10 Reasons to Vote for Maoist in CA Elections

1. Maoist have done what several parties have tried for so long but have always comprimised for the leaders personal gains. I am talking about throwing Monarchy. Nepal never had democracy neither in 2007 or 2046. Now, we are atleast moving towards the right direction.

2. Social Equality is another concern. Many dalits and janjatis were treated low, and I have seen them with my eyes. Maoist have taught them to stand for their right.

3. Maoist is the first party in Nepal who has brought economic discussion in the political table. Baburam and others have been constantly trying to bring it to main agenda of governance. (Nepali Congress and CPN UML have always played a political role causing failure).

4. Corruption has decreased with the Maoist coming up. I have seen this in many areas. May be you guys have felt too.One of my experience is talking huge amount of money for giving admission in special courses like Environment, Computer Science etc in TU colleges by Student Union. This was prevalent earlier. But now it has almost come to an end.

5. Ingenuine Business is another common concept in Nepal. Many businessman run many different backside business in Nepal. They earn a lot and also from the front end business, many business man dont show profit evading taxes. This culture is attacked by YCL and it is a genuine cause.

6. It is the Iron that cut Iron. So when all national and international forces attack maoist, it is not fair to call them not to counter attack. They are aggressive and that is what I love about them. No war has ever been won by Defence. And NC and UML have always been defensive; sometime because of Royalists and now of Maoists.

7. Regional Settlement views. I must say, Maoist have done quite appreciable work by coming up with Regional Segmentation which no other party could dare to.

8. Only party equidistant between India and China. We need this for the continued and suatainable progress.

9. I see only two leaders in Nepal, one G. P. Koirala and another Puspa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda). It can be well noted in the polutical discussions lately.

10. May be bad, but they are the most good. This is very important point. We have several parties on board but they are much worse than what Maoist are. And it is a proved point. No other political parties could stand for national cause and for progressive agenda, then why not give a chance for Maoist too. May be they will pass the test!!

I have poured my views. Now, its with you to give your views as comment. I will love to see your agreement or disagreement with my views.

Revenue Sharing Policy of Federal Nepal- Part I

By Chamatkaribaba

Nepal has since long plunged into a state of anarchy because of the failures of democratic institutions. These failures were because of mainly two reasons:

1) Because political leaders invested little time to save democratic institutions and;

2) There were targeted actions from autocratic and regressive forces, more particularly to blame is King and his coterie.

The second cause was lately realised by these political leaders and by that time, already, state of state was statelessness.
A lot of things happened after that mainly, People's Uprising in 2006, April and have put Democratic institutions back on track, if not democratic virtues. There are a lot of things those have to be done. The debate on political aspects of democracy; and state has received a lot of ink from various people from different walk of life. But, it seems that economic aspect of functioning of state has been completely shadowed.

This blog tries to provide a glimpse of what should happen on the economic aspects of New Nepal.
The recent news buzz is all about Federal State of Nepal. A lot of gangs and groups are fighting for that. People who belong to Terai Region, people from Janajatis, Dalits, Adivashis, Limbuwan people, Khumbuwan and people from Chure Bhawar area are fighting for federal democracy.
All seem to be agreeing on the need of federal state except its modalities how to form it. Some are voicing for Fully Proportional Election system and some are against it. Most of the Nepal's political debate is revolving around Constituent Assembly Election, its success.
Very few are debating on the issues of Fiscal Policy once Nepal becomes Federal State. This is very important for the sustenance of democracy, for the sustenance of state, for the sustenance of each federal province/county (by whatever name it is called) and for their progress.
This issue assumes significance because of Nepal's Geographical Location. All parts in Nepal do not earn same amount of revenue. The Terai, plain Region is more accessible by Roads and Transports. It is easier to do any kind of national and international business from that region. The Terai Region shares its boundary with India, with which Nepal has a maximum third country business. The goods made in Nepal are exported through Terai Region and goods imported in Nepal mostly come from this Terai Region.

Kakarbhitta, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Janakpur, Siraha, Bhairahawa, Butawal, and Mahendranagar are some of the towns in Nepal which has good Road Transport system with Indian Boarder Cities.

The Cereal, Paddy, Wheat, Oil and Gases, Salt, Clothes, Heavy Machinery, Transport related Gadgets, Clothes, and other stable food grains are mostly imported through this route and a little like Vanaspati Ghee, Noodles, Copper Wire are exported to India and via India to Bangladesh, Bhutan etc.
Because of these enormous economic activities, a lot of revenue will be collected in this region which substantially helps in development of the country.

Nepal's other parts are Himalayan Region and Hilly areas. They lack good Roads and Transport Systems. Very little economic Activity happens there. Some Hydroelectric Power plant located here and there, local textiles, local papers, and some food stuffs like Alainchi, Amriso are the major products of this area. Even those goods produced here are either marketed in Terai Region like in Nepalgunj, Birgunj, and Birtamod or through Terai Region; these products are sent to outside the country. So, because of lack of systematic markets in hilly and Mountainous areas, all trading activities happen in Terai and most of the revenues from these goods are received by Terai Region.

The Himalayan Region shares Border with China in Northern part but very little activity happens there because of lack of any good Transport Systems except in Tatopani Customs Office.
In this Scenario, we need to think what happens when Nepal is divided into a Federal State? How Economic Resources are collected and how they are distributed?
Who, either Center or Provincial Government, will have power, by Constitution, to collect and distribute such revenue and by what proportion?

This is a question that needs to be meticulously analysed and answers have to be found out. We need such answers that do not bring unequal distribution of wealth among regions. We emphasise that distribution of revenue should be made in such a way that does not hamper regional progress.

This author is trying to search some of the best possible answers in coming days, analysing the issues from Constitutional, Economical, and from Fiscal Policy view point.

Be with us!

(Reach to the author at Chamatkaribaba)

We Need Companies to Come not Donors

India was turned by the mass recruiters and trainers like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, IBM, Satyam and the likes. They pushed India from a third world developing country to become the second important IT Vendor and best outsourcing destination in the world.



Nepal have to declare few areas as SEZ and give tax breaks to attract them and Nepal desperately need companies like them. Entry of one or two of them can change entire Nepal. If someone in the government is hearing I would like them to be proactive and call companies to invest in Nepal. I would like to invite these revolutionary companies to invest in Nepal ....




ICICI Bank

Bharti Airtel

Infosys

Wipro

TCS

IBM

Accenture


Our economy is survived by remittances and aids for long. Now, the time has come when we turn ourselves to business than asking for donation. We need to make coming generation optimistic of their future and the country. They will need to see some development happening in Nepal. Development in the form of investment and business.

The picture is of the Infosys's Mysore Campus. I want to see one in Nepal. Is there any possibility of having it? (question to our ministers and planners, and not to Infosys head)

Nepal as an Off-Sourcing Destination

Many aggressive companies are staying away form Nepal, thanks to poor security situation. The power majors are considering of huge investment in Hydropower sector to export power to the power hungry states of India and China, and this is a good news for Nepal. A country with very high hydro-power potential has one of the costliest energy, which simply is not acceptable. Nepal need to reform the energy sector and prepare the base for development.


While the companies like Samsung, Kodak, LG, Kia etc have entered Nepal, their performance has not been very good in the past. The things are likely to change when Maoist are in the government. Many more companies are likely to follow the investment in this Himalayan country provided the early movers succeed. There are multiple reasons why companies would like to invest in Nepal:


1. Favorable Location:
Nepal is a country bewteen India and China, two fastest growing econonies globally.


2. Power Sufficiency:
Nepal is power rich (hydropower potential is more than enough for any future growth in economy).


3. Pleasent Climate:
Nepal has one of the best climate on the world. The valley cities of Kathmandu, Pokhara, Surkhet and Dang are the front runners for this. Eastern city Dharan and western city Butwal are other places with comfortably moderate climate in the likes of Indian Silicon Valley, Bangalore.


4. Untapped Qualified Manpower:
Nepal has very high unemployed and poorly employed qualified manpower. In terms of salary, the best man power can be got with almost half the amount in India and China. Nepal produces around 10 thousand qualified Engineers and other IT Graduates annually, and due to the lack of opportunity in Nepal most candidates make their way to US, UK, India and Australlia. These candidates can be tapped by the early movers.


5. Extravagant Public:
Nepal is a economy run by remittances. Nepal has poor government (comes in LDC) but the people doesnot seem to be poor. From Pajero to Mercedes, all vehicles are quite common in Nepalese roads. The public of Nepal are so fun loving and extravagent that it has one of the best developed liquor industry.


6. Easy Capital:
Almost all the IPOs have been oversubscribed in Nepal by more than 100 times for last 5 years. It itself justifies the ready cash for the companies looking for expansion. Also, the corporate loan is available at the annual interest rate of 4-5 percent while it cost more than 10 in India. The banks in Nepal are facing excess liquidity while their Indian counterparts are struggling for getting each extra cash as deposit.


7. Hospitable Public:
Nepalese people are regarded as the most hospitable public globally. Due to the emergence as a tourist destination for many decades, the people are Nepal welcome everyone who enter their homeland. They give more love than they charge for the service, the tourist say so. May be you can test it yourself, if you get some leisure before planning next investment project.


8. Everything to enjoy:
Rafting in rivers, boating in lakes, mountaineering in the Himalayas, visiting Buddha's birth place Lumbini or Sita's birth palce Janakpur, having a Helicopter sight-seeing of the Mount Everest, tracking to the Jungles in the National Parks etc., all these are available in Nepal and all these with in a few hundred kilometers. Nepal can just be the home for Nature Lovers to Religion and Culture Scholars.


9. Cheap and Quality High Class Hotels:

Hotels are pretty cheap in Nepal and they have all the facilities that anyone in the World has. From Casino to quality Pubs, from well facilitated rooms to good view, smimming pools to the Billiard boards etc. everything is available in much cheaper rates, thanks to low maintenance cost. The Hotel insiders say they don't have to spend on Air Conditioning (its naturally cool). The occupancy rate is low in Nepal (due to earlier political tension) and the competition is intense, which has too contributed to lower cost.

10. Lower Interest Rate and Flexible Capital Flight Norms:

Nepal has lower tax than China or India, and Nepal government has declared to make the capital flight easier for both National and International companies. This is in discussion in the council of ministry and it is likely to pass soon.

All these calls for the companies to go and invest in Nepal. If they miss, I can only be sorry later.

Black Sheep of Nepali Politics

I was surprised to see recent comment from Rajendra Mahato, leader of Nepal Sadhbhawana Party (Anandidevi) and Minister of Industry and Commerce. In his own words :

'people of hill may live in Madhes only if they agree to be ruled by Madhesis.'

This is one of the most irresponsible comment I had seen so far. And I know the source where it came from. His party is simply losing grounds to MPRF, MJF and JTTM, and his political career is at stake. This type of comment is not expected from a Minister and a responsible leader. The motive of giving such comment can be nothing more than inviting confrontation between the Nepali communities.

Mr. Mahato was once a powerful leader of NSP, a prominent party with good public support in the Terai region. Now, no one talks about NSP. And still, there are two NSPs. So, they are facing identity crises now. Thanks to their actions in the last 12 years of democracy. None of the Terai issues were put up strongly by NSP, they simply did only the opportunistic politics. In actual, they never believed in power of mass of the Madhesias in Terai and the recent movement surprised them like the Jana-andolan II surprised the whole 7 parties.

More to this, while being a leader he may represent a party but when he is a minister he should take the responsibility of all Nepalis. So neither his sentiment of ruling or being ruled is justified nor driving away Pahades from Terai. I would give him a title for his comments, the Black Sheep of Nepali Politics.

Regarding his statement, this is all I have to say. There is no question of ruling and being ruled. We are no longer in a monarchy or any other autocracy. We are a democratic country and in any future course, we will be having functional democracy either federal or not. The government will be formed by election under that democratic setup and it will be government of the Nepali People, not Madesias and not Pahades. CA will decide either we get republic or liberal monarchy. Active Monarchy will not be accepted in any way and republic is the general public demand, but if anyone choses to fight the election with liberal monarch system, we can give him a chance. But in any case, the decision of Nepali People will be final.

The federalism has gone once and for ever. We will decide the type of governance, we will form the government and it should function in our mandate. Any thought will be welcome, but not to run government by intuition and get favor by nomination; but to express in a coordinated manner and to ask for public mandate on it.

I want to attract the attention of our leaders. You guys are not the rulers, instead our leaders. We follow you, respect you and pay you, and give you the authoritative power in the government to take our country forward, not to rule us. Do not try to fool us or rule us. If we can take you to Singha Durbar, we can bring you to street also.

I seriously comdemn his comment and put forward my demand of sacking him from the ministership. We want a collective government and a progressive government, not a irresponsible and opportunistic government. This government seems to be of the people who held no public support, and they are there just because they once had. We need to move forward to Constitution Assembly election as early as possible and give the authority to the new powers.

I sense big conspiracy being played to delay CA elections by the 7 parties. They know their fate very well. Nepali Congress is the sole party representing Democrats and all know that. So it has its life but no way it can be the major force atleast in the coming election. The clear majority will go to Maoist, and MJF and JTMM may establish themselves as regional political force (I don't say communal). We can have better demographics representation, but communal will be dangerous. Hope MJF and JTMM finds a good way to settle down and be able to solve the genuine demands from the Terai grassroot, while controlling the wrong doing activities being done in their name.

Nepali politics is in real crossroad now and we all Nepali must be aware of any game played to disturb the society by the losing forces. It is the responsibility of all of us to make sure that the transition goes well.

Lastly, I like to remind all Nepalis that Nepal has always been a hospitable place. Nepal has record of being only non-secular country in the world respecting all religions and only country in South Asia with no ethnic or communal clashes. Lets keep this always. Lets not get agitated with comments from irresponsible people like Minister Mahato (Hope he reverts back and does responsible politics).

We need Peace to develop and for that we need unity. Our unity has always been our strength and we have the honour of being the only country never ruled by external forces. Thanks to our bravery and unity. Let us not let our ego kill our pride. Our Nepal our Pride. Long Live Unity.