Kathmandu, October 12, 2007

The Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India, Shyam Saran, today said that India remains committed to ‘help the peace process in every way possible’ to achieve the goal of a ‘democratic, stable and prosperous’ Nepal.

Addressing a press conference at Hotel Dwarika, Saran said his visit was aimed at an ‘assessment of the prevailing political situation’ in Nepal.

He added that his three-day visit was a ‘useful one’ in the sense that it provided him an opportunity for ‘extensive exchange of views’ with the leaders of the eight political parties on the peace process.

Saran met Prime Minister Girija Prasasd Koirala, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, Ram Chandra Poudel, and Home Minister, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel, ‘to understand the state of preparations’ for the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls. He met other leaders, including Sher B Deuba of the NC, General Secretary of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of CPN (Maoist), Prachanda, President of Rashtriya Janashakti Party, Surya Bahadur Thapa, and President of Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, Pashupati SJB Rana.

Talking to mediapersons on India’s disappointment over the postponement of the polls, he stressed the importance of the peace process and electoral process. “Both these processes are interlinked as the peace process cannot progress without electoral process,” he said.

This celeb dad has pedestrian wish

Narayangarh, October 12, 2007

CPN (Maoist) chairman Prachanda’s 82-year-old father Mukti Ram Dahal is more worried about his son Pushpa Kamal (Prachanda) than his own health.

Talking to this journalist after Ghatasthapana pooja at his home today, Mukti Ram said, “Let peace prevail in our country. I wish to see my son coming home.”

Planning to offer tika to two sons, six daughters, 22 grandchildren and six great grand children, sons-in-law and other relatives, he is confident that Prachanda would also come home this year for receiving Tika. He is now living in his youngest son’s home in Chitwan’s Bharatpur Municipality-6 Baidiknagar. He said, “I would be most delighted to see everyone in my family gather at a place during this great festival.” “I pray to god and offer him pooja everyday “, Dahal said after finishing Ghatasthapana pooja.

Mukti Ram’s youngest son Ganga Ram is now in the United Kingdom with his family for higher studies. Among his six daughters, four are in Bharatpur town and two are in Gitanagar and Chainpur VDC.

“I have 22 grand children and six great grand children from two sons and six daughters”, Mukti Ram said. “I used to have such a good time during Dashain in the past when we stayed in a hill area”, Mukti Ram recalling his past said, “It would be like a big party if everyone were to join at a single place.”