MAOISTS GIVE GREEN LIGHT FOR MISS NEPAL

Maoists give green signal to Miss Nepal 2008 contest
12-Aug-2008
The Hindu

Kathmandu (PTI): Taking a U turn, the Maoists, who were earlier opposed to beauty pageants, have on Tuesday given a green signal to the organisers of Dabur Vatika Miss Nepal 2008 to hold the contest but with certain modifications.

"The Maoists have assured us that they will not obstruct the show but they have asked us to make slight modifications and give Nepali culture preference while choreographing the show," said Girendra Man Rajbanshi, managing director of the main organiser Hidden Treasure.

"We don't have swim-suit round and we have been trying to promote Nepalese culture and tradition through the event and this time we will pay special attention to that," he said.

"We will try to promote Nepali originality by minimising influence of foreign culture. We will involve all the participants in the activities related with women's rights and welfare, ending sexual discrimination and HIV /AIDS," he said.

Rajbanshi, however, denied reports that they had postponed show on August 7 due to Maoists' threat and said "We had postponed the show after reaching an understanding with them."

On Monday, the organisers had fixed August 23 as the new date.

Maoist affiliated All Nepal Women's Organisation (Revolutionary) had stormed the offices of Dabur Nepal, a joint venture of Dabur India, and Hidden Treasure last week charging that the show will provide opportunity to feudalists and capitalists to expand their business through exposing girls as products.