VOL. 04, NO. 23, May 27, 2011 (Jestha 13, 2068)

The incoming ambassador of India, Jayant Prasad, will serve in the office for just two years. Sources said that prime minister Man Mohan Singh has given him the appointment letter with a fixed term of two years although Prasad is due to retire from the foreign service after a year. The son of former Indian ambassador to Nepal, Bimal Prasad, was not keen on assuming the Nepal mission. Having spent many years in European countries and with wife due to be promoted as chief secretary in the (Shiela Dixit-led) New Delhi government soon, the wanted to spend the rest of time in India. He agreed to take the new job only after the persuasion from father and the prime minister. Meanwhile, the outgoing ambassador Rakesh Sood has not returned yet despite completing his term two months ago. Sources said that his departure had been delayed since there has been no vacancy of a position in the external affairs ministry yet.    One of the most senior joint secretaries in the ministry, Sood is expected to be appointed high commissioner to the UK. (His predecessor in the Kathmandu mission, Shiv Shanker Mukherjee had also been appointed high commissioner to the UK on completion of his term in Nepal). But since the London office will fall vacant only in July, Sood is likely to continue as ambassador in Kathmandu for some time. (Jana Aastha, May 18)

 China   To Continue ‘Food For Work’ Aid

 China   is to continue its food-for-work aid to Nepal’s 10 remote mountain districts. The decision had been taken at a meeting in the Tibet’s Dhongwasen. The aid had been started in 2009, in Rasuwa. Mustang, Dolpa, Darchula, Manang, Bajhang, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Dhading and Humla districts. According to the chief district office of Mustang Yogendra Raj Pandey, Tibet has agreed to provide 3 million rupees worth rice, sugar, wheat and salt to Mustang alone. China had been providing such aid, described as material assistance to the ten districts under an agreement signed two years ago.

 ‘Seven-point Deal Is New Version Of 12-point Delhi Accord’

Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal President Kamal Thapa has dubbed the 7-point pact (that led to formation of the present government) between the chairmen of the UCPN-Maoist, Prachanda, and the UML, Jhalanath Khanal as the new version of the 12-point Delhi pact (between seven mainstream parties and the-then rebel Maoist outfit). According to him, both are aimed at establishing a totalitarian set up. He said that the constituent assembly, which was the outcome of the 12-point Delhi accord, has become a date-expired medicine. So, according to him, a new constituent assembly should be put in place through a fresh election. (Naya Patrika, May 22)