Delegations meet with PM

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KATHMANDU Mar. 27: A six-member delegation led by president of the Pokhara Hotel Operators Committee Ramesh Bahadur Bhattarai met with Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and requested to restore permanent peace welcoming the code of conduct implemented by both sides and said it is a wise move by the government and the Maoists.

The delegation presented a 11-point demand including implementation of equal interest rates in all financial organisations, exemption of 70 per cent of interest and maintaining 5-6 per cent interest in loans taken by tourism entrepreneurs.

The delegation included vice president of the committee Chudamani Pahadi, secretary Hari Prasad Sharma, assistant secretary Khabaraj Pahadi, treasurer Prem Raj Pahadi and member Girija Adhikari.

Similarly, a 19-member all sections delegation led by president of Tulsipur Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chiranjivi Rijal met Prime Minister Chand and presented demands regarding roads, fuel depot, air services and health. Present with the delegation was advisor to Prime Minister Prem Bahadur Bhandari.

NSP central committee polls end

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RAJBIRAJ, Mar. 27: The voting for the 15 central members of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) concluded here, today. Altogether 44 representatives had registered their candidacy. A total of 525 out of the 650 representatives had taken part in today's voting, the party election committee informed. Badri Prasad Mandal was elected unopposed yesterday as the president of the party as per the NSP Constitution. The president will nominate 15 central members as per the constitution. The fourth national convention organised for the past three days was not been formally concluded though the end of the closed session was announced.

The closed session has passed unanimously the proposal to amend the party constitution and the political document. The political document states that NSP will take the responsibility of transforming Nepal as a developed and prosperous nation. The NSP said it will incorporate all into the mainstream and give honourable positions to all through freedom and justice in the country.

Qatar Airways to start two weekly flights from Ktm

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Mar. 27: Qatar Airways will start two direct weekly flights between Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, on a code-sharing basis with Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) from Wednesday.

"We have reached a commercial agreement with RNAC regarding this," Gyan Namerasinche, Area Manager- Nepal of the airline told a press conference here Thursday.

The flights will leave Kathmandu every Wednesday and Sunday at 16:30 hours and return from Kuala Lumpur at 04:45 hours every Thursday and Monday.

Namerasinche said that the new air service to Kuala Lumpur was just part of the airline's commitment to increase its air services to and from Nepal. The airline has been operating air services to Nepal with high priority since 1995, only a year after its launching.

"The airline doesn't want to compete with RNAC. We will work together with the national carrier to create traffic," said Joy Dewan, managing director of Zenith Travels that represents Qatar Airways in Nepal.

"Traffic is something that we need to create through aggressive marketing and promotional activities," said Dewan, who denied that the airline would depend only on Nepalese workers going to Malaysia.
He said that since major airlines are operating to Kuala Lumpur, it might be easier for Qatar Airways and RNAC to bring in more tourists from different parts of the world.

In the meantime, the airline will also be increasing two flights a week on the Kathmandu-Doha-Kathmandu route from April this year. This will boost the number of flights to nine a week on the route.

The airline is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. As part of its growth plan, it will extend its route network to 50 destinations across the world by the end of this year. At present, it operates to 39 destinations. It has recently announced the addition of Manchester, Rome, Islamabad and Kochi to its increasing route network.

UML working for permanent peace: Nepal

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 27: CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that a powerful all-party government can only lead overall politics, the Constitution and the country along a right path.
Speaking at an interaction programme on 'the role of political parties in the peace process' organised here today by the Puspalal Memorial Foundation, he said political parties including the CPN-UML have been involved in unofficial talks on peace and that an all party government is needed for official talks.

He said his party has been running people's campaigns, all party meets and discussions in various districts for permanent peace in the country.

NC central member Ram Chandra Poudel said the political parties had played role for the cease-fire between the government and the Maoists, and added that they will also contribute in making the peace talks fruitful.

From the chair, foundation chairman Jhalanath Khanal said the political parties should formulate common agenda and slogan to save the country.

Also speaking on the occasion were foundation vice chairman Laxmi Bhakta Upadhyaya, secretary Lok Krishna Bhattarai, treasurer Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Shiva Bahadur Khadka of NC-D, Keshav Nepal of Janamorcha Nepal and Rhishi Kattel of the CPN-ML called for a strong all-party government.

Five armymen injured in grenade explosion

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 27: Five security personnel were wounded when a grenade stored at the army camp at Galeshwor of Myagdi district went off suddenly on Wednesday, a Defence Ministry statement said today. The injured armymen have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment.

The Revenue Investigation team of the Royal Nepalese Army has confiscated goods worth Rs. 137,999 that were imported illegally at the bordering areas of Mahottari district in south eastern Nepal. The goods have been handed over to the customs office, the Ministry said.

'Peace process going on smoothly'

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DHANGADHI, Mar. 27: Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa has said the talks process between the government and the Maoists is going on smoothly and there is no situation to be pessimistic.
Answering queries raised at a press meet organised here today, Minister Thapa said the government will move ahead as per the code of conduct issued after the cease-fire.

On proper implementation of the code of conduct, he said it is being abided by except for sporadic incidents.On the petroleum price hike, he said the increase was unavoidable as the Nepal Oil Corporation had been in loss of Rs. 720 million monthly.On peace talks, he said the political parties are not bypassed and the government has been continually urging the parties to come to meetings for discussion on preparations of the talks.Minister Thapa who was here to inspect the preparations of the civic reception to Their Majesties acquired information at the main organising committee office and the special plateform built at the open air theatre. He also met with officials of the Kailali Chambers of Commerce and the Bus and Mini Bus Operators Committees of the Far West. The officials presented a memorandum on the problems faced by them.

Poet Palikhe feted with Basu Sashi award

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Mar. 27: Poet Badri Palikhe was awarded this year's Basu Sashi Memorial Award today on the occasion of the 67th Memorial Day of the poet and dramatist. The award carries a purse of Rs. 10,000 and a felicitation letter.

Dharan-born poet Palikhe has been working for the past three decades to promote Nepali literature.
Speaking on the occasion, poet Mohan Koirala said that Palikhe is a man who has no parallel.
At the programme chaired by Ram Man Trishit, president of the award trust, litterateurs Kumar Bahadur Joshi, Kali Prasad Rijal, Pradhumna Joshi, Prakash Sayami and Kailash Bhandari were also present.

Nomination

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 27: His Majesty's Government has nominated Chandar Shaha of Janakpur Municipality-1, Dhanusha district, the member of the Janakpur Railway Management Committee constituted for the internal management system and for making systematic arrangements for turning it into a company. Shaha was nominated as per the ministerial decision today, according to the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management.