Lessons not learnt:

Our politicians never seem to learn from the past mistakes. Didn’t we see during the Jana Andolan II the consequences of making empty promises concealed in lofty rhetoric? I imply the first address of King Gyanendra, who, while pledging to relinquish his hold on power, was offering nothing concrete. Rather than reassure the masses, it only added fuel to nationwide protests. Not long afterward, he had to address the nation again and relinquish almost everything and bow down to people’s wishes. Now, a consensus Prime Minister is being forced to address the nation again after his pledges contained in his last week’s address failed to placate the agitators in some districts of the Terai.

Ram Aryal, Ghattekulo

Is it needed?

Even though we don’t have a humanitarian crisis that merits international attention, it is strange that the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has been working in Nepal for the last one and a half years, largely with a foreign staff. The government should permit any organisation to work in the country only if it meets Nepal’s needs. Otherwise, there is a danger of unscrupulous elements taking undue advantage of Nepal’s sensitivities, thereby undermining its security and other interests.

Binod Khadka, Kathmandu

Indifferent:

It’s been ages since the critical posts of Tribhuvan University have been lying vacant since its top brass resigned when the royal regime fell. As a result, many important decisions have been delayed. The Master’s Level examinations have been postponed too. Doesn’t the government realise that it is playing with the future of many students? No wonder students are opting for other universities at home or abroad. As the politicians have the right to fight for their partisan rights, we students too have the right to safeguard our future.

Sazeena Nemkul, Kathmandu

New notes:

The Nepal Rastra Bank printing Lord Buddha’s image in bank notes will be an irreligious act, and it is likely to come under fire from Buddhist countries. Buddhism clearly proscribes Buddha’s images from being traded and touched by dirty hands and taken to unholy places.

If Buddha’s image was fit for currency notes, wouldn’t countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia and Japan have printed the image in their notes? The government should abandon this idea rather than face humiliation later on.

Pravin Rajbahak, Birgunj

Power cut:

The government has increased the hours of load-shedding to 21 per week. The rich people can buy inverters and generators to light up their houses. But what about the poor? It seems that the poor are being discriminated against in this regard as well.

A P Acharya, Pokhara