IN BRIEF

SC moved against govt

Kathmandu: General-secretary of the Society for Human Rights, Environment, Law and Governance Activities (SHELGA), advocates Bhojraj Ayer and Narayan Belbase today filed a contempt of court plea at the Supreme Court against the government authorities to stop dumping garbage in the Bagmati river. They have also demanded punishment for the violators of the Supreme Court orders. The petition has been filed against the Prime Minister and the council of ministers, Ministry of Local Development, Population and Environment, Solid Waste and Resource Mobilisation Centre, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City for not following the orders of the Supreme Court. — HNS

Women’s issues discussed

KATHMANDU: Women from various sectors, who attended an interaction programme here on Tuesday said that women were not able to enjoy equal rights as men because the constitution had addressed them as second-class citizens. The speakers also highlighted that women had to be given due opportunities with regards to political, economic, legal and conflict management. “Women have to create a niche for themselves and have to be empowered to make people respect their existence,” said Dr Durga Pokharel, president of Nepal Women’s Commission. Professor Dr Shanta Thapaliya said that the newly formed government should work towards constituting an interim government with representation of women and indigenous groups. “Women’s empowerment is crucial for women’s representation in the policy making level,” said Dr Pushpa Shrestha, member of National Women’s Commission. — HNS

Puskin remembered

KATHMANDU: Nepal litterati observed the 205th birth anniversary of renowned litterateur Alexander Puskin by reciting his poems and articles at a function organised here on Monday. They also recited their own ghazals in memory of the great Russian poet. Speaking at the programme organised by Nepal-Russia Literary Society, poet Durga Lal Shrestha said Puskin is an all time global poet and recited the Puskin’s poem that he had translated. General secretary of the society Gyanuwakar Poudel shed light on the important contribution of Puskin in world literature. — RSS

NC leader falls ill

KATHMANDU: Leader of Nepali Congress Tanahu district committee and freedom fighter Tarapati Bhattarai, 73, has been admitted at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj for treatment. Bhattarai has been suffering from blood related problems since long, it is learnt from the family source. — RSS