The current aim in politics, whose sole ambition is to amass wealth, is sweeping the country like a hurricane that can't be stopped. Maybe in a rich country it would be natural for the rich to rule, but in a poor country the poor cannot be ruled by leaders whose mindset is geared only towards earning more money. True leadership of a nation does not come about by actions such as abducting parliamentarians or luring greedy ministers to Bangkok.

The tendency to consider oneself above law is also harmful. You become minister and misuse public vehicles. Why should the people consider such people as leaders? You get telephone lines allotted to you in every other district, and then don't pay the bills even when they run into the millions. The line is disconnected and you simply get another phone without paying the dues. Now its time for you to stop acting as a leader. You distribute money before elections, use the administration, unfair means and win again. Wonderful! Beware, leaders: the coming dawn will not bring the rays of light you are expecting, and even if it does, it will come with shades of darkness smeared on your faces. What do you want? Wealth or leadership? Tick one.

Last Sunday [19 May] the Tanka Prasad Acharya Memorial Trust organised a day-long interaction programme on the national problems. Different ideas were tabled there, but the conclusion was that if firm, committed steps were not taken towards changing the social, economic and political order, a more serious problem would emerge even if the Maoist crisis were resolved some day. The organisers attempted to include various points of view from different ethnic groups and regions. All had the same questions: Whose country is this? Doesn't this nation belong to all? Where is equal opportunity? There were harsh, touching questions. But even in that serious gathering, they did not talk about asking leaders to give back some of their excess (illegally amassed) wealth to the nation. No leader volunteered to give.