Thapa leaves for India

KATHMANDU: Chairperson of Rastriya Janashakti Party, Surya Bahadur Thapa on Sunday left Kathmandu for a week-long visit to India, the party stated. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, senior government officials and leaders of various political parties. “Thapa accompanied by his son will be having his health checked in India too,” the statement said. — HNS

Prachanda-GPK talks

Kathmandu: Former Prime Ministers Girija Prasad Koirala and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Sunday had parleys at the residence of former chief secretary Lok Man Singh Karki. Prachanda had one-to-one talk with the NC chairman Koirala for about 10 minutes, a close aide said. He informed that Prachanda was there to attend a puja ceremony organised by Karki. “The meeting with Koirala was not a scheduled one. It happened as a matter of coincidence,” he claimed. Considering the political stalemate hovering the country for quite some time now, the meeting however, could be taken as a meaningful one, he added. — HNS

Matrika’s pledge

Kathmandu: Matrika Yadav, coordinator of CPN (Maoists) on Sundaysaid his party would form an army without arms right after Tihar. Speaking at a press meet in Malangawa, Yadav said hundreds of youths would be inducted into his army soon.’’ They would be without weapons,” he said. He further added that discussions were on with various outfits in Tarai for an alliance. — HNS