Man ostracised for marrying low caste girl

By Our Correspondent

Kathmandu, July 3: A young man of Bastipur of Sindhuli district has been humiliated and ostracised by his family and community for marrying a girl of a lower caste.

Kamal Karki, a kshetri, married Bimala Nepali, a girl of the damai (tailor) caste, on June 3. But since then, he has been living with his wife's parents because his father with not allow him into his house.

He said that even his friends and others will not let him into their houses because 'he married an untouchable'. But he says he will not give up.

He said he married his childhood sweetheart because he wanted to start a campaign against caste discrimination, but the conservative society refused to accept this. Rather they banished me from the society.

Kamal was abandoned by his mother for another man when he was only 15 days old, and it was his father who brought him up. Now, the father, too, has refused to let him in. The father, Mahabir Karki, said, "I have refused to let them in because of the social stigma. But they can build a house on my land and live there separately."

Despite they becoming an outcast, the newly married couple has no intention of parting.

Bimala said they have been in love since they were in school, and now they are in the process of legalizing their marriage.

They have come to the district headquarters to make their citizenship certificates. They said they would register their marriage in the Village Development Committee.

Jit Bahadur Pariyar, a nominated member from the dalit (lower caste) community to the District Development Committee said Kamal and Bimala have the right to live as other members of the society.

Lightning injures five of family

By Our Correspondent

Siraha, July 3: A lightning struck the house of Yogendra Yadav of Asanpur VDC of Siraha district Sunday night seriously wounding five members of the family.

Yadav said the lightning struck the house with a tin roof at 1:00 A.M. at night. His son Umesh Yadav has been burnt waist down and another son Mahesh Yadav has been burnt on the left side of the body. Sampat Yadav, a guest, had his hands and body severely burnt.

Yadav's wife and daughter-in-law who were sleeping in polyester saris, petticoat and blouse have been burnt from shoulder to feet.

The lightning has also damaged the roof, electric metre and switches of the house. The wounded are receiving treatment at the local health post.

Maiti Nepal rescues 152 girls

By Our Correspondent

Kakarvitta, July 3: Maiti Nepal's Kakarvitta cell has rescued 152 Nepalese girls and women, from being sold in India in the past one year. "Of the girls who have been rescued, 115 have been handed over to their parents and the rest are undergoing income generating training such as sewing," said Deepa Luintel, member of Maiti Nepal's women's cell in Kakarvitta.

The women's cell said those rescued are aged between 14 to 30 years and they come from 15 districts from as far as Kathmandu and Rasuwa. The Cell said they had also rescued seven women from brothels in India last year.

Pleadings on behalf of Speaker end

Kathmandu, July 3 (RSS): Pleadings concluded today on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Speaker, both of whom are respondents in the writ petitions seeking abrogation of the recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and its reinstatement.

Pleading on behalf of the Speaker, advocate Yagyamurti Banjade alleged that the Prime Minister had the House dissolved without any reason and basis. And in doing so, he evaded the annual programme and budget even through the House of Representatives had not been obstructing him.

Advocate Banjade said that as long as the House discharges its function, there is no authority to dissolve it, adding that if the Prime Minister had felt that the state of emergency was necessary, he should have explained this to his political party and the parliamentary party.

Banjade said, "If the Parliament has been representing national ideas and aspirations, why should one go to the people again?"

He said that if the atmosphere in the country was not conducive to holding elections, holding of a farcical election was not going to consolidate democracy.

Stating that parliamentary democracy is also called government by a Council of Ministers, he said that with cabinet meetings being held to take decisions even on ordinary matters it was improper that there was no cabinet decision on the dissolution of the Parliament and the calling of mid-term elections.

He presented the argument that under Article 35(1) of the Constitution of Nepal the executive power is vested in His Majesty and the Council of Ministers, and therefore a cabinet decision was compulsory in recommending Parliament's dissolution.

Also presenting arguments on behalf of the Speaker, advocate Lalit Bahadur Basnet said that Parliament had extended full cooperation to the government on issues such as controlling terrorism, corruption prevention and endorsement of the state of emergency. Therefore recommendation of the dissolution of Parliament in this situation was illogical, irrational and showed lack of unaccountability.

Stating that the judgment delivered earlier in similar cases had stated that frequent dissolution of Parliament might give birth to a fascist tendency, he said the Prime Minister should have first warned those not cooperating with him and issued a whip in the parliamentary party.

Basnet said that a government cannot levy even a single paisa in tax without the endorsement of the people, but this government was making preparations to introduce policy, programmes and the budget in contravention of the election code of conduct.

Citing the example of Britain where the budget is presented before any dissolution, he said that the government could not bring in a budget under the prevailing circumstances.

Following the pleadings of the respondents, the replies from the writ petitioners will be made. Then members of the Amici Curiae will present their arguments.

Advocate Madhav Kumar Basnet also furnished replies on behalf of advocate Shyam Kumar Khatri who is pleading for the petitioners.

18 injured in bus mishap at Banepa

Dhulikhel, July 3 (RSS): Eighteen persons sustained injuries when a Kathmandu bound bus (Na. 2 Kha. 2943) from Dhulikhel collided with another bus (Ba. 1. Kha. 5494) at Budhol of Banepa Municipality ward No. 11 this afternoon.

The driver of the Dhulikhel bound bus, Babu Ram Magar, 46, hailing from Sirubari VDC ward No. 6 Melchaur of Sindhupalchok district who has been seriously injured in the accident has been admitted at the Scheer Memorial Hospital at Banepa for treatment.

Other five persons admitted to the hospital returned home after general treatment.

Twelve persons of another bus are undergoing treatment at the community hospital at Dhulikhel.

According to inspector of Ilaka police office at Banepa, Bheem Prasad Dhakal, the Dhulikhel bound bus has been severely damaged.

Nepal Day to be observed in US county

Kathmandu, July 3 (RSS): Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all citizens of Fairfax County in Virginia, USA has proclaimed July 5, 2002 as ‘Nepal Day’ in Fairfax County, commending this observace to all citizens.

Fairfax County is a county where citizens proudly welcome, maintain and blend the rich culture of ethinic diversity and where all work together in the spirit of friendship and cooperation to positively influence the community, according to a news release from the American Center here.

The Nepali community in the U.S. is small but growing. The Association of Nepalese in the Americas (ANA) under the theme, "Making Our Mark: Nepalis in North America," will hold its 20th annual convention at the Westfields Marriott Conference Center in Fairfax County, Virginia on July 5.

ANA is an organisation of the people of Nepali origin in the Americas and international friends of Nepal. ANA was founded on July 1983 in New York and incorporated in Washington DC in 1983 as a non profit tax exempt organisation.

It aims to promote the cultural, religious and educational heritage of Nepal, assist Nepali students and provide support for public health and disaster assistance.

The 20th ANA Convention will bring Nepalis together to recognise and celebrate the individual and collective achievements of Nepalis as a distinct immigrant community in North America.

Since its inception ANA has grown steadily as an international organisation attracting a diverse membership that includes resident Nepalis in the Americas and many other international scholars, scientists, outdoor enthusiasts, and philanthropists who share an interest in Nepali culture.