I sent the following message to selected people on 16th October, a week ago. I have received one response (thank you, Pinky). As an optimist, I am presuming that this is the holiday season and no one really has time for blog sites. As a realist, I am thinking about forgetting about this blog which serves no purpose if people don't participate in it.
"As you know, I have initiated a blog site (the link is in bold below). The idea is to have a forum where we can discuss issues of the day in an open and frank manner. In fact I want to change the "Infotainment" word from the site title to "Chiya Pasal" but, having limited computer skills, haven't figured out a way to do so. I have decided not to post jokes here.
Anyway, very few people are bothering to post comments in the site. Without comments and discussion, the site becomes an ego thing for yours truly and I'm not into that. Please do note that, while posting comments, you can use your name, a pseudonym, or even simply write 'Anonymous'. In a way, this site might provide you with a 'psychological release' to vent your frustrations at what's going on around us.
So please do visit the site and say your piece. Yeah I know, talk is cheap. But talk leads to thoughts and thoughts to action. As the saying goes, if you wanna walk the talk, the talk has to be there first!
Happy Dipawali!"
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
"Can't write a new constitution while cremating tyres"
The above quote if from the editorial of the latest issue of the Nepali Times. While mostly not agreeing with the 'philosophy' behind this weekly, I have only admiration for the stellar writing skills of its editor. In one phrase, he has captured the essence of what is wrong with Nepali politics. The CA has yet to begin the process of writing the new constitution. It is entangled in procedural details and, simply put, political horsetrading. And the "people" cremate tyres and block and stone traffic and call "bandhs" at the drop of a hat. It is a classic case of Nero fiddling while Rome burns. This fiddling had better end soon!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
India is needed even to transport CA memebrs to their jobs
We need Indian buses to ensure our CA members reach their place of work. What bloody nonsense!! Please see story below.
CA members miffed at 'Indian arrangement' for them
Constituent Assembly (CA) members have expressed dissatisfaction over the use of buses gifted by India for the purpose of transporting CA members to and from the International Conventional Center (ICC), reports Kantipur daily.
Amrita Thapa, a CA member from the CPN (Maoist) party, told the daily, Saturday, that she is saddened looking at sheer helplessness of the country where even buses to ferry CA members are provided by a foreign country.
"I don't know through what channel the Indian vehicle assistance came, but after reading the news about it, I felt bad," Thapa, who commutes to the CA venue on her own scooter, said.
On September 22, the Indian government had gifted five 32-seater buses worth Rs 5.5 million for the purpose of transporting CA members.
Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood had handed over the keys of the buses emblazoned with Nepal and India flags to CA chairman Subas Nemwang during a ceremony organised at the ICC.
"The buses had been provided in response to a request from the Constituent Assembly (CA) and Legislature-Parliament Secretariat for movement of Hon'ble CA Members and are expected to augment the logistics of the Secretariat to help CA in its smooth functioning," the Indian embassy said in a statement.
UML lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari expressed surprise, in his own words, at the "state's inability" to make a minor arrangement such as transportation for the country's constitution drafters.
He said it is absolutely wrong to look up to foreign countries for such a small matter, and added that this would only work to give more impetus to the public anxiety over the growing Indian influence in Nepal.
Similarly, Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa said that the state is responsible towards making all the necessary arrangements for the CA members including transportations.
"Agencies formed to draft the new constitution including constitutional bodies shouldn't take direct assistance from any foreign countries. Only the government can accept such assistance," he told Kantipur. nepalnews.com Oct 12 08
CA members miffed at 'Indian arrangement' for them
Constituent Assembly (CA) members have expressed dissatisfaction over the use of buses gifted by India for the purpose of transporting CA members to and from the International Conventional Center (ICC), reports Kantipur daily.
Amrita Thapa, a CA member from the CPN (Maoist) party, told the daily, Saturday, that she is saddened looking at sheer helplessness of the country where even buses to ferry CA members are provided by a foreign country.
"I don't know through what channel the Indian vehicle assistance came, but after reading the news about it, I felt bad," Thapa, who commutes to the CA venue on her own scooter, said.
On September 22, the Indian government had gifted five 32-seater buses worth Rs 5.5 million for the purpose of transporting CA members.
Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood had handed over the keys of the buses emblazoned with Nepal and India flags to CA chairman Subas Nemwang during a ceremony organised at the ICC.
"The buses had been provided in response to a request from the Constituent Assembly (CA) and Legislature-Parliament Secretariat for movement of Hon'ble CA Members and are expected to augment the logistics of the Secretariat to help CA in its smooth functioning," the Indian embassy said in a statement.
UML lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari expressed surprise, in his own words, at the "state's inability" to make a minor arrangement such as transportation for the country's constitution drafters.
He said it is absolutely wrong to look up to foreign countries for such a small matter, and added that this would only work to give more impetus to the public anxiety over the growing Indian influence in Nepal.
Similarly, Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa said that the state is responsible towards making all the necessary arrangements for the CA members including transportations.
"Agencies formed to draft the new constitution including constitutional bodies shouldn't take direct assistance from any foreign countries. Only the government can accept such assistance," he told Kantipur. nepalnews.com Oct 12 08
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Best Wishes for Bijaya Dashami!
In keeping with the theme of this festival, may Good triumph over Evil in each of our personal lives as well as in our country and this world.
I started this blog as an "infotainment". I would like to modify its theme a bit. I would like this to be a forum for open and frank discussion on issues of the day - political, social, economic, cultural, religious and so on. It is, so to speak, the local chya pasal (tea shop) where we can drop by to shoot the breeze with friends as well as strangers.
I have noticed a reluctance on the part of many to post comments on this site, preferring rather to send me emails. I appreciate the emails, but your views would reach a broader audience if posted on this site and we could perhaps have vibrant discussions on these views. I know, talk is cheap. But talking on relevant issues stars the process for further thought leading to action - and we need lots of ACTION in this country today.
Cheers!
I started this blog as an "infotainment". I would like to modify its theme a bit. I would like this to be a forum for open and frank discussion on issues of the day - political, social, economic, cultural, religious and so on. It is, so to speak, the local chya pasal (tea shop) where we can drop by to shoot the breeze with friends as well as strangers.
I have noticed a reluctance on the part of many to post comments on this site, preferring rather to send me emails. I appreciate the emails, but your views would reach a broader audience if posted on this site and we could perhaps have vibrant discussions on these views. I know, talk is cheap. But talking on relevant issues stars the process for further thought leading to action - and we need lots of ACTION in this country today.
Cheers!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Time to move on, Mr. Koirala
The piece below appeared in NepalNews.com yesterday. Mr. G.P. Koirala appears to have got a second wind. Not having the stress of being PM, his health appears to have revived. He is enjoying the luxury of being the opposition leader and is mouthing aggressive platitudes. Bringing back the NC "to its pre-election form within just 3 months"...has he been quoted wrongly or is he joking! Besides the ludicrous time-frame, the "pre-election" NC was the one which managed to obtain only half the number of seats in the CA as compared to the Maoists. It was the NC, which under GPK's leadership, destroyed itself, antagonized its "young Turks", and was in the forefront of the unconstitutional removal of the monarchy - all because this ambitious but empty-headed politician wanted to be the first President of Nepal. Not only did he not become the President, he was thrown out of the PM's post into what really should be ignonminious obscurity. Yet this ignoramus is seemingly roaring. This is indeed a poor reflection on the NC and its "second generation" leaders who remain docile, resigned to the party's fate in the ashes of history.
Koirala vows to bring NC back to its pre-election form
Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has claimed that he will bring the party back to its pre-election form within just three months.
Speaking to party workers in his hometown Biratnagar on Monday, Koirala said he was confident that the party would regain its lost strength within that timeline. In the meantime, the octogenarian leader threw a clear hit that he was not yet ready to transfer leadership to what is known within the Congress party as second generation, saying he would not retire unless the party regained its old form.
The NC president also asked the cadres to resolve internal differences and focus on rebuilding the party organisation.
Meanwhile, NC central leader and GP Koirala's close aide Shekhar Koirala has said his party is not interested in toppling the Maoist-led government.
"Even as the Maoists are accusing us of trying to topple the government, NC will not make such a move because there is very little time left for drafting a constitution and our focus will be on timely drafting of the constitution," reports quoted him as saying at a programme in Biratnagar.
He, however, said if the current coalition government falls apart due to its own failures, NC would be ready to take charges. nepalnews.com mk Oct 06 08
Koirala vows to bring NC back to its pre-election form
Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has claimed that he will bring the party back to its pre-election form within just three months.
Speaking to party workers in his hometown Biratnagar on Monday, Koirala said he was confident that the party would regain its lost strength within that timeline. In the meantime, the octogenarian leader threw a clear hit that he was not yet ready to transfer leadership to what is known within the Congress party as second generation, saying he would not retire unless the party regained its old form.
The NC president also asked the cadres to resolve internal differences and focus on rebuilding the party organisation.
Meanwhile, NC central leader and GP Koirala's close aide Shekhar Koirala has said his party is not interested in toppling the Maoist-led government.
"Even as the Maoists are accusing us of trying to topple the government, NC will not make such a move because there is very little time left for drafting a constitution and our focus will be on timely drafting of the constitution," reports quoted him as saying at a programme in Biratnagar.
He, however, said if the current coalition government falls apart due to its own failures, NC would be ready to take charges. nepalnews.com mk Oct 06 08
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