by Tika R Pradhan in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 14, 2023After the main opposition CPN-UML, a faction of the ruling Nepali Congress has also demanded a high-level probe panel to investigate the cases of gold smuggling. This development is likely to build pressure on the ruling coalition, which was rejecting the opposition’s demand for such a probe saying that the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police was already looking into the issue and that…
Posts published in “Nepal”
report in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 13, 2023Parched farmlands in the western Tarai face an uncertain future as the irrigation projects intended to bring water have not been completed even after 40 years. Experts say that it may take another 10 years before these schemes in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts are ready. That gives the national pride projects a completion deadline of half a century. The Sikta Irrigation Project is designed to irrigate…
by Tika R Pradhan in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 13, 2023Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is preparing to bring the CK Raut-led Janamat Party back to his Cabinet. Dahal is likely to induct a Janamat minister in the government by Sunday evening, said Ramesh Malla, personal secretary to the prime minister. The prime minister has been talking to some ministers from his party to convince one of them to make way for the new minister,…
by Tika R Pradhan in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 12, 2023The main opposition CPN-UML has been obstructing the federal Parliament since last month demanding a high-level investigation into the recent incidents of gold smuggling through the Tribhuvan International Airport. On Friday, even the ruling parties obstructed the National Assembly, protesting against the UML’s ongoing obstruction of the legislature. Both chambers of the federal parliament have been obstructed since July 26. As major parties have taken…
by Tika R Pradhan in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 11, 2023It sounds improbable. But perhaps it’s not impossible. During the party’s recent central committee meeting, two of the most influential CPN (Maoist Centre) leaders strongly raised the issue of grooming the successor of party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Until recently, even broaching the topic of Dahal’s successor would have been a hearsay in the party. The two deputy general secretaries Barshaman Pun and Janardan Sharma…
by Deepak Pariyar in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 10, 2023Phuliwang in Annapurna Rural Municipality-10 is a picturesque village around a three-hour bus ride and then an hour’s walk from Pokhara. The village was originally inhabited mostly by the indigenous Gurung community and Dalit community. Today, most of the Gurung families have moved away to the cities and if the Dalits had options they would too, for a better life elsewhere, says Ramshree BK, a local…
by Anil Giri in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 10, 2023A crack has opened up in the ruling coalition following the signing on Tuesday of a five-point agreement between the home ministry and the Gaur Murder Victims Struggle Committee. At least 27 Maoist cadres were killed in Gaur of Rautahat district on March 21, 2007 in an ugly confrontation with the cadres of the then Madheshi Janadhikar Forum led by Upendra Yadav. Yadav now chairs the…
by Tika R Pradhan in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 9, 2023The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) has announced the celebration of this year’s World Indigenous Day with a week-long series of programmes, starting with the main function on Wednesday. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to kick off the celebrations of the 29th International Day for World’s Indigenous People and address the main function to be held at Nepal Academy, Kathmandu. In the…
by Binod Ghimire in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 9, 2023Despite the home minister committing to a fair investigation into last month’s gold seizure, the main opposition party continued its disruption of the House of Representatives demanding a high-level panel to conduct the probe. After nearly two weeks of obstruction, the CPN-UML on Tuesday allowed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha to inform the House on the measures being taken to…
by Tika R Pradhan in The Kathmandu Post, Aug 8, 2023After some parties including the main opposition CPN-UML and opposition Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided to launch a ‘three-month grassroots’ campaign to reach out to the people. Party leaders believe that the campaign will help revive the party in the upcoming polls as they will know the concerns of the people and act accordingly to convince them to vote for…
Attempts to discourage open discussions won’t help democracy, in view of experts.Political parties struggle to curb cadres’ social media activityby Nishan Khatiwada in The Kathmandu Post. Aug 8, 2023In a statement following its standing committee meeting on Sunday, the CPN (Unified Socialist) directed its leaders and members not to make any remarks on social media against the party and its leadership. “As people involved in the party and its organisations have been speaking and writing…