26th-03-2012

A string of ministers and state ministers have been making the headlines with their misdeeds so much so that the gullible public are compelled to lose faith on them. Most of these ministers are involved in unethical activities including corruption and misbehaving that does not suit their high office. Despite appeals from various quarters to have action taken against them, Prime Minister Babu Ram Bhattarai appears more inclined to take no action against them, which has drawn widespread condemnation and shows his intention of sticking to power no matter what the cost.

Now, Bhattarai has apparently relented and has taken some initiative by sacking one of the trouble making ministers, but this action is clearly inadequate considering that there are charges of corruption and misbehaviour against at least half a dozen ministers and state ministers. Bhattarai has sacked Minister for Labour and Transport Management Sarita Giri Saturday after she refused to resign, although there were valid charges that she was engaged in corruption. This was over the controversy over the transfer of Purna Chandra Bhattarai from the Department of Foreign Employment, who had been appointed by the prime minister as director general of the department.

Giri was asked to issue a clarification for her action to transfer DG Bhattarai but she failed to give one insisting the he was involved in corrupt practices which failed to satisfy the prime minister. Actually, DG Bhattarai had show alacrity in weeding out corrupt practices from the department and other anomalies as well. This was the reason why Giri chose to transfer DG Bhattarai as all evidences point to the fact that she was indulging in corrupt and unethical practices in a big way.

However, Giri has shown defiance and says she would be retiring from politics if the charges against her of corruption were proved correct. Now that the prime minister has taken this severe action against one of his ministers, similar actions against erring politicians and bureaucrats are being anticipated. But if things go as now, the Bhattarai is unlikely to take such steps. Giri was chosen to be sacked because the prime minister assumed that it would hardly make any difference to the power equation as the party that Giri represents in the CA has only one member, namely Sarita Giri.

Bhattarai seems reluctant to take against other corrupt ministers and state ministers because they come from the major partners in the coalition. He fears taking action fearing that his government would be toppled. Bhattarai should take bold actions against the ministers who have clearly violated the power that comes with their position. The case of sacking Giri, though appropriate is not enough. It would be fair that the other ministers against whom there are charges of malpractices should also be made to face the music no matter who they are and the party they represent. In this PM Bhattarai has failed leading others to believe that he is more preoccupied with clinging to power. The prime minister should now act decisively, and he should see to it that there are no exceptions.

Utter disgrace

Rising education and awareness levels were thought to be spearheading the country in the right direction. But, the urban folks also fall for thinking that witchcraft is real, and mete out unbelievable torture and physically assault the person they imagine to have done some harm to them or their family. This same happened recently when a woman was thrashed allegedly for practising witchcraft. And, the incident took place right at Jorpati, just a little distance away from the Bouddha stupa.

This shows that Kathmandu has not remained

immune to the illogical beliefs that someone could cast spells to harm someone. And, such accusation and delivering torture to the person concerned

is punishable by law. Despite the prevalent laws,

such incidents, particularly in the rural areas,

directed mostly towards the so-called low-caste women have not diminished. Coming to the second decade of the 21st century, to witness people steeped in such superstitious beliefs seems quite out of place. But, it is for real and calls for a sustained drive to weed it out through changing the mindset of the people in this regard. An again inhumanity against humanity cannot be tolerated

Himal

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