Political bankruptcy  

N.P.Upadhyaya

Some five years back one influential European Ambassador had told me that once he has suggested the Nepal government that his country could well be interested in the construction of a sort of Cable-Car in and around the area of Jomsom so that the apples being produced there could find its market in the neighboring town of Pokhara and Nepalganj.

But alas! Said the Ambassador that the cabinet rank minister did listen to the envoy's remarks but exhibited no temptation to go in for that support.

I still believe that this country must listen to such positive ideas which were summarily in the interests of this country. The sad fact is that Nepali markets possess Kashmiri apples in abundance but we can't have our own apples "made in Nepal". Thanks that the apple farmers now distill their rotten apples and produce finest brandy and whisky. The sad part is that such alcohols too do not see the light of Kathmandu's markets. This is equally true for the oranges that Nepali farmers produce in good quantities in and around Mankamana area and in the neighboring hills. However, the oranges thus produced in our own territories have no place in our own markets. The products don't even reach Kathmandu.

Not surprising therefore is the hard but mysterious reality that Nepali cement factories are being closed down for good for unexplained reasons. Take in the same manner as to why Nepal's flag carrier, the RNAC, is coming close to bankruptcy and the friendly airlines are enjoying the best from our mysterious weaknesses in the aviation sector.

We are ourselves to be blamed. Others can't be blamed for our own failures.

A month back we did listen to a hair-raising news. The news was that the vegetable producers of the Chitawan area out of sheer frustration and annoyance did not hesitate to throw their products in the High Ways to be later crushed by the incoming-and-out-going vehicles plying in the highway. It was a bizarre scene indeed. The reason: the series of bundhs for days and days did not allow the farmers to sell their produce due to the bundhs sponsored by some political paraphernalia.

One can imagine how the farmers could have controlled their tears while throwing their produce to be crushed by the plying vehicles.

Yet another example: The other day, milk producers in Kabhre district poured mild in canisters out in the road for all to see. This they did to express their anger against the dairy factory which did not buy their milk for two consecutive days.

The third shameful example: The educational institutions remained closed for all along thirteen days. However, the UML did notice the effect of bundh only when ten good days had already elapsed. Likewise, the NC expressed its concern over school closures around the same day, as did the UML.

This explains how much concerned are our major political parties regarding the smooth functioning of the schools. Presumably, none of the kids of the major political leaders have their enrolment in ordinary schools. Their kids could be in Sikkim, Darjeeling and who knows in Delhi schools. If it were so then why to bother for the future career of the kids who have not taken birth in homes that were at par with theirs?

Shame on us all!

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