It is clear that our country is politically messed up. There are some elements who have been contributing to this outrageous predicament leading to a potential national catastrophe. Our leaders need to uphold the rule of law without being scared of the tsunami of criticisms. When the country is paralyzed, personal feelings do not matter. We simply can’t jeopardize the identity of millions of people by granting the unlimited freedom to wacky and weird fringe groups of people. National sovereignty can’t be compromised nor can it be negotiable under any political pretexts. A country needs freedom from such hooligans.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne

Nepali traders

Apropos of the news story “Ineffective market inspection” (THT, Perspectives, Feb 5, Page 1) when a government is emasculated and impotent, it is not surprising that the mafia traders, both locals and migrants, take the people at large for a ride. Bring someone like Rudy Duterte and see how our traders scamper like rats.

Apart from their other vices and weaknesses, Nepali traders’ lack of knowledge of the products that they sell and their dispirited customer service should also be made culpable offense. I recently walked into a swanky store selling expensive merchandise in Durbar Marg. Two girls were chatting and a man with white stubble was feigning to be busy. I demanded to see a few items including a pair of Monc Blanc cuff links priced between 22,000 to 30,000 rupees. I asked them what the cuff links were made of and the man impetuously responded that they didn’t know. He did not give me any choice but to blast him. How can these traders sell branded high priced accessories without knowing what they are made of? And, most importantly, their merchandise carried thin layers of omnipresent Nepali dust. I had similar experiences at two swanky fashion stores in another equally swanky shopping centre at Pulchowk. I thought to myself if these people do not know what they are selling and do not want to talk to customers it wouldn’t take them long to pull the shutters down. The shops were deserted and wore depressing, ominous looks already.

Manohar Shrestha,  Kathmandu

Local polls

The government of Nepal has officially decided to communicate to the Election Commission to make needful preparations for conducting local bodies’ elections in the third or fourth week of May.

A Cabinet meeting was held in the evening of the 2nd February, 2017, for making the elections possible. Well, there is a chance that the polls will be likely before the 24th of May this year. Still it remains to be seen whether the government will be able to conduct the polls or not.

Uncertainty always surrounds Nepalese politics, and it’s also the same this year. Now it’s time for all the political parties to make sure that the local bodies’ elections will be held on time.

Pratik Shrestha, Baneshwor