Inclusive statute

LETTERS

Recently, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav had publicly called for an inclusive statute. He had rightly shown his concern as the head of the state and asked all the political forces to

encompass grievances, needs and aspirations of people

belonging to all castes, regions, ethnic groups and communities while drafting the new constitution. However, the question remains to be answered whether his concerns are genuinely taken into consideration in the new statute.

He had further asked all the major political parties not to air secessionist remarks that

could disturb the age-old

harmoniously co-existing Nepali society. Time has come for all the major political parties to set aside their petty partisan interests and to start working collectively to complete the constitution-drafting work within the deadline. However, the contentious issues (Federal structure and form of

governance) of the new

constitution are yet to be

resolved among the major

political parties. Federating the country based on ethnicity could be suicidal for a small country like Nepal, where the economic hardships and other resources vary from one region to another region.

When the major political

parties talk among themselves about the compromises on

federalism and forms of

governance, it makes me

nervous. They need to keep the nation and its multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and

multi-religious groups of

people at the centre stage and draft the new constitution

accordingly.

If they fail to come up with the constitution within the deadline, it seems that the

nation will plunge into political vacuum that could invite social disharmony and jeopardize

national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national

independence.

Rai Biren Bangdel,

Maharjgunj, Kathmandu

Kudos

It refers to your news item

“Instability costing country dearly, says President Yadav” (THT, May 5, Page 6).. Dr

Upendra Mahato, a plebeian fast turned patrician, is a

successful Nepali industrialist and a popular philanthropist. He is too generous in providing financial help. He has made

significant contributions to the poor and the weak of the

society by providing generous and huge financial donations for various sectors. He fully

deserves our recognition and appreciation. And it is

absolutely the right way to do things; the other wealthy

people both Nepalis and

foreigners have to emulate. The second richest person of the world, Warren Buffett, has

expressed deep concern that the billionaires of the world have not done much

philanthropic works. They earned money through

exploiting their societies and, according to an economic

principle, they have to return

a certain amount of wealth

towards societies through

certain philanthropic works. The Ful Kumari Mahato

Memorial Hospital, which cost Rs 180 million, a huge amount, is Dr. Mahato’s latest exemplary philanthropic work. Sadly,

President Yadav, did not utter a single word about the financial contributions of Dr Mahato.

Mrs Homa Limbu, via e-mail