Further delay will be costly

The passing of the two electoral bills — Election Commission Bill, 2007, and Election (Crime and Punishment) Bill, 2007, will help expedite the process of the constituent assembly polls. But the Political Party Bill and the Constituent Assembly Bill are still under the consideration of the State Affairs Committee. The parliament should pass these two bills at the earliest so that the Election Commission can make full preparations for the constituent assembly

elections to be held in mid-June. Further delay will prove costly. It will only serve the interests of the reactionaries.

Rajiv Sharma, Kupondol

Shortage

The shortage of drinking water has become a big problem for most of the Valley’s residents. Only a month ago, the houses in my locality were getting water which was enough to meet our needs if we used them with care. But now, we don’t get even half that volume now. This is a general problem for the residents of Kathmandu Valley. The government should direct more attention to solving the problem. Mere involvement in political issues will not alleviate the people’s daily problems.

Aneesha Bhattarai, via e-mail

Unreliable

The Maoists have not kept their commitments under the peace agreement with the Seven Party Alliance fully. With the doubts about the Maoists not depositing all their weapons with the United Nations monitors still strong, the fact that they have displayed arms in public has further deepened this suspicion. Maoist threats and extortions still continue. So it will be a big mistake to include them in the interim government unless they renounce violence completely.

Atma Ram Ray, via e-mail

Divisive

Diversity can only lead to unity when there is a convergence of ideas. How can there be unity when competing factions hold diametrically opposite views? So, unless they renounce mutual hatred, the slogan of unity in diversity will sound hollow.

As a visiting tourist from Mauritius, I am very disturbed to see so much violence in Nepal. As long as the pseudo-democratic parties continue to operate along sectarian lines, peace in a country with diverse castes and creeds will be impossible. If political and other leaders sow hatred among their credulous followers, the result will be nothing but hatred.

Dev Rakhah, via e-mail

Intolerance

The Maoists still show a need for improvement as is reflected in their threat to kill Khem Bhandari, the editor of the Abhiyan daily published from Mahendranagar. It has now become very convenient for the Maoist leaders and the cadres to accuse anyone they don’t like as “reactionaries” and demand action against them.

While the government is considering handing them the Ministry of Information and Communication, among other ministries, the question arises as to how they will run the ministry when they do not seem to tolerate minor criticism. The Maoists should vow to guarantee full press freedom before they are brought into the government.

Abhinav Basnyet, Lagankhel