Page 220 - English Reader - 7

lack of integrity which is primarily responsible for the mess the country
is in.”

The elections have exposed how far Nepal has to go to achieve the more
inclusive society promised in the constitution. Of the 317 parliamentary

candidates fielded by the three largest parties, only three are Dalits and
18 are women.

“We may have a woman as president, but it’s still the men who are running
the country,” said Mina Dhakal, who lost her place as a parliamentary

candidate for the UML to a man. “Politics is still a man’s game. Women
are not given an opportunity.”

Minority groups too feel excluded, in particular ethnic Madhesis from the
southern plains, who believe the constitution has ignored their concerns

and consolidated power in the hands of upper caste men from the hills.

It is a sentiment shared by the wider public. On the streets of Baneshwor,

a crowded residential area in the heart of Kathmandu, voters repeatedly

expressed disgust at their political leaders.

Sitting on a crate outside her shoe shop, Shreejana Gautam said, “Nepal

is a country with lots of problems and zero solutions. Everything will
better off are the leaders.”continue as before. The only people who will
be better off are the leaders.

Glossary

Chronic : continuing for a long time
Turmoil : state of uncertainty or disorder
Contentious : likely to cause disagreement and argument
Alliance : a group working together for shared interests or aims
Integrity : the quality of being whole and complete

220 Dolphin English Reader Book 7