Unity in diversity main feature of Nepali society

RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept. 3: Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah has said unity in diversity remains a distinguished feature of the Nepali society with diverse castes, languages and cultures.
Her Majesty made this remark in a message of best wishes to the Nepal Bhasha Parishad or council on the occasion of its golden jubilee.

In the message, Her Majesty the Queen has also expressed best wishes to the council for its success in developing and preserving the language, literature, art and culture by up keeping this distinguished feature of the country.

Her Majesty's message was read out at the golden jubilee function of Nepal Bhasha Parishad organised here today.

Speaking at the programme, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur KC said Nepal rich in diverse costumes and cultures has a distinguished identity in the world and that His Majesty's Government should provide all possible assistance for its protection.

Chairperson of the Nepal Bhasha Parishad Purnakaji Tamrakar presided.

At the programme, former chairperson of the council Satya Mohan Joshi was felicitated with the honorary Nepal Bhasha Shiromani award for his remarkable contribution to the development of Nepal Bhasa and literature.

No emergency during elections
Deuba rejects talks with Maoists

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept. 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that he would consult with all those concerned, including the political parties, to see if the State of Emergency needs to be extended.
Premier Deuba, who returned here after his nine-day visit of Europe, confirmed that there would be no emergency during the general elections slated for November 13th.

"I will discuss the matter with all those concerned and scrutinise the present situation to see whether the emergency needs to be reimposed," he told the media at the VVIP Lounge of Tribhuwan International Airport.

"There will be no emergency once the candidates for the general elections file their nomination and start campaigning. The emergency cannot continue during the elections."

Citing that security has improved over the months, the Prime Minister rejected any idea of holding talks with the Maoists. "We did talk with them, but they walked away from the dialogue table. There is no possibility of bringing them to dialogue forcibly."

Apart from shedding his views on the nation's current situation, Prime Minister also talked about the objectives and achievements of his European sojourn.

He said that the main objective of his European tour was to improve Nepal's relations with Belgium, the European Union and Thailand and to seek their cooperation.

"The talks with Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, Prime Minister of Thailand, Chairman of EU and Vice Chairman of European Parliament were productive."

Deuba disclosed that these leaders had shown interest in sending observers for the November hustings. "We have planned to invite them," he said.

He, however, denied that he had gone to consult with the European leaders on whether to hold talks or launch another round of operation against the terrorists by extending the state of emergency.
" I did not go there to seek advice, but went to improve Nepal's relations with the EU and EC."
The Prime Minister said that he aborted his planned trip to Johannesburg for the Earth Summit due to the unfavourable situation back home and also because the prolonged stay in South Africa would have meant a lot of expenses. "The situation at home does not allow me to stay for long outside and also it would have incurred a lot of expenses to the nation."

Terrorists destroy power plant, blast ex-minister Kharel's house

By Our Correspondent

KAVRE, Sept. 3: A band of about 25 Maoist terrorists destroyed two turbines of the Panauti Hydroelectric Project at Khopasi in Kavre district, about 30 km east of Kathmandu, Monday night using a pipe bomb. As a result, the project, one of the oldest in the country, that generates 2.4 MW of power has been shut down.

According to Inspector Bhim Prasad Dhakal of the Ilaka Police Post at Banepa, the Maoists had placed the pipe bomb beneath two generators. The then Soviet-aided project built in 1965 was only recently renovated. Earlier in December, the Maoists had made an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the power project, but fled after setting fire to a Landcruiser parked there.

Since only one turbine is now functioning, the hydroelectricity project has been shut down.

Dhakal also said that the terrorists had sprayed kerosene on a bridge near the powerhouse located in between Khopasi and Balthali VDCs. They, however, did not set the bridge on fire. Also Monday night, Maoists also set fire to the sub-station of Nepal Electricity Authority at Aulekot in Panchakhal VDC.
Meanwhile, in another incident, Maoists set fire to the house of former Minister Rajendra Kharel at Kharelthok VDC in Kavre Monday night. The terrorists numbering some 15 to 20 persons forced the four occupants of the house and exploded a bomb. They then set the house and cowshed on fire.
Although the Royal Nepalese Army arrived on the scene upon hearing of the incident, the house had been completely destroyed by the time they arrived on the scene. A massive hunt for the culprits has been launched. Since former minister Kharel and his family live in Kathmandu, noone from the family was hurt.

The District Administration Office of Kavre has extended the curfew imposed since February in and around Panauti municipality area.

Wealth probe panel scrutinising forms

RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept. 3: The Judicial Investigation Commission on property has asked former ministers Mahantha Thakur and Marshal Julum Shakya, Minister of State Kamlesh Kumar Sharma, ex-MPs Uma Adhikari, Govinda Prasad Sharma Kandel, Mahendra Dhoj GC, Umakant Chaudhary and Devilal Thapa to present themselves immediately at the commission along with reasons for not submitting their property details.

A statement released by the commission here today says that many individuals including 15 former members of the House of Representatives and National Assembly have not yet submitted their property details even after a public notice was issued asking them to do so as soon as possible so that the commission could complete its duty at the earliest.

The commission also says that it is working to scrutinize the 24,000 forms of property details received so far, asking clarifications for unclear details, analysing them and computerizing the records.
Likewise, a request has also been made to the 36 former members of the House of Representatives, 16 ex-members of the National Assembly and two former assistant ministers who have not submitted their property details yet.

Tna Ta Sarhai Bigris Ni Badri to be screened in Belgium

By Bishnu Gautam

KATHMANDU, Sept. 3: Producers may be having a hard time selling films here due to the security problem, but there is growing interest in good Nepali films among the Nepalese community living abroad. Time and again, actors and producers have been invited abroad to screen their films.
This time, the Nepalese people living in Belgium have invited comedian Hari Bansha Acharya and producer Kiran K. C. to screen their much-talked film Tna Ta Sarai Bigris Ni Badri (TTSBNB). They leave for Brussels Thursday.

"We are leaving for Belgium to screen TTSBNB in Brussels and two other cities at the invitation of Nepalese friends," Kiran K.C. told The Rising Nepal.

Ramesh Twayana, Rajani Pradhan and Suman Bista and some other Nepalese in Belgium have arranged for the shows.

TTSBNB is a film about the changing lifestyle of the youths living in the periphery of Kathmandu. Actor Hari Bansha Acharya himself has acted the role of Badri in the film that is full of wit and humour. Susmita K.C., Bhuwan K. C. and Bipana Thapa are the other leading artistes. Daya Ram Dahal is the director and has been jointly produced by Acharya, Kiran K. C. and Manoj Rathi.

TTSBNB was a hit both inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley last year. Susmita K. C. won the best actress award for her role in the film. It was screened for more than 51 days in five different movie theaters. In one of the halls, it lasted for more than 100 days.

This is not the first time that TTSBNB has been screened abroad. It was premiered in Hong Kong before being released in Nepal. Later it was shown in Australia and Qatar. Actor Acharya himself had gone to Australia to screen the film, where it received very good response from the Nepalese community. Encouraged by its popularity, Manoj Rathi, one of the producers is planning to take it to Myanmar, Hong Kong and Bangkok during the forthcoming Dashain.

Screening Nepalese films overseas will help promote Nepalese arts and culture in the international arena, says Jaya Prakash Rijal, the convenor of TTSBNB and the trip.

Actor Hari Bansha Acharya is thrilled by the invitation from Brussels. "We are grateful to the Nepalese brothers and sisters now living in Belgium for arranging the shows there," Acharya said.

He is even planning to premier his new film Je Bho Ramro Bho in the USA.

Je Bho Ramrai Bho is the second venture of the group.

Like TTSBNB, Bhuwan K.C's Crorerpati and Navin Subba's Numaphung too have received good response from the Nepalese community abroad.

Supreme Court issues order

RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept. 3: The joint bench of Supreme Court Justices Govinda Bahadur Shrestha and Dilip Kumar Poudel has, in response to a writ filed at the Supreme Court in connection with a case relating to telecasting of Channel Nepal Television by Space Time Network, issued an order to the government to conduct a technical examination and take a decision on the matter within two months.
Managing director of Space Time Network Jamim Shah had filed a writ at the Supreme Court on Ashoj, 2058 B.S against the cabinet secretariat, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Minister for Information and Communications demanding a mandamus for speedy technical examination and permission for transmission.

Senior advocate Ganesh Raj Sharma, advocates Prakash Wosti, Balkrishna Neupane and others had pleaded on behalf of the plaintiff.

Two killed, 12 hurt in train accident

RSS

JANAKPURDHAM, Sept. 3: Two people died on-the-spot and 12 others were injured when Janakpur Jayanagar rail derailed at Thadhi Jhinja VDC this morning. This is the first ever accident which claimed casualties in the history of the only railway of the Kingdom.

One of the deceased has been identified as Sambhu Shah, an Indian national of Madhuvani Deudha and another youth is yet to be identified, according to Ilaka police office, Khajuri.

Policemen who rushed to the site immediately after receiving reports of the mishap rescued two people who were trapped including the engine operator.

The train overturned owing to caving in of the rail sleepers.

The injured were taken back to Jayanagar by rail. A medical team has been sent to the site to provide treatment to the injured.