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VOL. 27, NO. 31, April 18, 2008 (Baishakh 06 2065 B.S.)
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KING GYANENDRA HAS SAID HE IS SATISFIED by the enthusiastic participation of Nepalese people in the Constituent Assembly elections. “The enthusiastic participation of the Nepalese people in the Constituent Assembly elections, through which they have emphatically reiterated their firm resolve not to compromise the nation's existence, independence and integrity under any circumstance, is a source of satisfaction for us,” the King says in his customary New Year’s Day message. “Along with peace and democracy, may the New Year inspire us all to uphold our legendary wisdom in ensuring that our national pride, its distinctive values and identity remain uppermost,” he has further said in the message. His message has come at a time when the parties have decided that the first meeting of the elected CA will remove monarchy. “On the occasion of the advent of the New Year 2065, we extend best wishes for peace, good health and prosperity of all Nepalese, living in the country and abroad.” Nepalese are celebrating New Year 2065 on Sunday.
PRIME MINISTER GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA has congratulated all Nepalis for making the constituent assembly election a success. The Prime Minister said in a statement that the success of the election has materialized six-decade-old aspiration of the country. The octogenarian leader added that the success of the election has "shouldered additional responsibility on us to usher the country in a new, progressive era." This responsibility should be fulfilled on the basis of understanding and reconciliation, he said, thanking the international community for its support for the success of the historic election. Maoist chairman Prachanda also hailed the people "for establishing their greatness in the world" by giving a fitting reply to curiosity and doubts by helping hold the CA election in a grand manner. In a statement, Prachanda said his party greets and salutes patience, sacrifice and initiative taken by the people during the election to ensure epoch-making change and sustainable peace. The Maoist chairman said his party feels special joy and pride over the success of the election as the Maoists had made great sacrifices and exercised restraint from the time of the People's War to the peace process and to the election campaign. Warning that reactionary forces may hatch conspiracies, he called on people to remain alert until the election results come out and a new constitution is drafted. General secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar also congratulated the Nepalis for turning out in huge numbers to cast votes. "Your enthusiastic presence has simultaneously rejected the armed groups that wanted to give continuity to violence and murders and the royalist force that wanted to impose feudal autocracy, and has accepted our common agenda for peace and drastic reforms," Nepal said. Stating that the election was by and large peaceful, Nepal demanded that re-polling be conducted in 91 places, where "attempts were made to defeat his party.”
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA has hailed CA election as a "welcome and historic step" towards realizing the aspirations of the people of Nepal for a democratic future. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India issued a statement in New Delhi terming the election as a "happy outcome" which is a "product of the determination of the people of Nepal, with significant contributions by the political parties and the Election Commission of Nepal." The statement further said that the Constituent Assembly provides a platform for the people of Nepal to determine the manner of their governance and their future. "As always, India will stand by the people of Nepal in the major tasks of democratization and development that lie ahead while building a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nepal," the statement added.
CNI HAS ASKED THE GOVERNMENT to provide incentives for Nepali vegetable ghee industry. CNI’s request came after the Indian government’s waiver of import tax on vegetable ghee’s raw materials last week. With the waiver, Nepali industry will be less competitive in the Indian market, states a CNI press release. CNI has asked the government to initiate process to annul quota system imposed on exports, Rs 1.5 percent canalising fee and different taxes and fees being levied by the state governments in India. Earlier, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC) have also urged the government to reduce the import tax on vegetable ghee industry's raw material. "If it is not reduced, recent decision of reducing import tax on raw material for vegetable ghee in India will badly hurt Nepali vegetable ghee industry," they said.
