As rightly defined by Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a system of government of the people, by the people and for the

people. It is that system of governance in which power is vested in the people who get themselves ruled by their freely elected representatives. No doubt, democracy is the only form of governance which mainly revolves around the people and values the people the most. Nepal, too, is a democratic country. However, our democracy has unfortunately been revolving more around politicians, not around the people. Therefore, it would not be unfair to say that democracy has been an easy tool for corrupt politicians to fool the innocent people.

The arrest of UCPN-Maoist lawmaker Lharkyal Lama on charges of keeping 14 bullets from a bank locker “UCPN-Maoist Lawmaker Lharkyal Lama arrested” (THT, March 14, Page 1) shows how corrupt and immoral our leaders are. What is the most frustrating is that party leaders nominate such persons as lawmakers and ministers because they receive kickbacks and commission from them who do not have any political track record. Needless to say, the major strength of democracy is that is a rule of law. No one is above the law of the land. Lawmaker Lama must be booked for possessing bullets illegally and other charges of holding dual citizenship certificates and swindling people seeking overseas jobs.

Rupak R Khanal, Bhaktapur

Expensive

This has reference to the news story “China grants induction cookers” (THT, March 17, Page 10).  Still, we are facing the same problem of scarcity of LP gas in our market. At the same time, such grants of induction heater will be a great relief to the people suffering from shortage of fuel. In fact, China is the top supplier of the electrical goods throughout the world. This grant will certainly ease the life of general people who cannot afford to purchase LPG at black market. As per the news story the government has a plan to sell the induction cookers in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. But what is the most worrying factor is that the Chinese donated induction cookers are more expensive than those sold in the market. Earlier, the National Trading Limited had decided to sell an induction cooker for Rs. 13,000 which was almost three times the price of an induction heater sold in the market.

Now the NTL has decided to sell it for Rs. 10,000 per piece which is also more expensive than the price of an induction heater available in the open market. Then, what is the use of the Chinese donation when it is more expensive than the market price of an induction? More than that, the Chinese donation is not a grant at all. The cost of the induction heaters will be deducted from the annual grant China provides to Nepal. I doubt people will show interest in purchasing the Chinese induction heater paying higher price than cheaper ones available in markets.

Saroj Wagle, Bara