JTMM-J calls bandh

ITAHARI: The Jwala Singh-led Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-J) has called a Sunsari district-wide bandh on Saturday to disrupt the mass meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC). NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is scheduled to address the meet. Sunsari in-charge of the JTMM-J Kris said on Friday the meeting was planned to lobby for the polls before addressing demands of the Tarai and the bandh was being called to disrupt the meet. However, NC Sunsari president Ram Bahadur Basnet said that the bandh will not have any effect on the mass meeting. — HNS

Yadav slams govt

KATHMANDU: President of the MJF, Upendra Yadav, on Friday condemned the government for using force to foil agitations in Tarai and arresting his cadres. Issuing a statement, Yadav accused the government of resorting to suppression. — HNS

‘Graft in ministries’

NARAYANGARH: Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hisila Yami said on Friday that, as far as she knows, graft is rife at all levels of all government ministries. Yami was speaking at a programme held by the Construction Entrepreneurs’ Association Chitwan. — HNS

Poll code violated

DHANKUTA: Nepali Congress Dhankuta in contravention of the code of conduct has used government vehicles for a meeting organised for election propaganda. NC senior leader and former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba was also present at the programme when the vehicle with white plate, Ba 1 Jha 6626, was used. The code of conduct issued by the election commission debars the use of the government vehicles for poll meetings. — HNS

Mechi highway closed

MANGALBARE: The Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC) closed the Mechi Highway from early Friday to protest against the arrest of its cadres. Following the obstruction, vehicles have stayed off the road and hundreds of passengers have been stranded, the police said. Police, however, said that vehicles have been brought to the district headquarters by escorting from Kiteni. Although FLSC cadres have been called for talks, the talks could not be held, the police said. Police had on Thursday held some FLSC cadres from Kiteni for collecting donation. — RSS

4 quit Press Chautari

Gaighat: Four members of Press Chautari Udayapur, issuing an appeal, have announced that they have quit the membership. Maheshwor Rai Chamling claimed that some CPN (UML) members made a biased decision, barring him from contesting the election for the post of chairman at the FNJ Udayapur meet slated for February 3. Gokul Chamling, Bharat Khadka and Bhoj Raj also quit. Maheshwor said he would contest election as an independent candidate. The other candidate for the chairman’s post is Ishwor Tamang. — HNS