Kathmandu, May 15
The Nepal Army threw in a grand reception of sorts for Bollywood beauties Sonakshi Sinha and Malaika Arora, who were here to participate in a charity show.
Perhaps, the national army went a bit too far in its bid to offer a warm welcome to the guests. General Samir Shahi going to the airport, that too in uniform, to receive Sinha was a bit too much. All this was probably because at least one of the organisers — Nepal Army Officers’ Wives Association — was very close to the army.
And the venue our national army chose for the charity show, meant to raise funds for the earthquake victims, shocked many. The army let the organisers do the show on its parade ground, mobilising its personnel for security of the venue and other services.
Notably, retired Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal has detailed in his biography how he bravely barred then CPN-Maoist, the rebels, from organising its programme on that ground, when Girija Prasad Koirala was the prime minister.
In this context, Nepal’s renowned actor, Rajesh Hamal, took exception to the manner in which the national army acted while receiving Sinha and Arora. Here goes his post.
