Time for realisation

Dashain and Tihar are the biggest festivals of most Nepalis. However, Nepalis have a tendency to spend freely during these festivals just to show off that they have a good social standing. The festivals have a great religious value and Nepalis should respect this cultural importance instead of splurging unnecessarily.

It seems that Nepalis think that the more they spend, the more respect they command from society. We should realise that we can save a lot of money by controlling unnecessary expenses and contribute the money to the welfare of the poor. Nepalis should also stop the practice of sacrificing animals during Dashain.

Pranit Sharma, Balaju, Kathmandu

Chaos

With the deferral of the constituent assembly polls, political chaos has gripped our nation yet again.

While leaders of the seven party alliance seem busy blaming each other for the failure to put the peace process back on track, others have been questioning the legitimacy of the interim government, which has exceeded its tenure. Therefore, some people have come up with the idea of replacing it with a more effective and capable government. On the other hand, common Nepalis who have been craving for peace for long are greatly disappointed by the turn of events. Time has come for the leaders to understand the desire of the general public and find a permanent solution to the problem. Let’s hope that Goddess Durga gives them the wisdom and the strength to fight all odds and establish lasting peace in the country.

Ambika Pandey, Chitwan

Hegemony

The CA election scheduled for November 22, which was the basis for the 12-point agreement between the parliamentary parties and the Maoists, had to be postponed because of the Maoist conditions, which did not show full respect for the sovereign people’s democratic rights to elect their representatives to draw up a constitution.

Considering the progress Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala made in the peace process, he

alone cannot be blamed for the failure to hold the polls on time. The civil society which had been so vocal during the April movement now has to come forward and stop the Maoist

hegemony taking root in Nepali politics. The civil society has now also an important role to play in establishing the culture of meritocracy, upon which new leaders for new Nepal would be elected.

Ramesh Shrestha, Lalitpur

Right award

This is in reference to the news report “China calls on Bush to cancel Dalai Lama meeting” (THT, Oct 17). The fact that the US government has awarded Congressional Gold Medal, a top US civilian award, to exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is commendable.

Though the US president has earned himself a bad name for waging war in Iraq, this act of honouring the spiritual leader has gone a long way in re-establishing Bush’s image as the advocate of peace and democracy. It is really a great occasion for peace lovers in the world to see that both Democrats and Republicans in the US came together for the purpose.

Chandra Shakya,Lagankhel, Lalitpur