Narayangarh, August 22:

Education and Sports Minister Pradip Nepal today astounded his listeners by setting a ‘record’ for the ‘shortest ever speech’ by any Nepali politician. Speaking in the capacity of chief guest at a gala of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry at Rampur to mark 50 years of agriculture education in the country, he wound up his speech in just one-and-a-half minutes.

“Probably this is the shortest speech by any minister in Nepal till date,” remarked a journalist who attended the ceremony. Nepal, however, managed to cram three issues into his brief address. First, he had a suggestion for the organisers: “You should save time by stopping distribution of batches to the participants.” The second: “The government has announced to make Rampur campus an agriculture and forest university. But this will be the seniormost university under Tribhuvan University.” Nepal’s final take was on the CA polls: “The CA polls will be held on the scheduled date at any cost.” After his speech, he boarded the helicopter and left for the capital.