Fresh outlook necessary

After the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, a number of new parties have emerged in Nepal and all claim to work for democracy and development. However, the people are yet to understand what exactly democracy is. It is because during the last 14 years they have seen leaders fighting only for power. Moreover, party splits and reunification often happened during this period. Almost all parties including CPN-UML, NC, NSP and RPP broke up. It is interesting to note that unlike other parties where the founding leaders choose to stick with the mother party, the RPP’s founder Surya Bahadur Thapa has detached himself from the very party he founded. In his view, all old parties are listless and there was a need to float a new party with a new dimension that could resolve the present political crisis. According to him, his new Rastriya Janashakti Party will achieve this objective. But the people are sceptical whether this party would be any different from the others. There is nothing to indicate that the party has that new set of principles. It was the vested interest of the leaders that propelled the country to an abyss. That visionless leadership also endangered democracy. Unless there is a change in the perception and outlook of the politicians toward democracy, any effort made in order to strengthen people’s government would go in vain. As an experienced politician, Thapa must be aware of this fact.

Ambika Pandey, Chitwan

Results matter

Thank you for accommodating my views in the Point Counterpoint section of the Agenda page in the Perspectives dated March 13, under the title “Can someone be too young or old to work?” However, I would like to clarify some points in the write-up. Firstly, I had read about the oldest (92-year-old) and the youngest (28-year-old) executives in an edition of the Business Week. I haven’t met these persons personally. Secondly, my main point in executive selection and success is related to results rather than age. The most important is whether the executive can effectively contribute to producing desired returns for all stakeholders in the organisation — in the present and in the future.

Vijay Shrestha, General Manager, Yeti Airlines

Tempo stand

I wish to draw the attention of the authorities to the problems created by the tempos that start and end their journeys at the space in front of the RNAC building. It is so crowded at any time of the day that it is almost impossible for other vehicles to use the road. Coupled with this, commuters getting out of the tempos create road hazards for themselves and other cars plying the road. The concerned authorities and the traffic regulators should do something about it and have only a few tempos waiting there at a time. Or, a new space should be created, like a central tempo park, so that the road in front of the RNAC building is free for traffic.

Shanti Manandar, Lazimpath

Good initiative

The WHO’s initiative to fight kala-azar (THT, March 17) will come as a blessing in disguise to the poor in the Terai as the disease-stricken poor families are unable to seek any kind of medical help now. The disease is prevalent in a number of districts and many people suffer from it each year. It would be even more helpful to work in tandem with India on the matter as the disease is common along the Nepal-India border.

Suniti Sharma, Birtamod