नेपालमा राजा फर्काउने प्रयास

- बजारको गफ 

 नेपालमा हाल राजा फर्काउने प्रयासको सन्दर्भमा विभिन्न गतिविधिहरू भइरहेका छन्। सन् २००८ मा राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य भएर गणतन्त्र स्थापना भएदेखि नै समय-समयमा राजतन्त्र पुनर्स्थापनाको माग उठ्ने गरेको छ। खासगरी पछिल्लो समय, राजनीतिक अस्थिरता, भ्रष्टाचार, आर्थिक संकट र सरकारप्रति जनताको असन्तुष्टि बढ्दै जाँदा राजावादी समूहहरू सक्रिय भएका छन्।

पूर्वराजा ज्ञानेन्द्र शाहले विभिन्न अवसरमा आफ्ना अभिव्यक्ति र भ्रमणहरू मार्फत जनताको ध्यानाकर्षण गर्ने प्रयास गरिरहेका छन्। उदाहरणका लागि, मार्च ९, २०२५ मा काठमाडौंमा भएको र्‍यालीमा उनका समर्थकहरूले "राजा आऊ, देश बचाऊ" को नारा लगाएका थिए। त्यस्तै, मार्च २८, २०२५ सम्मको अवस्था हेर्दा उनी काठमाडौं फर्किएका थिए र समर्थकहरूले उनको स्वागत गरेका थिए। यी घटनाहरूले राजतन्त्रप्रति जनताको एक हिस्सामा नोस्टाल्जिया र समर्थन रहेको देखाउँछ।

राजावादी आन्दोलनलाई राष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र पार्टी (राप्रपा) जस्ता दलहरूले समर्थन गर्दै आएका छन्। साथै, हिन्दु राष्ट्र र राजतन्त्रको पुनर्स्थापना गर्ने मुद्दालाई जोडेर नेपाल र भारतका हिन्दुत्ववादी समूहहरूले पनि अप्रत्यक्ष रूपमा प्रभाव पार्ने कोसिस गरेको अनुमान गरिएको छ, यद्यपि यसको ठोस प्रमाण भेटिएको छैन। मार्च २०२५ मा काठमाडौंमा भएको प्रदर्शनले यो आन्दोलनको बलियो उपस्थिति देखाएको छ।

तर, राजतन्त्र फर्काउने सम्भावना अहिलेलाई जटिल छ। ठूला राजनीतिक दलहरू, जस्तै नेकपा (एमाले), नेपाली कांग्रेस र माओवादी केन्द्रले यसको कडा विरोध गरेका छन्। प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओली र कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष शेरबहादुर देउबाले राजतन्त्र पुनर्स्थापना असम्भव रहेको बताएका छन्। संविधान संशोधन गरेर राजतन्त्र फर्काउन संसदमा दुई तिहाइ बहुमत आवश्यक पर्छ, जुन हालको राजनीतिक समीकरणमा कठिन देखिन्छ।

अर्कोतर्फ, विपक्षीहरूले राजतन्त्र फर्किए विगतको निरंकुश शासनको पुनरावृत्ति हुने तर्क अघि सारेका छन्। २०६२/६३ को जनआन्दोलनपछि राजतन्त्र हटाइएको इतिहास र गणतन्त्रले ल्याएका उपलब्धिहरू (जस्तै समावेशिता र लोकतान्त्रिक अधिकार) लाई जोगाउनुपर्ने पक्षमा पनि बलियो मत छ।

संक्षेपमा, नेपालमा राजा फर्काउने प्रयासमा राजावादीहरू सक्रिय छन् र जनताको एक हिस्साबाट समर्थन पाइरहेका छन्, तर संवैधानिक र राजनीतिक अवरोधका कारण यो प्रयास सफल हुने सम्भावना कम छ। यो बहसले देशमा अझै पनि राजनीतिक स्थिरता र सुशासनको खोजी जारी रहेको संकेत गर्छ।

Predictive modeling tells death toll could reach 10,000 people in Myanmar Earthquake

The death toll from a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on Friday with reports of 1,600 dead. But Predictive modeling tells death toll could reach 10,000 people in Myanmar Earthquake. The quake struck around lunchtime on Friday, destroyed buildings and bridges. The epicenter was in Mandalay, Myanmar, the country's second-largest city. Even Bangkok, some 600 miles away, felt widespread shaking. 

 Myanmar is considered to be one of the most geologically "active" areas in the world because it sits on top of the convergence of four of these tectonic plates - the Eurasian plate, the Indian plate, the Sunda plate and the Burma microplate. There is a major fault called the Sagaing fault, which cuts right through Myanmar north to south and is more than 1,200km (746 miles) long. This earthquake was formed due to Sagaing fault releasing energy due to built up energy from Indian and Eurasian plates.

 The search and rescue operation has involved crews from the police, military and disaster relief, using drones, dogs and heavy equipment to search through the mountain of rubble, concrete, steel, dirt and rebar.

Lets pray for people in Myanmar and its surrounding that they quickly recover from  this devastating earthquake.

युवाहरू विदेश हिँडे

देश फेर्‍यो, भेष फेर्‍यो, 

दुइटै छोरा पराई भए!

आँखाले हेर्न, देख्न नसकिने!

बोल्न मन लागे बोल्न नसकिने!

कलेजोको टुक्रा हुन सन्तान भन्छन्

मनमै भए पनि छुन नसकिने!

यति टाढा भए सबै

फेरि एक हुन्न नसकिने!

यति भावविहीन भए आज

दुःख पर्दा रुन नसकिने!

भाव साभार -लक्ष्मी भट्ट

Is Tariff good for people?

Tariffs have long been a fundamental tool in international trade, shaping economies and political landscapes worldwide. A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, often used to protect domestic industries, generate government revenue, or retaliate against trade imbalances. While tariffs can provide short-term economic benefits for certain sectors, they can also lead to trade wars, increased consumer costs, and global economic disruptions.

The use of tariffs dates back to ancient civilizations, where rulers imposed duties on imported goods to fund governments and control trade. In the 18th and 19th centuries, tariffs became a central economic policy tool, especially during the Industrial Revolution. Countries like Britain and the United States implemented protective tariffs to foster domestic industry growth.

One of the most notable historical tariff policies was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 in the United States. This act raised tariffs on thousands of imported goods, leading to retaliatory measures from other countries and exacerbating the Great Depression. The failure of protectionist policies in this era highlighted the dangers of trade restrictions, leading to a gradual shift towards free trade agreements in the latter half of the 20th century.

The Impact of Tariffs on Economies and Consumers

Tariffs can have both positive and negative economic consequences, depending on the context in which they are implemented:

1. Domestic Industry Protection: Tariffs can shield local industries from foreign competition, allowing them to develop and thrive. This can be beneficial for emerging economies looking to grow their manufacturing and production capabilities.

2. Increased Prices for Consumers: Since tariffs raise the cost of imported goods, businesses often pass these costs onto consumers, leading to higher prices for everyday products.

3. Trade Wars and Retaliation: When one country imposes tariffs, others may respond with their own, leading to trade wars that disrupt global supply chains. The U.S.-China trade war of recent years illustrates how escalating tariffs can affect multiple industries and international relations.

4. Revenue Generation for Governments: Tariffs provide a source of income for governments, especially in countries that rely heavily on trade taxes rather than income or corporate taxes.

5. Market Distortions: By altering the natural flow of goods and services, tariffs can lead to inefficiencies in the global market, causing companies to shift production or seek alternative supply sources.

What a fight!

 

Boxers were ready. The cameras were ready. The house was ready. People were cheering and supporting for their players. Both players were determined to win. Who is going to win, the home team or visitors?  The prize was high. It was lucrative. All we needed to see was some action. Each boxer was waiting for their time to punch. 

After some warm up, punches were thrown. They were ugly. They did not follow the rules. They just punched at the free style. The boxing match was cancelled. Nobody won. 

Did this match look like this? 

नेपालको अचेल

 अचेल मालपोत र यातायात कार्यालयमा नजान कर्मचारीहरुबीच लडाइँ हुने गरेको छ । घरजग्गा, गाडीको किनबेचमा मात्र मन्दी आएको छैन । व्यापार व्यवसाय ठप्पै भएको छ । उपत्यकासहित देशभर सटर, कोठा र फ्ल्याट खाली हुने क्रम बढेको छ । बजार सुनसान छ । अहिले दुई ठाउँमा मात्रै मानिसहरुको भीड देखिन्छ । एउटा राहदानी बनाउने ठाउँ, अर्को एयरपोर्ट । युवाहरु विदेशिरहेका छन् । गाउँदेखि शहरसम्म बूढापाका र बालबच्चा मात्रै छन् । देशमै बस्न चाहे पनि एकातिर रोजगारी छैन, अर्कोतिर काम पाए पनि तलब दिइँदैन । यसले देशका युवाहरु बाध्य भएर विदेश पलायन भइरहेका छन् । त्यसो त तिनै युवाहरुले पठाइरहेको रेमिट्यान्सले देशको अर्थतन्त्र धानिरहेको छ ।

सरकारमा बसेकाहरुलाई आफ्नो कुर्सीको मात्र चिन्ता छ ।  सत्तामा बस्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? भ्रष्टाचार गर्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? सरकारी ढुकुटीमा मोज गर्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? सरकारी, सार्वजनिक जग्गा आफ्ना कार्यकर्तालाई बाँड्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? 

नेपालको अचेल येस्तै छ !