NC Divided Over Maoists
Contrasting views within the Nepali Congress came to the fore Friday (Jul 26) during a central committee meeting of the party convened here today, with one faction wanting to engage the Maoists and another arguing to isolate them to smoothen the constitution-making process. Central member Mahesh Acharya said the President should invite the CPN-Maoist, as the largest party, to take the lead to form a consensus government.
He urged the party leaders not to be a part of the new government and lead efforts to revitalize the consensus politics. "The mandate of the CA is not for the NC to join the government and same is the feeling of most of the party cadres and intelligentsia," Acharya said, adding that a majority of the party leaders would finally agree with his argument. "We should not forget that the Maoists have just come to the mainstream politics and have won the largest number of seats in the CA," he said. However, another leader Govind Raj Joshi put forth contrasting views. "The NC should take the lead to forge a coalition of 24 parties by leaving the Maoists alone in the opposition. Then only will they feel the heat and agree for a consensus government," he said. He said there was no ground for the NC to collaborate with the Maoists as the latter had not met the seven-point condition set by the NC. Acharya, on the other hand, said it would not be wise for the NC to join the government and force the Maoists to sit in the opposition. "The present political problem seeks historic role from the NC and the party should shoulder that responsibility by bringing all the major stakeholders under a broad coalition." The CWC meeting congratulated the President and Vice President for assuming the high offices.
Narahari Acharya, Binay Dhoj Chand, Uma Adhikari, Arjun Joshi and Bhishma Raj Angdambe also spoke in the meeting. The CWC will meet again on Monday. The Himalayan Times daily reports
VP Jha Defends His Swearing In Hindi
Even as students across the country have protested vice president Parmananda Jha for taking oath in Hindi language, he has defended his action. Talking to BBC Nepali Service, Friday (Jul 25), VP Jha said that Hindi is also a mother-tongue of (some community) in Nepal. "As per the census, there are around 200,000 people whose mother-tongue is Hindi," VP Jha said. He also rejected accusations that using Hindi language would, in any way, undermine nationality and integrity. Although he himself is a native Maithili speaker, VP Jha said he chose to take oath in Hindi because it was a common language understood by Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi and other lingual groups of Madhes region. Responding to the filing of a writ petition against his swearing in Hindi at the Supreme Court, VP Jha – who is a former judge - said he would abide by the court decision. He, however, claimed that his taking of oath in Hindi language had not breached the interim constitution. Compiled from reports
Maoists To Take To Streets If Koirala Becomes PM Again
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has warned that his party would launch nationwide agitation if Girija Prasad Koirala becomes prime minister, again. Speaking at a programme organised by Muslim Mukti Morcha in the capital, Saturday, Prachanda claimed 'foreign forces' were plotting to Koirala PM again. "Domestic and foreign forces are conspiring to make Koirala prime minister. If that happens, that will be against the people's mandate. We will bring people in the streets against such move," said Prachanda, without elaborating who he meant by such forces. He added that his party can easily topple what he called 'petty Kings' in reference to Koirala. Prachanda also ruled out any possibility of Maoists returning to jungle. "Petty Kings are making every effort to block Maoists from climbing to power. If this effort continues we will push the petty Kings into the jungle instead," he said. Compiled from reports
Indian Group To Invest Heavily In Nepal
India-based Bhushan Group plans to operate three big industries in Nepal — two in Biratnagar in the eastern region and one in Surkhet in the mid-western region as soon as the political uncertainty ends in Nepal. The group is carrying out feasibility study regarding the establishment of the industries. Bhushan Group is already operating Arati Strips — a zinc industry — with an investment of Rs 5 billion at Tankisinwari in Morang district for the past six years. "Many Indian investors are in confusion because of the political instability in Nepal," Roshit Unnithan, general manager of Arati Strips said. "The group has already got approval for the establishment of a cement factory in Surkhet at a cost of Rs 1600 million," Unnithan said, adding, "Study regarding the establishment of two industries manufacturing plastic pipes and corrugated iron in Morang-Sunsari corridor is underway." "If the government could attract big investors, it would help in the development of the eastern region," Mahesh Kumar Jaju, chairman of Morang Trade Association said, adding, "Though several Indian investors are interested in investing in Nepal they are awaiting political stability in Nepal." Meanwhile, the export of corrugated iron to India decreased by Rs 740 million in the fiscal year 2064-65 BS. Repeated bandhs and 10 per cent additional duty imposed by the Indian government are the reasons behind the decrease in the export of corrugated iron, Arati Strips said adding that the industry had exported corrugated iron worth Rs 6,540 million in the fiscal year 2063-64 BS. Arati Strips exports 87 per cent of its manufacture to India and rest of the product is consumed in the Nepali market. Arati Strips, Hulas Steel Industries and Rajesh Metals are some of the big industries manufacturing corrugated iron in Nepal. The Himalayan Times daily reports
120 Die In Valley Road Accidents Last Year
120 people lost their lives in 2,211 road accidents that took place in Kathmandu valley during the last fiscal year (2007/08). According to Metropolitan Traffic Police Department, in Kathmandu district alone a total of 72 people that includes 52 men, 10 women and 10 children lost their lives during the period. Likewise, in Lalitpur district 32 persons died (23 men and 9 women) and in Bhaktapur 16 (11 men, 4 women and a girl). Among the 2,1,74 people who were injured in these accidents, 610 suffered serious injuries. According to the department's 2007/08 statistics, altogether 790 vehicles that includes buses, trucks, cars, jeep, tempos, two-wheelers were damaged in these accidents. During the fiscal year 2006/07 90 people had died in road accidents in the valley. Compiled from reports
MJF Should Be Allowed To Lead Next Govt: Gachhedar
Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF)'s parliamentary party leader Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar has said his party should be allowed to lead the next government if Maoists opt to stay away from it. "While signing the 4-point agreement for the presidential post, the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML had verbally agreed to give MJF the leadership of the next government," Gachhedar said, and at the same time warned of serious consequences if the agreement was violated. The senior MJF leader, who deserted NC in the run up to the Constituent Assembly election to champion regional politics, re-asserted that only Maoists and MJF have got the "people's mandate" to lead the next government.
Gachhedar, who was speaking at a program organized by Reporters Club in the capital when reports were saying that the Maoists had decided they would now stay away from the process of forming new government, however acknowledged that Maoists should be the first choice to the lead the next government. He, however, said that if the Maoists still decide not to form the next government, which he said would be a wrong decision, then MJF should be given the responsibility of leading it. He was of the opinion that NC and UML have suffered a "moral defeat" during the CA election and thus have lost their claim to lead the next government. "There have been many betrayals in the past, and I hope it won't be repeated. Only after the agreement is duly respected things would be as per the wishes of the people and the country," he said. When asked who would become the prime minister if MJF ends up leading the government, Gachhedar said, "We haven't decided about the person yet but if NC and UML abides by their agreement then we would immediately select an able candidate for the post of prime minister." Compiled from reports
SAARC TO Focus On Food Crisis, Fuel Price
The15th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) set to begin next week in Colombo, Sri Lanka will take up the issues of food crisis, fuel price and common strategy to fight terrorism. Addressing a press meet in Colombo, last week, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the issues of spiraling rise of fuel price and food crisis will receive the priority. He informed that the Summit will take a concrete decision on creating regional fund to manage the food crisis. He also said there was a possibility of member states signing a mutual legal assistance treaty to address the issue of regional terrorism. There are eight member states in SAARC including Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan. China, European Union, Japan, South Korea, Unites States and Mauritius will attend the summit as observers. The rebel Tamil Tigers have announced truce during the period of Summit. Meanwhile, due to delay in forming of new government, the list of Nepali participants has not been finalized yet. According to Hira Bahadur Thapa, spokesperson of Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister will take part in the Summit. "If a new government is formed then (new PM) will take part. Otherwise, the current leadership will participate," he said. Kantipur daily reports
HRW Criticizes Nepal On Tibet Protests
New York-based human rights group has alleged that Nepal arbitrarily arrested hundreds of Tibetans protesting against China and restricted their right to demonstrate. Human Rights Watch called on Nepal's government to respect the right of Tibetans to peacefully protest and to end the arrest, harassment and mistreatment of those who do so. "The government of Nepal, under pressure from China, has arbitrarily arrested hundreds of Tibetans and restricted their right to demonstrate against the March 2008 crackdown in Tibet," the report said, referring to China's violent reaction to protests against its rule in Tibet. In a statement, Human Rights Watch's Asia director Brad Adams accused Nepal's government of "turning the screws on peaceful Tibetan protesters at the behest of China." Tibetan exiles have been protesting in Nepal's capital almost daily since March. Compiled from reports
