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Can we really get rid of Nepotism in the government?
We have been hearing about nepotism in our government bodies for the past three decades and more but the most recent steps taken by the Sushila Karki government have confused us all. I don't think there is anything wrong if the cabinet forwards the name of our Home Minister to the President to nominate him as a member of the National Assembly.
Conspiracy theorists are up in arms and think that something is cooking and he will once again head the Home Ministry in the new government soon. Even if that is the case, why should we really be so worried about it?
The National Assembly's chairperson is the brother of our great comrade Prachanda. Now, that is nepotism in the real sense. When our didi Arzoo Deuba slid in through the PR quota and became the Foreign Minister, then that was pure nepotism as well.
And today, Gagan Thapa has decided to send his father-in-law to the Parliament from the PR quota. That is nepotism. Bimal's daughter is in the PR thing as well. That is nepotism. And when our PM also decides to place her personal secretary as the new head of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) then we can also call it nepotism. Why couldn't she find an able person, who is more of an expert or has worked for decades in that field, to head that body instead of her own personal secretary?
Singapore's Mr. Lee then also faced questions about nepotism when his son was made the PM. Junior was a capable person in his own right but I think it was nepotism as well. It is very hard when your near and dear ones may be capable for that job but if you are in power then it is best not to appoint them and find someone capable who does not share your bloodline or is not in your inner circle.
PM Karki was applauded by all for holding the general election on time and that too peacefully and fairly. But now conspiracy theorists are talking about how Nepal Army may have played a part while transferring the ballot boxes around. Yes, when they win it is all fine and dandy and when they lose then all kinds of conspiracy theories pop up.
I hope PM Karki will reconsider her decision to appoint her personal secretary as the new conservation head and find some other person who knows more about nature conservation and stuff, and not ruin her legacy.
I think the new RSP government can pass anti-nepotism laws for such political appointments in the near future or else we will have the old vultures making noises and telling us that these new folks are as bad as they were. We will know the new ministers in Balen's cabinet in the future. It will be a week or two before the new House begins its tenure so why are some of us so quick to blame the RSP for shortages of cooking gas when they know very well that we import that stuff and the current conflict somewhere has played a part in such shortages?
Until then, let us just focus on where to get the cooking gas and worry about ourselves or as Harka Sampang tells his followers, Bhat Khau , Tauko Nadukhau. If no cooking gas, then let us have some chiura and use induction stove as well. It's not like this is the end of the world.
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