| salakjith |
Posted
on 01-Mar-03 04:25 AM
Leaders of various parties have converged at Mr. Koirala’s residence. Those who are present there belong to the Congress-D; the UML and the RPP. Some observers have also been invited to make the meeting transparent.
Understandably the topic is round table conference as proposed by the Maoists. The confusion is about the round-table conference. The talks begin:
Koirala: Look friends! I am bit confused about the round-table conference. Before you begin discussion on that, let me put my own perception about the much publicised conference.
Firstly, what makes the table round? The government and the Maoists have not yet divulged as to why they are hell bent on having this round-table conference. My question is why not a round-Chair conference instead of the round-table conference? I smack foul here. It should have been round-chair conference.
Madhav: I totally agree with Koirala’s version. But then I will add as to which carpenter has been told to make this round-table to be used for the conference? This has yet not been made clear. Secondly, and very importantly, why it is a round-table conference? Why not a square-table or quadrangle table conference? I suspect the very intentions of the Maoists and the government who have proposed this round-table conference. I also see design in making us all to sit in a rounded fashion. Instead we should have been told to take our respective seats haphazardly so that we could take notice of any designs of the establishment.
Koirala: I agree with what Madhavjee has just told us. He has become a visionary personality. But yet tell me Sir! How many tables will make the conference a round-table one? Since the government has not told us as yet the numbers of the table to be used for the conference, I smack grand-design in the whole affair. The number of the tables are missing; who is making the table is also missing; of what wood the tables are being made is also missing and above all what colors the tables will have is also missing. All put together, the affair appears fishy.
Madhav: That’s correct. I will hasten to add a few more things. Neither the Chand government nor the Maoists have so far told me about the raw material being used for the construction of the table? Whether it is Indian wood or a Nepali wood, the government must come up with the needed clarification. My august friend Woli told me that the table is itself coming from Delhi to avoid confusion. Is that correct Mr. Koirala?
Koirala: But tell me gentlemen! Why it is called a round-table conference? Why instead it is not called a round-chair conference when we will apparently be told to sit in our respective chairs in a rounded fashion? What is also not clear is who is preparing the chairs? Will the chairs at the conference look like the one in Singhdurbar wherein I enjoyed most of "my" democratic years. If the chairs are not the same, take for granted I will boycott the meeting come what may.
Madhavjee: What is paining me all along is the cost of the chairs and the tables that are being made for the conference. Who is footing the bills? Are we managing it on our own or some "friends" have offered this support?
Koirala:My concern is where I will be told to take my seat? If it is in the crowd, I will say no. If I’m given a seat exactly facing the rounded structure, I wouldn’t mind.
Madhav jee: So will I do. I will prefer the other end of the rounded structure facing Koirala.
Koirala: My concern is of what height the tables are being made? You know my lanky size and hence I need a height of the table that doesn’t make me to bend. I need the tables be made with considerable height.
Madhav: I object Mr. Koirala!
Koirala: But what makes you to protest my views regarding the height of the table?
Madhav jee: Well! If the tables are of considerable height, that would make me invisible. You know my standard height that is on an average Nepali height. I would wish the government sent the carpenter to my residence so that I can brief his about the expected height of the table. I will not settle for less so far as the height of the tables are concerned.
Daman Nath: I will go in for Madhavjee. Since we have the same height, tables must be made accordingly. By and by, I am interested in the color to be used for the tables and the chairs?
Koirala: Well that could be discussed. But then tell me friends, can’t we arrange this conference in Tundikhel and sit making it look like a round conference? This will save money and time as well.
Madhavjee: More important is that what the hell the government will do with those tables and chairs after the conclusion of the said conference?
Koirala: We can settle this matter amicably with the government and the Maoiusts as well. But then I would wish some round tables came to my dining room.
Koirala: I wish some chairs in my house so that I would be feeling always at the prime ministerial chair. You know how much love I have for the chairs. In fact Chan’d chair should have come to me.
Daman: I would wish some friends from Delhi to attend the conference so that they mediate our affairs. And look this is what I proposed last week in Delhi when I was ther in connection with a seminar.
Madhav: Not at all a bad idea indeed! Sounds logical. After all we have been inviting them gleefully as and when we face problems in Kathmandu.
Koirala: If you all so desire, why should I oppose the idea.
Daman: For your information, Indian foreign secretary made such comments at the seminar. To avoid India’s wrath, we must convince the government in this regard. What is the harm in inviting them? We invited them in Koshi, we invited them in Gandak; we invited them in Mahakali; we invited them to Kalapani. We must preserve the precedence at least with India. Our traditional ally.
Koirala: I see point in it. But then will the Maoists agree to it? What would be their reaction to this?
Madhavjee: I suppose, if Daman jee convinces the Maoists, they can’t say no to our collective proposal.
Daman: I will try to convince the Maoists. I can seek the support of Padma Ratna as well. This wouldn’t be a problem.
The meeting concludes. Those who didn’t get an opportunity to speak during the conference were found sleeping.
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