Congrats to all Nepalis

On Wednesday, I was witness to the Royals vacating the Narayanhity palace, one of the most important events in Nepal’s history. I would like to offer my heartfelt praise and deep respect to all Nepalis at the grassroots level who helped bring this day about. However, the big political parties have not been able to reach a consensus and break the political impasse. Now is the time for the sluggish politicians to move speedily to lay the foundation for democracy and development. On behalf of the people of South Korea, I would like to wish all

Nepalis the best of luck.

Lee Jee-hye, Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea

Shameful

The journalists who were present at the press conference at the Narayanhity palace on Wednesday let the country down by their unbecoming behaviour. The press has been clamouring for its right in New Nepal. But scribes too have to keep their side of the bargain through unbiased reporting, proper representation of their country in the foreign media and teaching fellow citizens not to cross the line of decency. The media persons failed in all these duties. Nepal’s reputation in the international arena has gone done again. If this is the

journalism of New Nepal, it leaves a lot to be desired.

Sunil Sharma, Teku

Populist

Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, otherwise a party to Cabinet decisions, has publicly demanded that the government declare a time limit for the use of official residences by ex-royals, “Set deadline for vacating palaces, says minister”

(THT, June 11). It is probably a bid to ingratiate himself with the people. However, people are yet to experience free health services which he (and his fellow party

politician and predecessor Amik Sherchan earlier) promised two full years ago. Such dereliction of duty reflects poorly on his competence and puts his sincerity in doubt. It also dashes people’s hope for accountable politics in republican Nepal.

Bihari Krishna Shrestha,

via e-mail

Use tongas

The price of petroleum has gone up yet again and will continue to rise in the future. I don’t understand why the government is not promoting use of tongas, tricycles and bicycles.

Tongas, in my view, are the best alternative transport. They are quick, environment friendly, and cheap (traversing the 6-km distance between Raxaul station and Birgunj Ghantaghar costs just Rs.8).

I suggest that our politicians stop wasting money on exploration of expensive

fuels and allow tongas to run on the streets of Kathmandu. Besides, in horse dung, they will provide free fertiliser.

Bharat Shah, Birgunj

Fare hike

The NOC was compelled to raise the price of petro-products and it was not unnatural for transport entrepreneurs to increase fares. But the prices of petrol and diesel have only been increased by around 25 per cent. How can the Federation of Nepali National Transport

Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) justify the increase of fares by up to 40 per cent? And FNNTE General Secretary Krishna Adhikary calls the increases ‘minimal’!

Dwaipayan Regmi,

Biratnagar