Can't envy Sitaula having to sit through a two-and-half-hour grilling at the kangresi central committee meeting last week. The home minister had to listen to blistering personal attacks during which he was called a spokesperson for the Maoists. But Sitaula showed real thick skin because he kept mum and had the trademark grin on his face throughout the proceedings. He had earlier held a meeting with comrades-in-arms Prachanda and Lal Dhoj at the Himalaya Hotel to forge a broad agreement on the composition and timetable for an interim government.
The Ass thinks the kangresi ministers doth complain too much. After all, if it hadn't been for the home minister's family links to Prachandaji the peace process probably would have been a lot bumpier. Krishna Prasad's amiable personality and easy-going outlook helped him keep things on track despite allegations that he gave away too much to the Maoists. Slurp.
He had Girijababu's full blessings to do so, but with the American lobby in the cabinet and the First Daughter Girijaputri baying for his blood the frail prime minister is now under immense pressure to let Sitaula go. Not surprisingly, it is the Maobuddies and Lainchour that have saved Sitaula from the sack. The home minister's game plan is to hang in there until the new government is formed in the next week or so. That way he doesn't have to resign at all, and may even be re-inducted in the cabinet.
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Speaking of which, the Maoists have now reconciled themselves to not getting the deputy prime ministership and none of the top jobs: finance, home and defence. They want the Ministry of Forests. From the way they have been chopping down hardwood forests at Kumrose in Chitwan to sell off the timber, it looks like they are already rehearsing for the job. Did I hear someone say "campaign finance reform"?.....
Either the stress is taking its toll on Sri Teen Girija or he has made a full recovery from his hepatitis attack. Why else would the prime minister roar like a lion during his twice-postponed meeting with Prachandababu (and the ever-present Baburam by his coat-tails) on Sunday? The PM lost his temper when El Supremo tried to make excuses about his cadre flaunting weapons, roughing up madhesis and other bad behaviour. "If you keep being a smart alec we'll send you back by helicopter to where we picked you up from," is what the PM is supposed to have told the startled comrades. Now where did Girijababu get the oomph to say that? Meeting three ambassadors the previous day?.....
Badly bruised by their mishandling of the tarai, the Maoists are trying to divert public attention back to \'Gyane Shahi\'. The madhes unrest has given the king a sort of reprieve, and he is reportedly trying to muster support from an entire pantheon of Hindu godmen from Down South. The latest was the Art of Living tele-evangelist Ravi Shanker who flew into Kathmandu in his Learjet last week on a mission to save our one and only Hindu monarchy. The twin comrades Prachanda and Baburam were summoned to the Y&Y where the tv-baba gave them a proper dressing down......
The Ass is not one to toot his own trumpet, but he must share the good news that he has been voted one of the 2,000 outstanding intellectuals of the 21st century by International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England. I know that a lot of you had hoped you'd be conferred this prestigious award, but all I can say to you losers is: "Better luck next time." I've already sent the organisers $295 for a silver-finished Outstanding Intellectual Medal with my name engraved on it. All ass-licking and floral tributes to this email address:
