Regulate them

Regarding the news report “City dance bar brawl claims student’s life” (THT, Dec. 26), quarrels and violence are not uncommon at dance bars and restaurants across the capital city. As far as I know, there are no drinking limits in these oft-bawdy places whose only aim is to milk their customers. Towards this end, vulgar dances are put on display and the

customers allowed to engage in sexual activities. Lack of government regulations has allowed these places to spring up in every little space available in the city.

It would not at all be a bad idea to limit such restaurants and bars to certain designated areas so that law and order is maintained in other places and the clam of the majority of the citizens not disturbed. There should also be a limit to how much a customer can drink in a restaurant.

Ananda Poudel, via e-mail

Mare’s nest

It does not look like the Constituent Assembly polls will be held by April as is being planned. How can the election be held when many armed Tarai groups are fighting for their various

demands. Many of them are not even ready to talk to the government about Madeshi issues. And without solving the Tarai crisis, trying to hold meaningful election will be as meaningless as striving to put up a mare’s nest.

Bal Bahadur Pradhan,

Tinkune

Voters’ right

Apropos of the news report “NC needs to lead nation after CA polls: PM” (THT, Dec. 27), who is Girija Prasad Koirala to decide which political party should lead the country after the

Constituent Assembly polls? It should be the people who should decide the fate of

political parties in the fray through their votes. It does not behove the head of a coalition government to say such and such a party (and especially his own) should be heading the government in post-election set-up.

Koirala should instead concentrate on his main job at hand: ensuring free and fair Constituent Assembly polls. If he manages that, he will have done more than enough for his country.

Sampada Upadhyay,

Kalopul

Petrol price

This relates to the news report “NOC hikes price of petrol again” (THT, Dec. 27). I do not agree with Nepal Oil Corporation Chairman Digambar Jha who has been quoted as saying that only the elites and middle class need petrol and that the hike will not affect the poor. Petrol is a basic commodity which influences the livelihood of every individual.

Thus the price hike will affect all classes, rich and poor alike. And who will be the hardest hit when transportation costs go up? The poor, undoubtedly. Moreover, there will be an

almost certain increase in the price of almost all consumer goods after the transportation costs go up. Hence the price hike of petro-products will hamper the livelihoods of the poor as well. Having said that, there was an urgent need to increase the price of petrol in the face of the mountain of debt that Nepal Oil Corporation has yet to pay and the great hardship the users of the petrol-run vehicle users were having to face with frequent

disruptions in petrol supply. Now, let us hope these people will get some respite after petrol imports become normal again.

Dr Sital Kaji Shrestha,

via e-mail