Unsafe procession

Bisket Jatra is the biggest festival of Bhaktapur and is celebrated with great fanfare every year, “Historic Bisket Jatra begins today” (THT, April 9). The fest which kicks off just a couple of days before the Nepali New Year holds special religious and cultural significance for the people of Bhaktapur.

However, every year several people get killed and many others injured in stampedes that result during the procession of the chariot of Lord Bhairavnath. The organisers need to put in place measures to avoid such incidents in future.

Maheshwor Prajapati,

Bhaktapur

Crime control

How can a murder-accused like Sukre Tamang escape police captivity without the complicity of the cops, “Undertrial gives cops the slip” (THT, April 9)? Even in the event that the cops were not involved, the incident clearly hints at the dearth of police personnel and

ammunition to prevent Tamang’s accomplices from fleeing with him. The Nepal Police have gained a bad reputation for their failure to control rising crime in the Valley. Events like this leave the public in no doubt that the police force is inefficient and incapable of protecting life and property of the people.

Arjun Karki, Kalanki

Test case

Over 200 foreign journalists are reported to have descended on Nepali soil to cover April 10 Constituent Assembly polls. Their very presence is indicative of the huge importance

international media attaches to the election, both for the sake of the country and its impact on South Asia. In many ways, Nepal has become a test case for the countries trying to come to terms with the shattering of the old, autocratic order and the establishment of a new order based on justice and equality for all its citizens. How the events play out in the next couple of days will have long-term consequences.

Sumit Aryal, via e-mail

CA matter

This is in reference to the letter “No right” (THT, April 9). I agree with the writer that the media should not give undue importance to political statements of foreigners on Nepal’s

internal matters. The same applies to Devyani Rana, now an Indian national. Whether or not the institution of monarchy is favoured by the young generation, it is for the constituent assembly to decide if it is to stay or go.

Prabin Sharma, Minbhawan, Kathmandu

Rail link

In a recent interview Maoist chairman Prachanda announced that his party wants to connect

Kathmandu with the Indian state of Bihar via a railway line. He has indicated that such a rail link with Bihar would bring about sea change in Nepal’s economy. This has also been in the agenda of Nepali Congress for the last few years.

Building of transport networks that link Nepal to its neighbours is indeed a great idea, and would definitely open up new trade and business opportunities. However, I wonder why the leaders have always failed to see that the first important task before them is to see to it that the country becomes self-reliant. We have enough resources, which, if utilised properly, could boost the country’s economy in ways that we never imagined.

V P Sayami, Kathmandu