A game of football is all about scoring. A player needs to penetrate into the opponent’s area to score goals – and if the defense is not good, then there will be more room to play for the opponents. Every goal is scored because of a weakness!
The game of politics is similar – not same because the number of players is not equal; there are not strict referees or rules! More so, when it’s a game of diplomacy [or diplomatic relations]! And, the topmost point on saving your game is that: don’t let opponents the playing space!
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Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) was at his best [either for honesty or satire] when he addressed the mass meeting at New Baneshwor after the conclusion of two-and-half-day of general strike.
Here is a piece of what he said [copied from myrepublica.com / ekantipur.com]
Why talk to puppets here in Nepal? I have no energy for talks with the leaders of the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress. Now the talks will only be with the master.
We are ready to hold talks with New Delhi.
It’s a pity that the parties are helpless when it comes to taking any decision on their own as they are remote-controlled by New Delhi.
Was this a self-realization? Or an outcry for not being helped by India to form their government? Or simply the truth?
Many people I listened to at the teashops believe it’s the truth that Nepali political parties are puppets to our big neighbors. But along with that all of them believe that what Prachanda said including all the bad things about India was simply an outcry because the Maoists were not favored by New Delhi.
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Most of the times, the truth is bitter to swallow.
And, the truth is that India is a powerful neighbor on which we depend on many things. All over the world, it’s not a new thing that the smaller countries are dominated by big neighbors.
However, we are in better than many other countries’ position because we are in-between two future superpowers. A perfect balance in diplomacy could help us in our benefits.
Yes, the Indians are playing with our internal matters. They are because there are a lot of things they can gain from us – mainly in resource-sharing sector. But then who to blame?
In football, it’s more blame on your side than to the opponents. The opponents are there to score; it’s your weakness to let then score.
The Indians want benefits (in fact everybody wants benefits, including the political parties and leaders – only difference could be for the country or the party). And, it’s our weakness that they are using to play on us.
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What Prachanda said is a shame for them; for us. Because it came from the mouth of a former prime minister who has still a long years left in which he is well-placed to become the nation’s top leader.
To speak against any neighboring or non-neighboring friendly nation on mass gathering is a foolish thing on the part of the leaders of his height. There is no gain of it other than a thousand more claps in the program and a mockery in the newspapers.
God bless us!
More on topic:
Roundup of media coverage on Prachanda’s speech @ The Brief
Irresponsible and senseless [editorial] @ Republica
