MJF, RJP Submit Their Views For New Constitution
The fourth largest party in the constituent assembly, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), presenting its view on the new constitution to the Constitutional Committee, has proposed Nepali and Hindi as the national language of Nepal. Presenting the document on Thursday (March 26), MJF chairman Upendra Yadav, who also holds the portfolio of Foreign Minister, proposed that Nepali and regional languages should be used as official language for correspondence in federal states. Yadav supported the Maoist view of directly elected presidential system in Nepal. The party further said the state should ensure proportional representation of all ethnic groups in all state machinery based on population figures. MJF has also proposed for self determination right to the states and that ministers should not be the members of parliament. However, submitting the party view in the same program, chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa criticized other parties for dividing nation into states without adequate homework and expert consultation. Thapa advised several rounds of discussion and formation of expert team to finalized the issue of federalism. Opposing the view of presidential system proposed by Maoist and MJF, Thapa proposed both President and Prime Minister should not be chosen through direct elections. He cautioned the committee to be serious towards national sovereignty, integrity, free press, independent judiciary, human rights and balance of power among three organs of the nation – judiciary, executive and legislature. Compiled from reports
Maoists Stage Demo Against SC
Cadres of CPN-Maoists staged a demonstration, Wednesday (March 25), denouncing the interim order issued by Supreme Court (SC). They denounced the SC decision, Tuesday, asking the government not to implement its decision to retire eight Brigadier Generals of Nepali Army (NA). Opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) has taken a strong exception to the anti-court demonstrations by the Maoists terming it as an attempt to bring in tyranny. Meanwhile, Defense Ministry has moved the apex court asking it to vacate the interim order. Compiled from reports
Koirala Fears 'State Failure' Under Maoist-Led Govt
After giving confusing signals over the possibility of his party joining the government, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala Wednesday (March 25) threw a salvo at the Maoist-led ruling coalition saying its activities could lead to the failure of the state. "There is an increased risk of the failure of the state because of the current government," the NC President told reporters at Biratnagar airport before flying back to the capital. He cited growing interest of foreigners in Nepal as the main reason behind the risk of 'state failure'. "When the interest of foreigners grows then there is a risk of the state becoming a failure." The NC strongman added that such a dire situation could be averted through consensus. Koirala, who arrived in Biratnagar, his hometown, to take part in NC's campaigning for the upcoming by-election, had on Tuesday said NC could think about joining the government if the Prime Minister fulfills his past commitments including immediate return of property seized by the Maoists during the insurgency. Compiled from reports
Education Tax 'Revoked', But Private Schools Will Pay Under Different Category
A day after private and boarding school owners agreed to pay Education Service Tax (EST) under another tax category; the government has decided to revoke its earlier decision to impose it. The Maoist-led government reached to the decision to this effect after inking a 14 point agreement with Private and Boarding School Organization of Nepal (PABSON) and another parallel organization of private schools Wednesday (March 25). In the agreement the government, relenting to the pressure from private schools, agreed to remove the 5 percent EST it intended to impose on the schools. But from now on private and boarding schools will have to pay 5 percent of the annual fees to the government under the title Education Development Support Fund. They have to pay the tax while filling up final examination forms of classes 8 and 10 and above. On the eve of the School Leaving Examination Tuesday, private and boarding school owners agreed to pay EST, after the government agreed to their proposal to change the name of the tax to Education Development Support Fund (EDSF). Saying that it is arbitrary and will be a serious setback to running their institutions smoothly, the private and boarding school owners had for the past some time protested the government's decision to impose EST and had been asking for its removal. The government had introduced EST in this year's budget to ensure education for children from marginalized and poor communities of Karnali region. Compiled from reports
SC Stays NA Generals’ Retirement
The Supreme Court issued an interim order, Monday (March 24), asking the government not to implement its decision to retire eight Brigadier Generals of Nepali Army (NA) for the time being. The single bench of judge Kalyan Shrestha has asked the government to provide explanation regarding the non-extension of their tenure within fifteen days and has asked the government not to implement its decision to retire them till then. The apex court gave the order in response to a joint writ petition filed by the Brigadier Generals on Monday. While giving its interim order to the government, the court has invoked the precedence of then major general Pradip Pratap Bam Malla, who had been given retirement in similar fashion by the erstwhile government in 2006. The court had reinstated Malla back to his job in its final verdict. The SC decision has come amid strong opposition by parties including Nepali Congress and UML against the decision of the Ministry of Defense to retire those generals. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Dr. Rambaran Yadav summoned Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to express his ‘dissatisfaction and displeasure’ at the way the government handled the issue of retirement of army generals. Compiled from reports
Fulfill Commitments, Then We Will Consider Joining Govt: Koirala
Former prime minister and president of main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) Girija Prasad Koirala has said that his party will consider joining the Maoist-led government once the Maoists fulfill their commitments. “First, they will have to implement all the past agreements. Then only we can consider joining the government,” Koirala told reporters in Biratnagar on Monday (March 24). At a time when there have been conflicting reports regarding the stance of senior NC leaders on the issue of joining the government, Koirala has made these remarks. He, however, added that his party will wage a ‘democratic war’ against Maoists. “They must not think they have won the war when they have only won a battle,” he said. Compiled from reports
Govt To Bring Action Plan To Resolve Valley's Water Woes
Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, on Monday (March 24) said the government would launch a concrete action plan within two or three days to mitigate the acute water scarcity in the Kathmandu Valley. Stating that the government is well aware of the water shortage facing valley dwellers, he said, "If the action plan receives support from the all the concerned segments, it will considerably help in coping up with the severe shortage of drinking water." Minister Gachhedar also claimed that the government is working seriously for timely completion of the much-waited Melamchi Drinking Water Project (MDWP). "We have also been holding consolations with some foreign donor to build a treatment plants for the MDWP," he said while speaking at a seminar jointly organized by the MDWP and the Kathmandu Upatyka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) in the capital. He also said that the government has started preliminary process to unveil medium and long term plans to address the water related problem in the country. Speaking at the same program, Pampha Bhusal, Minister for General Administration, stressed on the need to mobilize the available water resources of the valley to the hilt to address the scarcity of drinking water. According to the KUKL, it is carrying out various activities like increasing the number of tankers, purchasing generators to supply water during load-shedding hours and improving the sources of water, to immediately ensure the relief to the valley denizens from shortage of water. Compiled from reports
India Proposes Selling 500 Mw Of Power
The Power Trading Corporation (PTC) of India has made a proposal to sell 500 MW of power to Nepal. If the proposal is accepted, the load shedding can end in 18 months. In the proposal, PTC recently submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources, it has stated that power can be sold to Nepal at the rate of Rs 4.8 for 20 to 25 years apart from 60 paisa per unit as wheeling charge. Shankar Koirala, Secretary at the Water Resource Ministry, says that he has shown the proposal to prime minister, National Planning Commission vice chairman, finance secretary and other officials, who he says are all positive. The rate proposed is lesser than the current rate at which Nepal is buying electricity from India. According to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) executive director Uttar Kumar Shrestha, currently Nepal is buying power from India at the rate of Rs 8.8. Besides, the PTC’s latest proposal allows Nepal to return power when there is enough generation within the country. In the proposal, PTC has proposed that Nepal build transmission lines within its border and India will build the lines on Indian side for cross-border transmission. Kantipur daily reports
NC Acting Prez Rules Out Joining Govt
Nepali Congress acting president Sushil Koirala Sunday said his party will not join the Maoist-led government under any circumstances, terming the remarks by few of his party leaders in favor of joining the ruling coalition as “their personal views”, something which is similar to “day-dreaming”. Koirala, who is nephew to NC President Girija Prasad Koirala, was speaking at a program organized by Press Union at Besisahar in mid-western Lamjung district. He said the meetings conducted by Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal Dahal with few NC and UML leaders in the past few days was not to give continuation to the politics of consensus but to give a false impression to the public. Terming the government’s decision against extending the term of the army top brass as unfortunate, the NC acting president warned that the episode may prove “disastrous” for the Maoists themselves. He also said the government’s decision was a way of getting back at the army which had disobeyed it orders in the past. He further expressed his displeasure by saying that the Maoist combatants can’t be inducted into the national army by any chance. Compiled from reports
