By BABBLER

Just recently, the Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) organized a mobility expo showcasing new vehicle brands, most of them imported from India and China. Among the vehicles on display were two Hyundai models and several two-wheelers assembled in Nepal.

Despite its name, NAIMA is an association representing automobile manufacturers as well as importers. However, many of its members appear more interested in becoming dealers than manufacturers.

Even if dealers were to establish assembly plants, they could create employment opportunities for Nepalis. Why not encourage them to invest in local manufacturing and assembly?

Spending on Beauty Products

In the last fiscal year, Nepal spent Rs. 12.4 million importing products such as sindoor, nail polish, hair-care products, shampoo, and hair oil.

With proper research and investment, Nepal could produce many of these products domestically using locally available herbs and other natural resources. Producing them at home could save millions of rupees in foreign exchange while also creating employment opportunities.

Heavy Indian Investment

According to the report Geopolitical System (Bhurajnitik Byabastha) by Bhanu Bhandari, around 72,000 government officials, security personnel, politicians, and intellectuals are reportedly receiving monthly payments from Indian authorities to serve their interests. The reported payments range from INR 3,000 to INR 300,000.

If this claim is accurate, it raises serious questions about foreign influence in Nepal. The disappearance of the original copy of the Sugauli Treaty also makes one wonder about how sensitive national documents have been handled.

The Number of Martyrs in Nepal

It is a matter of concern that Nepal has officially recognized a number of martyrs exceeding the entire population of Mustang district.

The total number of recognized martyrs is reported to be 14,925, while the total population of Mustang is 14,452. This means that Nepal has officially recognized 473 more martyrs than the entire population of Mustang.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

As the government is reopening closed industries, why have operating industries such as Hetauda and Udayapur Cement reached the stage of closure? The reasons must be identified. A cement factory established by private investors after purchasing a mine and investing billions can operate profitably, but why does an industry with one of the best limestone mines, and a large structure built with foreign investment, end up making losses and reaching the point of closure? Five years ago, when Hwasin Cement did not have a transmission line, it operated the factory using diesel generators and still supplied cement to Nepali consumers at a somewhat lower price than others. After electricity reached the factory, it began operating on electricity.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has already disproved the notion that government institutions always operate at a loss. The Authority, which remained in losses for most of the period since its establishment, has been making billions in profit continuously for the past 10 years. During this period, it has apparently been able to make profits even after reducing electricity tariffs by around 25 percent. Leadership and management are extremely important.

Therefore, the government should not merely reopen closed industries; it must think about bringing them into long-term operation and preventing functioning industries from closing while helping them become profitable. Serious attention should be given to this matter.

–Kulman Ghising

Hetauda Textile Industry, established in 2032 B.S., used to export textiles to 36 countries and provide employment to 1,200 people. Later, the same industry was turned into scrap, but the blame was placed on kings Mahendra, Birendra, and Gyanendra Shah.

The Hetauda Textile Industry, which once exported textiles to 36 countries and provided employment to 1,200 people, was later reduced to scrap, while those who shut down the industry themselves placed the blame on the then kings Mahendra, Birendra, and Gyanendra Shah.

Why past rulers who built highways, promoted agricultural self-reliance, established Tribhuvan University, airports, and industries were labeled autocrats, while the practice of closing industries was presented as an achievement of democracy.

The reopening of the closed Hetauda Textile Industry was “nothing short of a miracle.” Efforts had begun to preserve the industry’s history.

Opening industries became autocracy, while closing industries became democracy.

–MP Rajiv Khatri

Municipal police were turned into bodyguards for the mayor and deputy mayor and a squad that runs around behind and beside them. The same thing was done when the current prime minister was the mayor of Kathmandu, and the same appears to be happening with the current acting mayor. Municipal police are not the bodyguards of mayors and deputy mayors.

–Binod Neupane

 When the RSP had 21 MPs, they used to say that they did not have enough numbers and therefore could not do anything. Now they have 182 MPs. There is no one to stop or obstruct them from doing something good for the country and its people, but they are people who became MPs by scratching coupons rather than being political beings. Let us not expect anything from them; now we hear that they cannot even reach a quorum in Parliament!

–Om Kumar Thapa

China does not tolerate even a seminar on Tibet in Nepal. It comes at a cost to Kathmandu,” writes Rishi Gupta, a commentator on global strategic affairs.

–ThePrintIndia

Would India tolerate a seminar on Kashmir, Azad or otherwise, or for that matter, Arunachal in Kathmandu?

–Dipak Gyawali

 It seems Nepal is the only country in the world where those who betray Nepal are given awards and prizes.

–Bhumi Raj

Instead of buying expensive gas from India and selling cheap electricity, if we give cheap electricity to the people, we can save $500 million.

–Bhismak1962

The day of Bhadra 1 (August 17) also recalls the year 2020 B.S. On that very day, Nepal received a new Muluki Ain (National Code), which not only removed discrimination based on caste but also legally abolished the practice of untouchability. The first Muluki Ain was published in 1910, when Jung Bahadur was in power. King Mahendra introduced the new law in accordance with the 2019 B.S. Constitution promulgated after his 2017 B.S. political move. In 2074/75 B.S., it was converted into the Muluki Sanhita (National Code). Those who wanted to make a simple system complicated succeeded. But how long it will last, only God knows.

–Dhruba H. Adhikary

Excerpted and translated by Sushma Shrestha.