is the policy adopted by the manufacturers from North.

2. Gagan and Guru

The impact is certainly felt here in the Nepali politics. More so it's effect in the NC, nations oldest and the most democratic party politics.

Recent unpopular moves in the Nepali Congress, which is of course the lone crusader against what they call regression shows use of this policy of "using and throwing" becoming more and more popular.

Gagan and Guru were treated as low standard products. Now they are of no use? Aacccha Aaccha!

3. King and Natwar

The end to the anti-monarchial slogans of course happened after a long secret chat between the Indian Foreign Minister and the King? Analysts still are unable to analyze what the secret meet has yielded. Bahoot Khub!

4. Girija's Return

Girija's return from the Indian pilgrimage saw the end to the rise of escape goats like Gagan's and Guru's. The central committee of the Nepal Students Union (sister organization of the NC) was dissolved. Analysts now link the secret meet between the King and Mr. Singh and the effect of Indian sermons on Girija could have been the cause behind this action. Impeccable!

5. Rally in Patna against arrest of Maoists

Members of the Nepalese People's Right Protection Committee (NPRPC), India on Sunday took out a rally in protest against monarchy in Nepal and for restoration of democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom-TOI.

Serious concern was made over the arrest of Nepalese Maoist's leader, C P Gujrail, Mohan Vaidya and Narayan Vikram Pradhan. But of our serious concern no one talked of Matrika Yadav. K garne!

6. JP Gupta and the breaking of Madhesi Mukti Morcha

JP quits the NC last week and this week Madhesi Mukti Morcha breaks its link with the Maoists. Both on communal grounds. Indeed a great Coincidence. Is it the effect of India's exclusive Terai Policy as declared by former ambassador Shyam Sharan a few weeks back in Kathmandu? Ye to hona hi tha!

7. Refugees joining Maoists

Seriously concerned over their national security, members of Druk assembly suggested the government to regulate and secure its borders with India. Some members expressed concern regarding possible threat from the refugees turned Maoists. Tasi Dalek! However Nepal's foreign ministry rebukes this claim. La la chha chha Shital Niwas!

8. Maoists shift to Narco-Terorism

The US attacks on Iraq has stopped the transportation of narcotics through Nepal-Pakistan-Afghanistan route to the international market. As an alternative, the drug mafia have now switched over to Nepal-UP road route to the costal states in India and to the International markets, reports Times of India on its July 23, 2004 issue. The news further states there had been a sharp rise in influx of narcotics from Nepal. The news giving references to some intelligence report blames the Nepali Maoists of switching over to Narco-terrorism. Khatara!

9. People's War

Whether the Maoists call it a people's war or the rest accept it or not, the movement at this point in time is certainly moving the opposite from its initial direction. The movement primarily meant for societal change is turning for mere political gain. The bloody bath of almost ten years of conflict has brought no positive results to the nation.

Apart from the Maoists becoming a triumph card for the outsiders nothing else is becoming visible at this point. Nepal aama ko maya khai?

The author can be reached at niraj_aryal@hotmail.com