16 passengers injured

PARASI: Sixteen persons were injured when a bus heading to Bhairahawa from Kathmandu turned turtle at Pragatinagar along the East-West highway on Thursday night. Among the injured, condition of two passengers is critical, police said. The injured are undergoing treatment in Bharatpur Hospital in Chitwan. — HNS

VP blundered: Rana

SYANGJA: Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shumsher Rana on Friday said Vice President Paramananda Jha had made a mistake by refusing to obey the Supreme Court order. Inaugurating a tree plantation programme in Putalibazaar, Rana said, "VP, the long-time judge, has mocked the rule of law by defying the apex court order. It's irresponsible of him to not take the oath in Nepali language. He has disappointed all the Nepalis." Stating that the present coalition government would accomplish the task of drafting the statute, Rana said the planned agitation of the Unified CPN-Maoist was

irrelevant in the present context. — HNS

Badal blasts govt plan

Chitwan: UCPN-Maoist general secretary and former Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' on Friday blamed the government of introducing a new security strategy to suppress the supporters of peace. "There is no government in the nation. There is extreme internal conflict among parties representing the puppet government," he told medispersons in Chitwan. When asked about chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’s’ remark of forming a new government under his party’s leadership before Tihar, Badal said it would take place soon. "It is a must to hold discussion over the unconstitutional step of the President to renistate CoAS Katawal in the parliament," he said. "The government will have the same fate of the then King’s government." Those scared of a change made the President active fearing the popularity of the Maoist-led government, he said. — HNS