HELLO NEPAL

I was amazed to read the news report “Basnet moots idea of change of guard in CPN-UML” (THT, 26 March, Page 6) with regard to the performance of his party leadership. Mahesh Basnet has shown his guts to publicly suggest, at a time when the UML is all geared up to participate in the upcoming CA election, changing the guard of his mother party UML. He has mentioned that his party has already seen the leadership of Nepal and Khanal. Now, the time has come for UML, as he claimed, to go for CA polls under the leadership of K.P.Oli who, he thinks, is the most popular and liked UML leader. I think the time has come for other major political parties’ youth leaders also to show such guts and start raising similar voices in order to give New Nepal a chance to see competent and dynamic leaders rather than putting forward the same old faces in the upcoming election. We have seen the irresponsible political acts of all the old leaders who deceived the people and completely failed to

Finally, four major parties agreed on an unconstitutional deal to put Chief Justice at the political helm. CJ’s unprecedented move to become the Chairman of Council of Ministers has been widely criticized from every nook and corner. If people are hungry of fame and power, nothing can stop them from doing so. However, let us hope, CJ’s team will be able to tactfully handle the difficult situation and hold free, fair and impartial election by the deadline. Don’t let the unsuccessful senior leaders undermine your positive moves. Use your gut feeling and move forward the country towards peace by bringing the opposition parties, who are out in the street, to the board.

The Himalayan Times 11 March 2013   The team of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) and Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) deserve appreciation for launching crackdown on cabbies who were fleecing passengers. Many passengers were forced to pay almost double amount using the taxis with malfunctioning meter. Most of the taxis in the town are found plying either using malfunctioning meters or without meters. These malpractices were in place for a long time. Using taxis these days are not affordable to common people. However, people will be compelled to use them (taxis) during emergency services and are forced to pay exorbitant charges. There will be no place to lodge complain about such malpractices. Even, I have never bothered to complain to nearby traffic police about such incidents knowing that I was cheated by the taxi drivers. Unless the people like me who is considered to be literate and conscious citizen make an effort of chasing away of the

The Himalayan Times 1 March 2013 The proposal of four major political parties to the Chief Justice (CJ) to be the Executive Chief of the next government and CJ’s acceptance to the offer has been the talk of town. This hot situation has completely engrossed the nation and diverted everybody’s attention towards CJ’s next move. CJ’s willingness to take up the position has been widely criticized and opposed in terms of its relevancy with the Interim Constitution (IC). As reported in “NBA censures CJ, says he’s facing moral crisis” (THT, 27 Feb. Page 1), Nepal Bar Association (NBA) has strongly opposed CJ’s intention and accused him of undermining judges’ code of conduct.   NBA’s press statement says that holding the post of CJ is not like holding a position in the civil services, the administration, the army or any other investigative body so the CJ cannot be deputed to hold any position in any other entity. Having said that who instigated and what motivated CJ, being at helm o