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 Q. What makes a great show?

A. Good crowd.

Q. What is your alter­nate career choice?

A. None.

Q. If you could give one message to your fans, what would it be?

A. Be yourself and don’t hurt anyone for your personal gain.

Q. What would you like to be remem­bered about you?

A. Nothing much.

Q. What’s the funniest or weirdest ques­tion you have been asked?

A. No one has ever asked me anything stupid, really.

Q. What is your pet peeve?

A. Arrogance.

Q. If you could have one of your wish­es granted, what would you wish for?

A. More guitars.

Q. What is your unpopular opinion?

A. Not sure. I’m not famous!

Q. What is a super­power you would not want?

A. Political superpower. It destroys people’s minds and turns them into evil beings!

Many political observers in Nepal believe that the government has adopted double standards in its dealing with what was until now a secessionist party led by CK Raut and with Netra Bikram-Chand led communist party which had no such secessionist agenda. Why did the government ‘coddle’ the former and ban the latter? For some insight, Biswas Baral and Kamal Dev Bhattarai talked to Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Revolutionary Maoist, who is also thought of as a political mentor of Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai as well as Chand. 

How do you see the recent political developments, mainly the 11-point with agreement CK Raut and the ban on Netra Bikram Chand Biplab-led Maoist party?

These developments are of serious nature. The government should have dealt with those issues with a long-term vision but it has failed to do so. The handling of CK Raut and Biplab-led Maoist smacks of double standards. This reflects government’s weakness, intolerance and arrogance. 

Why do you say there has been double standards in dealing with Raut and Biplab?

Many issues related to CK Raut are unclear. Raut is talking about dividing the country. Biplab-ji is raising issues related to nationalism. The party which is taking up nationalism is banned, while there has been an agreement with secessionist Raut.

How do you evaluate the content of the 11-point agreement with Raut?

Point number 2 of the 11-point agreement, which talks about ‘Janaabhimat’, has double meaning. In the press meet with Prime Minister Oli, Raut defined it as a referendum, which is problematic. If there has been no such agreement, why did Raut mention referendum? Similarly, PM Oli signed the agreement with Raut without consulting anyone, even his own party members. It is good if Raut is now in favor of national sovereignty. As it is, there are suspicions the agreement could affect the country’s sovereignty and independence in the long run.

What should have been government’s approach in dealing with Biplab?

First, think of the nature of the Biplab-led Maoists. The party has not reached the level of waging an armed conflict. They have not attacked army, police and other armed forces. But the government’s treatment of it has been no different to the treatment of the mother Maoist party at the start of the Maoist insurrection in 1996. This is wrong.  The ban on party, and suppression and arrest of leaders are wrong. Such activities reflect an authoritarian bent. The government should be serious. The issues raised by Biplab are of political nature so they should be resolved through peaceful means and in a political way. The government for instance has not sent any official letter to Biplob Maoists asking them to come to the negotiating table. Why the sudden decision on the ban then? The government should immediately withdraw the ban and start a process of dialogue.

But Biplab-led Maoist party has exploded bombs in public places and there was even a human casualty. What other option was there for the government?

If the government thinks innocent people died, the same rule applies to all political parties who have launched movements in the past. Look at what the former CPN-UML or Nepali Congress did during the Panchayat regime, or what happened during the Maoist movement, Madhes movement and other political movements. Such incidents, as unfortunate as they are, happen during political movements.

What is your view on the political line adopted by Biplab?

There are some political differences with him. There were divergent views about the party’s future course when he split with us. We were in favor of settlement of differences through intra-party discussions. But Biplab left us and formed a separate party. It is not only about Biplab-ji but also other political forces. The divergent views do not mean that we have to view Biplav-led party in a negative way.

Isn’t it an irony that Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Biplab who worked so closely during the insurgency are now at loggerheads?

History seems to be repeating itself. During the 10-year insurgency, parties in government labeled our activities as looting and extortion. But on the foundation of the same insurgency, Maoist leaders reached positions of power. But now, almost overnight, they have changed their line 180 degrees. This is a surprise. Also, in politics, personal relations do not matter much.

But it is said personal reasons have contributed to strained ties between Biplob and the government.

No, not because of personal reasons. The main thing is that the political line taken of ruling parties is completely different to the one Biplab is walking on. 

Has Biplab-led Maoist emerged as a threat to this government?

We do not know what happened between them. It is obvious that the ruling parties and their leaders face various threats. It is up to responsible leaders who are in power to think of how to tackle those threats. In politics, everyone faces threats everywhere. Such threats should be dealt with politically.

The government is saying that Biplab was even forming a militia and that the party has prepared a hit-list of political leaders.

I do not know these things. The government has not officially informed such things even though there have been some rumors.

Do you think there are international forces at play in recent political developments?

There has always been international meddling in the internal affairs of Nepal. The main thing is what we do internally. If we are united and issues are resolved through consultations, there would be no international meddling.

Prachanda has been saying that there have been attempts on his life. Why is he saying so?

I don’t know. I have not talked with him about it. It is up to Prachanda to tell people.

Are there any chances of your party uniting with Biplab-led Maoists?

In the past, we held several rounds of talks on unification. But some ideological issues have emerged as obstacles. In the future, the fate of unity will be decided by our political line and political course. If there is uniformity in ideology, we are ready to unite, not only with Biplab-led Maoists but also with other revolutionary communist forces.

What is your party busy with right now?

Now, we are focusing on strengthening our organizational base. We are taking up the issues related to nationalism and those faced by common people. We are preparing for a mass movement on the same issues. We just completed a 15-day Mechi-Mahakali campaign. We want to establish communism through the path of socialism.

How do you evaluate the performance of communist government led by KP Oli?

We do not think it is a communist government. It is a government of parliamentary parties.  The old power and old system have been perpetuated. The government that introduced the ‘Prosperous Nepal Happy Nepali’ slogan has failed to deliver. Development expenditure has not exceeded 25 percent. The trade deficit has further widened and there is imbalance between export and import. Unemployment remains rampant and the border dispute with India is unsettled. Now, the government is projecting regular lawmaking as its achievement, which is a shame.

You were considered an ideological guru of Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai. But now the three of you occupy three opposing poles.

We had not even imagined such a situation. We were one in ideology and other political issues and we were committed to building a new Nepal. We had thought we would move ahead as co-fighters. Unfortunately, the opposite happened. I find it very odd. But in politics such odd things happen.

Can your party play a mediator between the government and Biplab-led Maoist party?

First we are not willing to mediate and I do not believe talks would take place under our meditation. So, we have not thought about it. Our advice to the government is that talks should be initiated by shunning the current approach of suppression. Political issues should be resolved politically.

What is your advice to Biplab?

I cannot give advice to Biplav because it is difficult to do such things in politics. But Biplab should make his political line clearer. He should clearly define his future political course. Biplab should move ahead with clarity on how to emancipate people.

Where is Nepal’s communist movement headed?

The communist movement has not ended in Nepal. Now it is weak. But it will again gain strength. Neoliberalism is crumbling, the parliamentary system is in crisis. The next option is scientific socialism. Now the oppressor is dominant and revolutionary forces are cornered. But things will change.

Q. What is something that is important to you that you never really get to talk about?

A. My family.

Q. A quote you live by?

A. “Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches”.

Q. Something your fans wouldn’t believe about you?

A. I study hard when my exam approaches.

Q. If one of your wishes were to be granted, what would it be?

A. Better life for my family.

5. What’s the best part of your day?

A. Waking up to my little broth­er’s sound and halla.

6. If you could be anything, what would you be?

A. What I am right now.

7. Your favorite getaway?

A. For now home because I have been so busy lately and have not been able to spend time at home.

8. What would you like to make a video about next?

A. Skinny friends complaining about weight gain.

9. What is one outfit you can­not go wrong with?

A. Baggy t-shirt and jeans.

10. If you could have coffee with a Nepali celebrity, who would it be?

A. Aryan Sigdel, since he is receiving a lot of hate com­ments over his wife’s pregnan­cy photos and I do not like it.  

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If you want to go on a hike but only have a day off, then this one is perfect for you. This Kathmandu- Nagarkot-Dhulikhel hike organized every Saturday by SherpaShah Experiences assures that you get to see traditional Nepali villages, beautiful farmlands, and dense green forests, along with spectacular views of mountain ranges like Langtang, Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh. The Rs 3,000 per person charge includes a guide, round trip transport, food, permit costs and first aid. The hike will take you away from urban life, and close to rural Nepal, as you walk through the villages.

To book call +9779801002974 or shoot an email to [email protected].

As the acrimonious and seemingly nev­er-ending divorce of Great Britain from the EU shows, referendum is a crude political tool. Britons voted to leave the EU despite oodles of evidence that such a separation would hurt the British economy, increase joblessness, and dent the country’s international standing. It may even break the UK apart. But Brexiteers wanted to take the country back to the glory days of the empire, when the world revolved around Great Britain. In the changed world order, this was an impossible dream. Yet the majority let nostalgia trump their better sense.

The 2017 referendum on the independence motion of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia was even more fraught. While most people always vote with their hearts, it is even more the case on the kind of emotive issues that referendums evoke. Those who voted for Britain’s exit from the EU ignored all credible economic data to confirm their bias.

In Nepal too the issue of referendum comes up fre­quently. The one time it was held, back in 1980, people voted in favor of retaining the Panchayat system. Now General Secretary of NC Shashank Koirala wants a ref­erendum on the country’s federal, republican and sec­ular status. Meanwhile, despite his recent agreement with the government, CK Raut is still for a referendum to determine if Madhes should remain a part of Nepal.

In either case, the winners of such referendums are likely to be chest-thumping populists rather than those who offer dry logic. Once a referendum is declared, it takes its own momentum, and there is plenty of room for manipulation. Now, seemingly, even ex-king Gya­nendra is looking to make a comeback via such a refer­endum, and the monarchists in Congress and various hues of RPP have his back.

While independence for Madhes is out of question under the current constitution, decisions on referen­dums on the kind of issues Koirala raises should not be taken flippantly either. Rather than saddle the country with another prolonged and costly transition, which such referendums will result in, the effort of all demo­cratic forces should be directed at preserving the post- 2006 gains and helping the country along on its path of peace and prosperity. Koirala conveniently ignores that it was his party under the redoubtable GPK which had taken the lead in establishing the new order. With their desire to turn the clock back, Koirala and his ilk do great harm to their party and country.

If you’re someone who abides by the popular saying “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper,” you’ll love the Best Brew for its all-day breakfast menu. Located at Jhamsikhel (near the famous Herman Helmers Bakery), Best Brew specializes in Italian and Continental cuisines and a set of hearty, heavy breakfast options with freshly ground Nepali coffee.
 

Chef Andy Tamrakar’s kitchen takes the big challenge of creating gastronomical masterpieces at Best Brew— and he manages to do it just right with a visual flair as well. The apple pies, brownies, baked cheesecakes and almost everything on the menu have a picturesque quality to them. Definitely a place to succumb to your gluttonous being and make a few Instagram posts too.

THE MENU

Chef’s Special:

- Best Brew Big

Breakfast

- Gnocchi Pasta

- Jazz special

Opening hours: 7:30 am to 9 pm

Location: Jhamsikhel

Cards: Not Accepted

Meal for 2: Rs 1,200

Reservations: 9818553372

 “Do you regularly visit the doctor?”, “Are there any complications?”, “Do you take iron pills regularly?” asks a team of local representa­tives led by Mayor Upendra Bahadur Thapa to Sarita Nam­jali, an eight-month pregnant woman. Sarita is a resident of Panchapuri municipality in Surkhet, a hilly district in Karnali Province.

Sarita could not open up easily in the beginning. But after the ward chair Hom Bahadur Ramjali requested her, she said, “I get regular check-ups. I haven’t really had problems so far.”

After talking to Sarita, the team asked her mother-in-law Kaushila Namjali, to take good care of Sarita and to serve her nutritious meals. They even got the family to sign a pledge to do so.

The local representatives of Panchapuri municipality are visiting individual house­holds to observe the condi­tion of pregnant women and advise their families to care for them. They started doing so after they found that preg­nant women in the area were not getting regular check-ups and eating nutritious food, which has contributed to higher maternal mortality and a greater number of malnour­ished children in the region. According to one study, 55 percent of Karnali’s children suffer from malnutrition.

“It is important to make sure that pregnant women eat well and receive proper care. They face higher risks if they do not get regular medical check-ups,” says Mayor Thapa. “The govern­ment has a responsibility to ensure that pregnant women are safe. It’s something that we’re sensitive about.”

Apart from the elected representatives, local health workers, women volunteers and members of mother groups also visit preg­nant women and give them health-related suggestions.

A campaign has also been launched to hoist a green flag in every household that has a pregnant woman so as to identify such houses easily. “We have been closely observ­ing the condition of pregnant women in our locale. When­ever we see a green flag, we visit the household for consul­tation and monitoring,” says ward chair Ramjali.

Besides the flags, posters and banners with instructions on good eating habits for pregnant women are posted at the front of these homes. Also, family members pledge to make sure that pregnant women get regular medical check-ups, give birth in a hos­pital and receive good post-na­tal care.

Nirmala Singh, a female community health volun­teer, affirms that this cam­paign has contributed to improve care for moth­ers and babies. She also expresses happiness that local representatives are them­selves actively involved in such an inspiring campaign.

Self-defense training in schools for teenage girls

 Surkhet : Female students in about a dozen schools in Surkhet have been receiv­ing self-defense training. The three-day-long classes, which are being run by Global Action Nepal, an NGO, teach girl students what to do in case someone tries to sexually harass or rape them.

Mina Bishwokarma, a social mobilizer at Global Action Nepal, claims that the train­ing is helpful in combating sexual harassment that girls face. Trainer Gita Koirala says, “These classes are important for girls. They constantly face the risk of sexual harassment. Those who take this training are able to fight back better.”

“We learnt ways to fight sexual assaults. We will teach these skills to others. I feel more secure than before,” says Nischal Koirala, a student who received the training.