After Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's message of felicitation was read out to the first session of the Constituent Assembly, some wisecracks at the BICC were overheard muttering that Nepal now wasn't just a Ganatantra, but a Jana-Gana-Mana-Tantra. Which is probably what Comrade Ferocious also meant when he warned that he would turn Nepal into a "people's republic" if the NC didn't stop creating obstacles.
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But the Ass thinks maybe we shouldn't give the Indians too much flak for reading out Speaker Somnath's message to the august CA last week. Turns out it was the CA Secretariat's fault for putting messages from friendly countries in the agenda for the session, but they never followed up and none of the foreign missions in Kathmandu (except Lainchour) bothered. The conscientious Indians felt it would be embarrassing if they were missing so got Chattopadhyabhai to dash off a congratulatory missive. There being only one country which sent a message, that was the only one that was read out. Seems the secretariat didn't want to tick off the Indians.
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A poll in the Indian Express this week shows that 70 percent of Indians think getting rid of the Nepal monarchy was a bad idea and wasn't in India's national interest. It seems there are now more monarchists in the Republic of India than in FDRN.
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The last media interview that the ex-kingji gave was to the Japanese newspaper, Yomuiri Shimbun in January. This week, the Yomuiri has carried an interview with Chairman Chhabilal in which he tells the Japanese reporter that Gyanendra has a bright future ahead of him "as a businessman, or even a politician". Now, it can't just be a coincidence that the very next day ex-kingji assures his family gathering at Narayanhiti that he may restart his business career, or launch a new political party. Seems the two have been exchanging notes. If Awesome thinks ex-kingji can be a politician, then why not just nominate Gyanendra the first president of republican Nepal and break the current political deadlock?
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Even after the housing crisis for the ex-royals has been solved by shunting Gyan off to Nagarjun, Paras to Nirmal Nibas and allowing the ex-queen mother to stay on at Mahendra Manjil, the nation was immediately confronted with another crisis, viz: the issue of where the new presidential palace should be located.
A delegation of government secretaries has been doing the rounds visiting potential sites like the Ita Tile Karkhana in Harisiddhi, the Himal Cement Factory in Chobar and even the Chhala Jutta Karkhana in Bansbari. But they have zeroed in on Shitall Nibas as the official residence for the president, to be called The Yellow House. The Ass agrees, it is probably the most suitable because of its ample parking, location opposite Bhairabnath and it has a working fountain.
But the incumbent MoFa bureaucrats are reportedly loath to let go of their cosy dens and have said they will move only if they are relocated into Naryanhiti.
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The Ass has an idea, why not house the new prez at the Trolley Bus Terminal which has already been turned into a dorm for YCLs and the young commies residing there can be converted into the new Young Presidential Palace Guards and kick off the integration of the two armies.
True, the Trolley Bus Building will need some sprucing up, but it is centrally located and if the president is senile and in poor health, the new Chinese-built Civil Service Hospital is right across the road. Even better, if Gyanendra can be named president then Nagarjun can also be the presidential palace. The residents of Balaju were astounded to look up and see the Nagarjun forest all lit up with neon on the day Nepal was declared a republic. Was that a sign?
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Memo to Mahara Sir who just got back from a junket to China: Chinese trying to reduce the official height of Mt Everest by three metres to 8845m. You should not, repeat not, agree to this and threaten retaliation if they do. We will not give away even a centimeter of our territory.
ass(at)nepalitimes.com
