Credibility gap

It is farcical that Prachanda continues to blame the “Royalists” for the Sunday incident when Hari Shrestha, the owner of Hotel Woodland in Durbarmarg, was severely beaten up. Does the Maoist chairman himself believe that it was the royalists, and not his cadres, who thrashed the businessman?

Moreover, the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation has already admitted that it was involved in the incident. The contradictory statements coming from the Maoists will do no credit to them. The Maoist supremo has still not come clean on his statement that the Maoist arms were swept away by rivers or burnt.

Suman Dahal, via e-mail

Shocking

It was shocking to read the news “Opium farming booming in Parsa villages” (THT, March 21). How can the local administration claim ignorance of opium plantation when a photo of sprouting poppy plants has been published in THT? The inaction of the Parsha District Police hints at its collusion with the drug traders. At a time when the country is being run down by social turmoil, the last thing we need is for our youths to get addicted to drugs. The government should act urgently to destroy the plantation and punish the corrupt police

officers.

Renu Bhandari, Sanepa

Hear us, too

The decision of the private sector entrepreneurs to shut down shutters until the government guarantees their security is correct and timely. The situation of carpet sector is especially bad. Carpet manufacturers are constantly threatened by the workers affiliated to the Maoist-backed trade union. The businessmen should also take up the issue of the carpet industry.

Dawa Sherpa, via e-mail

PM’s problem

When one of my foreign friends asked me what Nepal is famous for, my answer was not Mt. Everest or Buddha, but strikes and bandhs.

The latest incident, when the people of the business community announced an indefinite bandh because the Prime Minister refused to see them, shows how little provocation is needed to call a bandh in Nepal. Unfortunately, there is only one prime minister and he can only do so much. He cannot be expected to meet everyone anytime who wishes to see him. But those concerned don’t seem to understand this simple fact.

Bal Krishna Ghimire, Arghakhanchi

Bad times

The early exit of Pakistan from the Cricket World Cup has saddened many people like me. Coming into the tournament, the team was already hamstrung with injuries to ace fast bowlers Shoaib Akthar and Mohammad Asif. And then came their shock exit at the hands of Ireland, followed by the demise of coach Bob Woolmer.

As if that were not enough, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and all Pakistani selectors had to resign following the team’s poor show.

Dispirited, the Pakistani captain has even announced his retirement from one day cricket. I hope the Pakistanis will soon recover from this series of shocks and put in a much better performance in the next World Cup.

Sanjeev Giri, Bashundhara