Correcting drawbacks

When Narahari Acharya asserted that the political parties should not allow party drawbacks to be exploited (THT, July 5), he hit the point fair and full. His party’s drawbacks, like those of others, are corrupt leadership, non-transparent finances and lack of internal democracy. They have been the mother of all problems in Nepal in recent years. He now has a big chance coming up to address those problems once and for all in the upcoming Nepali Congress (NC) convention. Change the tainted faces people hate with all their guts, tell the nation how the NC makes its money, and make sure that the party has put an end to its dynastic rule. The NC wallahs must not complain of snow on the neighbour’s roof when their own doorstep is unclean. This will also solve the problem of their chronic failings of making sorties for Indian help as a substitute for the support of the Nepali voters.

Bihari Krishna Shrestha, Chakupat, Lalitpur

Contextual

The Midway article “A bucket of water” published in THT on July 4 was indeed a contextual write-up since the majority of the Kathmanduites have been facing water crisis for too long now. The writer, Rajan Raj Acharya, has creatively explained the problem. This is a bitter reality the Nepalis are forced to live with. I have seen poor people who do not have their own water pipelines, requesting their neighbours to spare some for them but in vain. It would be better if the water crisis in the Valley were solved.

Harman Prasad Aryal, via e-mail

Drug control

The Nepali youth seem to be increasingly taking to drugs these days. They are only digging their own graves by getting into drugs and excessive drinking. But it is unfair to blame the young people alone since a lot can be blamed on our culture too. For instance, during Shivaratri, Lord Shiva is offered ganja and thus people can openly buy this drug from Pashupati area on this day. Also, alcohol is offered to gods and goddesses, especially

Goddess Durga. It is also served to the guests during family functions like marriage. People should stop serving unlimited quantities of alcohol during parties. The government can help by putting in place appropriate regulations to minimise the use of intoxicants. There should be an age-limit of, say,18 years to be eligible to purchase alcohol and cigarettes. Also, smoking should be banned in public places.

Birendra Shrestha, Kirtipur

Free press

This is in reference to Yadav Khanal’s article, “Assaults on press freedom,” published in THT on July 5. The clampdown on free press is yet another example of the authoritarian nature of the present government. The Press, also called the fourth estate, plays an important role in making the government accountable to the public. It seems that the days of Panchayat are back. The likes of Tulsi Giri, who shamelessly hold on to their post despite ample proof of their wrongdoings, only illustrate this point. So instead of blaming the past governments for corruption, the present government should try to improve its own image by purging the government of the incompetent and corrupt leaders.

Astha Shrestha, via e-mail