Chaos And Disorder
At a time when the country has been passing through a very critical transition period, it will invite more chaos and disorder in the society. Sooner the Constituent Assembly drafts a new constitution, the shorter the transition will be. However, it is very unfortunate to say that nobody has shown any interest in drafting the new constitution on time. You have done very wonderful job by highlighting the state of constitution making in Nepal (See Spotlight Cover Constitution: Time against Race (January 9-16, 2009) whether one likes it or not, it is the interest of all the countrymen to have a new constitution sooner than latter.
- Jeevan Lamal
Via Email
Crisis And Constitution
I agree with you that the constitution has nothing to do with Nepal's on going crisis and it cannot solve any future crisis (Spotlight cover story Constitution making Time against Race January 9-16). It is a fact that Nepal has already experimented with half a dozen constitution in its process of modernization in the last five decades. It is unfortunate to say that no constitution was allowed to function properly and all of them had to die immaturely. Constitution of Nepal 1962 was the only constitution that lasted for more than three decades with three amendments. Even the constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 which was projected as the best constitution of the world died immaturely just one and half decades after its promulgation. If we see the constitutional history of Nepal, we have not seen any constitution functioning properly before they were abrogated through a violent move. As just a little more than three years, the present interim constitution has already been amended six times and it seems that it will be amended further. This indicates whatever our members of CA will write; it will be doomed to fail.
- Shiva Sharan
Janakpurdham
Via E-mail
Sense Of Bias
Your cover story is always biased in the sense that you try to unnecessarily drag Nepal's geo-strategic position into all the problems of the country. I don't think geo-strategic situation only is responsible for the present crisis. You must note the role played by our political leaders including the King in the past. Had they honestly worked together with an aim to uplift the life of the people, the country would not have faced the present situation. Of course, every country has its own interest but it is for the political leadership to decide.
- Sita K.C
Via Email
Raj Attitude
In his interview, Saubhagya Shah has rightly pointed out the hegemonic attitude or Raj attitude of Indian bureaucrats. I don't think there is any Nepali who can think bad about our neighbour in south. Thanks to Indian hegemonic policy, they are just creating many enemies in Nepal. For instance, Indians openly groomed, provided safe shelter and allowed to transport necessary logistic to launch violent insurgency in Nepal. However, once in power Maoists are now trying to reduce Indian influence in Nepal openly challenging the hegemony of India. Maoist leader Prachanda even has shown guts to replace century's old tradition of appointing Indian priests in Nepal. What India has gained from making Nepal unstable? As Shah said, Indians may be happy to see unstable Nepal for its short term gains; what about its long term interest? At a time when many other countries are spending huge amount of money to promote their culture in Nepal, Indians seem to be happy to see attack on their culture in Nepal. As a good friend of India, every Nepali wishes to see friendly treatment from India not as a hegemonic power.
- Sandip Gurung
London, Via Email
Wrong Row
It was very shameful to read the story regarding the interference by Maoists in the process of appointment of priests in Pashupati. I don't understand the argument given by Maoists that they have done this to appoint Nepali priests in Pashupati. As a devotee of Pashupati, nobody cares what the nationality of priests in Pashupati is? If a Polish and German can be respected and accepted as a Pope by all followers of Catholic, there is nothing wrong to do similar respect to Indian priests. We must not forget that Nepali and Indian culture originated from same place and same book. I would like to request Maoists not to play with our faith on your petty nationalism. The Maoist government must continue century's old traditions of appointing India priests respecting the sentiment of devotes.
- Nirmala Shrestha
Via Email
