Parochialism won’t fly

Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay’s unclarified proposal of a “bottom-up democratic model” in his

article “New Year 2065” (THT, March 19) could potentially empower the stakeholder communities below VDC level like forest user groups across all regions, enable people of all linguistic and ethnic backgrounds to develop their capacity, strip the centre of its power to tamper with them and preclude such excesses as million rupee pork-barrel funds for MPs.

But a projection has it that in this globalising world, 90 per cent of the 6,000 plus languages would be gone by the end of 21st century. For Nepalis too, the level of prosperity would increasingly hinge on their ability to write and speak decent English. Thus, instigating ethnocentric feelings among the people would be an irresponsible political exercise.

Bihari Krishna Shrestha, Patan

Baseless

The news report “Bhattarai’s bid to save monarchy” (THT, March 18) is totally false and concocted as far as it relates to my presence in a meeting with former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at his residence at Bhaisepati. I have never attended any such meeting or had any talk with Bhattarai as reported.

Bishwanath Upadhyay,

Former Chief Justice,

Kathmandu

Not again

The constitution is the fundamental and supreme law of the land. As a new constitution is to be drafted after CA polls, constitutional and legal experts should avoid making the same

errors committed during the making of earlier constitutions of Nepal. Most political parties contesting the election have prescribed further government restrictions on personal

liberty and economic activities. About 2,500 years ago, Confucius said that the best government is the government that governs the least. The political leaders of Nepal seem to believe the contrary. Moreover, it would be undesirable to enlarge the size of the lethargic

bureaucracy in order to create more jobs.

V P Sayami, Kathmandu

Down a peg

The School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examination, long considered the iron gate for students, has lost its earlier importance.

It is appreciable that the government has made a provision of allowing international students to appear for SLC. However, it seems that the government has turned a blind eye to the practice of cheating and plagiarism among students. This has not only resulted in the deterioration in quality of higher education in Nepal but has also eroded the faith of meritorious students.

Subodh Pandey, via e-mail

Threat

This is in reference to the news report “Bhattarai warns of peaceful revolt” (THT, March 17). Baburam Bhattarai’s warning that the Maoists would launch a revolt should they not get a favourable result in the upcoming Constituent Assembly polls is highly objectionable. The Maoists seem to have no confidence that they will win the election fair and square. These kinds of statements will only register the Maoists in the bad books of the voters.

Dev Raj Adhikary,

via e-mail