King’s trip date not fixed

Kathmandu:

Even though newspapers reported today that King Gyanendra’s proposed visit to India was postponed for the second time, the ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to confirm it. “No dates have been fixed yet for the visit, and we don’t have any idea of any postponement,” said a foreign ministry official. India had proposed coming Friday for the monarch to begin his visit, which was earlier postponed due to the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. Foreign Ministry officials said, “How can we say that the visit has postponed for the second time when no dates were rescheduled?” It was reported that the King’s visit was postponed this time because he has to attend Samyak puja, a festival that comes once in twelve years. — HNS

NTV staffers move CIAA

KATHMANDU:

Some employees of the state-owned Nepal Television (NTV) recently filed a complaint at the CIAA urging the anti-graft body to investigate NTV employees’ illegal involvement in other organisations. The NTV statute does not allow any employee to work for other organisations but some employees have been working outside illegally, the complaint said. — HNS

Maoist commander killed

SAPTARI:

The Maoists’ local area commander was killed in security operation on Wednesday morning in Saptari district. Commander of area 5, Dambar Yadav alias Sandesh, was killed at Malahiniya in the security operation, said a security source. Meanwhile, the body of a local named Krishna was found beside the Bhaluwahi river in ward 4 of Rajbiraj municipality. — HNS

Koirala flays price hike

Narayangarh:

President of Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today came heavily down on the government for hiking the prices of petroleum products. Addressing a gathering of party cadres at Bharatpur, Koirala said the government has sprayed salt over the people’s wounds by hiking the prices. — HNS

NC (D) men quit party

RAUTAHAT:

Nepali Congress (D) leader and former health minister Brij Kishore Singh, along with 1,000 cadres, has quit the party and joined Nepali Congress. At a press meet in Gaur on Wednesday, Singh said he has decided to join the Nepali Congress after realising that NC (D) lacked clear policies and NC was the only party which could give a direction to the country. NC Rautahat chairman Aftab Alam welcomed them. — HNS