|
|
RSS KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev visited the Kumari Ghar in Basantapur and received Tika from Shree Kumari this evening.His Majesty received Tika from Shree Ganesh and Shree Bhairab on the occasion.The fourth day of the waning moon in the month of Asoj, the last day of the Indra Jatra festival, is also called the Nanicha Yatra.On this day, the idols of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairab who are worshipped as the living gods and goddess are mounted on chariots and taken to the Kumari Ghar in Basantapur through the capital's Puafal, Yatkha, Kilagal, Bhedasingh, Indrachok and Makhantole. There is a tradition of His Majesty the King visiting the Kumari Ghar and receiving Tika on conclusion of the chariot procession. This year's Indra Jatra festival concludes formally after the 'Lingo and Indra Dhowaj' is pulled down tonight. RSS KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: His Majesty the King has, in a message sent to A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India expressed shock over the cowardly and mindless act of terrorism in Akshardham temple, Gandhinagar, resulting in the loss of a number of lives. While condemning terrorism in all its forms, His Majesty said Nepal strongly feels that it cannot be justified as a means to achieving any end. We stand by India in her fight against terrorism and believe that all countries must unite in combating and eliminating this heinous menace, His Majesty added. His Majesty the King has, on behalf of the government and people of Nepal and His Majesty's own, conveyed heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the affected families, President Kalam and through him to the government and people of India. RSS JOMSOM (Mustang), Sept. 25: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev granted audience to various individuals here last evening. Those granted audience were Raj Parishad Standing Committee member Rina Tulachan, National Assembly member Mrs Srimaya Thakali, former MP Romi Gauchan Thakali, former assistant minister Nara Bahadur Hirachan, Mustang Festival Organising Committee co-ordinator and Mustang DDC outgoing chairman Nirmal Kumar Gauchan, co-convenor Bishnu Raj Hirachan and journalists Laxman Humagain and Hem Raj Regmi. Others granted audience were CDO Ram Sharan Chimoriya,
Mustang Festival Organising Committee secretary and local development officer Narahari
Baral, office chiefs and social workers. In Marpha, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince visited the
Sampteling Monastery and covered hall. Earlier on arrival, HRH Crown Prince Paras was welcomed in Marpha by former members of the parliament, the local leaders, the chairperson and members of the Conservation Area Management Committee and Women Groups, social workers, the chief of the Marpha Agriculture Farm and a large number of local residents. The trails of Marpha were decorated with welcome gates, banners and auspicious jars to welcome HRH the Crown Prince. The people dressed in traditional costumes had lined up along the trail with joy and enthusiasm, according to the KMTNC.His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also inspected the Jomsom Conservation Office of KMTNC this afternoon. On the occasion, office in-charge of Jomsom Conservation Office briefed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on the activities of the KMTNC in the area. KMTNC has been conducting several integrated conservation and development activities in the area, in all its activities, the local people are the key players. Govt to create favourable environment for polls RSS KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: Vice-chairman of the Nepali Congress-Democratic and Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjibi Wagle has said that the government would create a favourable environment for the forthcoming mid-term elections scheduled for Nov. 13 in which the voters will be able to cast their ballots and the candidates file their candidacies freely. Addressing a commemorative programme organised by the Syangja-Kathmandu Liaison Committee on the 15th day of the demise of Nepali Congress' youth leader Dev Bahadur Khawas here today, Minister Wagle accused the Maoist terrorists of undermining the institution of constitutional monarchy and democracy and called on all the democratic forces to unite. He emphasised on the need to recognise the contributions of leaders like the late Khawas who have laid down their lives for the sake of democracy. Central member of the Nepali Congress-Democratic and former minister Gopal Man Shrestha labelled the Maoists as betrayers of the nation as they were involved in such heinous crimes as killing unarmed people and destroying development infrastructure. He called upon the Maoists to lay down arms and come into the national mainstream through the forthcoming general elections. At the programme presided over by president of the liaison committee Moti Prasad Aley, Nepali Congress Syangja district leaders Khem Raj Regmi, Chhaya Ram Khanal, Kamal Pangeni and committee secretary Devi Aryal also spoke on the contributions of the late Khawas. PM congratulates German Chancellor In a message of congratulations, Prime Minister Deuba has expressed confidence that the friendly relations existing between the two countries will continue to be strengthened during Schroder's term of office. RSS KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that he was deeply shocked to learn of the attack by the militants who killed many innocent devotees and left several others injured at the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat State of India yesterday. In a message sent to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today, Prime Minister Deuba said Nepal, which has been the victim of terrorism itself, fully understands the agony and pain that results from such barbaric acts of terrorists. His Majesty's Government condemns such terrorist attacks, Deuba said and conveyed, through Prime Minister Vajpayee, to the government and people of India Nepal's heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the members of the bereaved families. Khadka spurns rumours on polls By A Staff Reporter KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka today reiterated what he had been saying all along - that the election will be held at any cost within the stipulated timeframe in a free and fair manner. "The government would not have announced the election if it did not have the confidence and capability to conduct it." He made it clear that the election on November 13 could not
be postponed as there was no alternative to it. He accused those spreading unnecessary
rumors about the election of acting against democracy and demoralising the spirit of the
common people. "Since both the government and the Election Commission (EC) are
working to hold the polls, all the political parties must now involve themselves in the
election to consolidate national sovereignty and democracy," he said. Regarding security arrangements, Khadka said that the government would adopt adequate safety measures for the people, party cadres and candidates and that the law and order situation would be maintained. "Considering the security problem, the government has been suggesting that the EC hold the election at least in seven-phases," he said. The government has recruited 10,000 more army men, 8,000
armed police and a large number of regular police for election purposes. The government
has plans to hire about 15,000 ex-army men of the Royal Nepal Army and ex-Gurkhas to
assist the existing security forces for the elections. But Khadka categorically ruled out any demand for a constituent assembly. Taking a clean swipe at the different political parties, he warned them not to try pleasing the Maoists, in the hope that the Maoists will help them in the forthcoming polls. The so-called three-day Nepal Bandh (general strike) called by the Maoist terrorists would have no impact on the elections if all the political parties takes part in the elections, he said. Pointing out that elections had been conducted smoothly recently in Kashmir and Assam states of India which is burgeoned by terrorism, Home Minister Khadka said to run away from elections out of fear of terrorists would tantamount to be a party to the anti-democracy conspiracy. The Home Minister also expressed confidence that the security agencies would be successful in crushing the terrorists in Nepal as the international community has supported Nepal's anti-terrorism campaign. Responding to queries over the possibility of unity between the two Nepali Congress parties, Mr. Khadka who is the general secretary of NC-Democratic said that if NC president Girija Prasad Koirala made a positive effort to incorporate everyone before the national gathering of NC Democratic party workers is held in Kathmandu on September 30 and October 1, there was possibility of unification of the two parties under the leadership of Koirala. Stating that in the forthcoming elections the people will cast their vote of conscience whether or not to finish off the Maoists, Khadka expressed conviction that the priceless vote of the people would go against terrorism. 24 bodies of terrorists found in Rolpa By A Staff Reporter KATHMANDU, Sept 25: Twenty-four bodies of the terrorists killed in army action on Monday in the Maoist hotbed of Rolpa in mid-west Nepal were recovered on Wednesday. At least six dozen terrorists are believed to have been
killed in the fierce clash Monday night. Three soldiers were killed that night when a
large group of Maoists suddenly attacked the army personnel who were patrolling the area.A
Defence Ministry statement, quoting eyewitnesses, said today that the Maoists took with
them 50 more dead bodies in bamboo baskets (dokos), Heavy fighting has been taking place
in Rolpa.The toll of Maoist terrorists has been rising sharply after the army stepped up
its offensive on Saturday. The army's operation in different parts of the kingdom,
especially in the Maoist stronghold of Rolpa and adjoining Rukum and Salyan, has taken the
lives of more than a hundred terrorists. On Saturday, at least 38 terrorists were killed
and on Sunday another 76 lost their lives. Security forces have seized socket bombs, explosives, one gun, pistol, a revolver and 20 batteries from these sites as well as from Katari of Udaypur district, said the Ministry. RSS KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: The visiting Turkish business delegation led by Honorary Royal Nepalese Consul of Turkey Dr. E. Gunscle Malkow paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the Prime Minister's residence today. Matters relating to bilateral relations and mutual interest between the two countries were discussed during the meeting. Honorary Consul General of Turkey to Nepal Mohan Gopal Khetan was also present on the occasion. Two more mammals spotted in Nepal By Bhimsen Thapaliya KATHMANDU, Sept. 25: Scientists have spotted two new mammals
for the first time in Nepal and added them to their record. With this, the number of
recorded mammals in Nepal has reached 185. "Both the animals were spotted and photographed at a
place called Chhujung, situated at an altitude of about 5,000 metres," said
herpetologist Shah, Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University. Increased human activity in the region has threatened their survival. The reddish Grey animal of the horse family is shy of human beings and tries to avoid coming near. The animal is an inhabitant of the desert and the steppes of the Tibetan plateau. It is described as an avid climber like a mule. It feeds on alpine grass and herbs. The animal, considered to be the nearest kin of the modern horse, has remarkable power to survive on little food for a long time. "Upon interacting with the local nomads, we came to know that these animals were indigenous to the area and move in herds of upto 25," Shah said. Some Tibetan wild asses also live alone. They usually graze between dusk and sunrise and spend the day roaming the terrain. They can run at speeds of between 48 and 51 kilometres per hour over a considerable distance. The mating season is from August to October. Killing of and trade in this animal is prohibited. The Tibetan gazelle, locally called Ghowa, was sighted at Chhujung in herds of six, said Shah. All of them were male. According to Shah, the local herdsmen recounted that the animals roam the area throughout the year. The graceful horns of the Ghowa rise up straight above the ears, bend backwards and then bend forward a little again. Only the males have horns. The largest population of this animal is found in China, while quite a few are found in Sikkim and Ladakh of India. In India, this is a legally protected species. The animal stands about two feet at the shoulder and weighs nearly 20 kilos. The body is sandy grey in colour and is covered with soft fur in winter. |
|Economy| |Editorial| |Features| |Local| |Sports| |Letter| |Past|
| Send your comments and letters to the editor at gtrn@mos.com.np 2002 © Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. P.O. Box 876, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, NEPAL. Tel : 977 1 220 773, 243566, Fax: 977 1 225 407. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without prior permission. No part of the articles which appear in the internet version on THE RISING NEPAL may be reproduced without the permission of Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. For reprinting rights, please write to US. Send us your feedback: CONTACT US ABOUT US HOME ADVERTISE WITH US TOP |
