KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and Chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal today discussed the peace process and preparations for the budget. Both leaders agreed that the budget would be presented in parliament after reaching understanding with the main opposition Nepali Congress. Maoist Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha said that they agreed to present people-oriented policies and programme and to seek the main opposition’s consent on the budget. The government had decided to table a proposal in the House to hold pre-budget discussion after getting the ...
Published On: 2011-06-23

JANAKPURDHAM: Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), an underground armed outfit led by Rajiv Jha, has merged with Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta-led Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Republic. At a press conference today in Janakpur, JTMM chair Jha announced the merger. MJF-R chair Gupta welcomed JTMM leaders and activists . The merger follows a four-point agreement between JTMM and MJF-R, which includes pressing the government to implement all past agreements with Madhes-based parties, fighting for federal republic and autonomous Madhes province. Gupta called on new cadres to work for the welfare o...
Published On: 2011-06-23

BUTWAL: CPN-UML Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam today revealed that political parties had secretly agreed to extend the Constituent Assembly term by three more months till November 30 for promulgation of the statute. An unwritten agreement to this effect had been reached on May 28 itself, when political parties agreed to extend the CA tenure till August 31 in the first phase, remarked Gautam, speaking at a press conference organised by Press Chautari Nepal, Rupandehi chapter. He further said the constitutional committee was trying its best to sort out contentious issues through its sub-commit...
Published On: 2011-06-23

JHAPA: Police on Wednesday arrested Pawan Rai (14) of Surunga-5, Dandagaun with explosives at Kakadbhitta while crossing the border from India. Police seized 125 Orika explosives, a detonator and wire from him. Pawan’s brother Kiran, who works in Sikkim, had given him the explosives to use for celebrating his sister’s marriage, Pawan told police. ...
Published On: 2011-06-23

KATHMANDU: The Cabinet today decided to forward the report prepared by the Judicial Investigation Commission, formed to probe the central jail shooting, to the Home Ministry for implementation. The panel, headed by former Supreme Court justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari, had Deputy Attorney General Prem Raj Karki and erstwhile DIG Kuber Singh Rana as members. It had submitted its report on June 6 after investigating the incident at the central jail on March 10. Today’s meeting of the Cabinet also decided to confer posthumous honour on Gopal Prasad Rimal, lyricist of the song Rato Ra Chand...
Published On: 2011-06-23

KATHMANDU: The government has missed its target of opening a track in a section of the East-West Mid-Hill Highway by the end of the current fiscal owing to its failure to settle local disputes. The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) had divided the highway project into two parts –– the 656 km-long eastern section and 1,109 km-long western section. The government had planned to open a 190 km-long track, work on which began four years ago, in the west and a 36 km-long track in the eastern section this fiscal. “However, the target could not be achieved due to lac...
Published On: 2011-06-23

KATHMANDU: The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has failed to maintain records of wild animal body parts in the possession of individuals as per the law. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act-1972 makes it mandatory for individuals in possession of such body parts to register the items with the nearest wildlife authority. Non-compliance may result in seizure of the body parts, says clause 17 of the law. However, the department says it is not to blame as those keeping the body parts have not voluntarily registered. “It is impossible for the depa...
Published On: 2011-06-23

ROLPA: A total of 1,725 PLA combatants based in five different cantonments across the country have passed the School Leaving Certificate exam this year. More than 97 per cent of PLA combatants based in Fifth Division, Dahawan, Rolpa, who sat for the exam, have passed. According to Bishwas BK of District Education Office, Rolpa, 817 of the 842 combatants passed. Among them, 414 have secured first division, 387 second division and 16 third division. “We are thinking of organising a formal programme to felicitate them,” said assistant commander Abinash. According to him, around ...
Published On: 2011-06-22

GAUSHALA: A girl child drowned after accidentally falling into a pond in Manara VDC of Mahottari district this afternoon. The deceased has been identified as the five-year-old daughter of Ram Nath Shaha of Manara VDC-9. The girl had reportedly gone to the pond, next to her home, to take a bath. ...
Published On: 2011-06-22

GAIGHAT: Farmers in Udayapur district have been attracted towards banana farming giving up traditional farming. Farmers of every household at Siwai, Sundarpur, Handiya and Jogidaha VDCs prefer banana farming over maize and paddy as it is easier for plantation, suitable for all types of weather and never gets affected by famine. Tilai Chaudhary of Hadiya has planted banana trees on two bigha. His neighbor Rupnarayan Chaudhary is doing banana farming on one bigha that he inherited from his ancestors. Both of them had brought several species of banana from Bhardaha and Bhantabari of Saptari. &...
Published On: 2011-06-22