Newspapers published in Kathmandu on Monday have published reports related to a variety of social, political economic issues. PM Oli’s refusal to answer questions posed by the opposition has received considerable attention along with a Parliamentary sub-panel endorsing the Medical Education Bill. Newspapers have also reported that Gandaki’s provincial assembly has barred Rajiv Gurung aka Deepak Manange from being sworn in. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Monday:
Important
PM Oli avoids answering opposition questions
The Himalayan Times, The Kathmandu Post, Kantipur and Naya Patrika report that PM Oli avoided answering questions posed by the opposition party during a meeting of the lower house of Parliament on Monday. Nepali Congress leaders commented that Oli failed to clarify the major controversies his government had recently got into recently. This created an uproar in the parliament that led to the postponement of the lower house meeting until Wednesday.
PM Oli, in his address, refused to take questions from the opposition and tried to paint a rosy picture of the economy even as the finance minister issued a white paper nine months ago stating the economy was in tatters. He also didn’t talk about the Rs 4 billion ‘scam’ surrounding the purchase of the two wide-body aircraft.
Gandaki PA denies Manange oath
Nagarik, The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post report that the Provincial assembly has refused to allow Rajeev Gurung aka Deepak Manange to take the oath of office and secrecy as a people’s representative from Manang. Speaker Netranath Adhikari ruled out the oath citing the decision taken by the Business Advisory Committee. Gurung was released from jail on bail after a Supreme Court order last month. The committee took the decision as Gurung’s case hasn’t been finalised by the Supreme Court. Gurung was sentenced to five years by Patan Appellant Court.
Parliamentary sub panel passes Medical Education Bill
Rajdhani, The Himalayan Times and Kantipur report that a sub-committee of the Parliamentary Education and Health Committee on Sunday endorsed the draft National Medical Education Bill with majority despite NC lawmakers mentioning that it failed to accommodate agreements reached with Dr Govinda KC.
Key points have been left out of the draft such as the inclusion of Mathema Commission’s name in the preamble. Instead, the draft refers to the commissions and committees formed by the government at different times. However, the draft doesn’t allow opening of new medical colleges as per the recommendation by Dr KC.
NCP lawmakers state that the bill was more progressive than what Dr KC wanted. The sub-panel will present the draft to the full panel on Monday.
Ignored
NC to protest if he continues to avoid
Nepal Samacharpatra and The Kathmandu Post report that the Nepali Congress has said it won’t allow the House to function until PM Oli answers questions from lawmakers. NC lawmakers obstructed the House of Representatives on Sunday After Oli’s speech saying that Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara had not allowed them to ask him questions about the government’s activities. NC accuses the Speaker of acting like a party cadre as he didn’t let NC lawmakers question Oli. The lower house is scheduled to convene at 1 pm on Wednesday.
Doctors to stop work for one hour from Monday
Republica reports government doctors unhappy with the new civil servants’ adjustment law and their pay and perks have decided to stop work for one hour every day from Monday in protest. As part of their protest, 107 doctors staged a sit-in protest in front of the Ministry of Health and Population for an hour from 10 am on Sunday. They also staged sit-ins in front of the social development ministries in provinces and local bodies across the country.
Interesting
Government plans to split civil aviation authority
Kantipur reports that Nepal’s national aviation authority has been proposed to be divided in the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and the Air Service Authority of Nepal in the draft Integrated Civil Aviation Bill allowing the joint secretaries of the Civil Aviation Ministry to take charge of two vital positions. A five-member panel led by Narendra Thapa, deputy director of CAAN, has proposed making a slew of changes to the draft prepared earlier by another government committee. According to the draft, regulatory functions like licensing flight and non-flight crews will be under CAAN whereas airport, air navigation series and the civil aviation academy will be under the jurisdiction of the Air Service Authority of Nepal.
Provinces to appoint police up to DSP
The Kathmandu Post reports that the government plans to keep both the federal and provincial police administration under its command as it proposes limiting the power of provincial government to recruit personnel. According to senior officials at the home ministry, the draft Federal Police Bill reflects the deep apprehensions of Kathmandu about devolving security mobilisation authority to the provinces. However, a senior official at adds that the provincial government could recruit personnel up to the deputy superintendent of police level and police personnel above the DSP will be mobilised by the centre itself.
