Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have highlighted a host of issues from political, sociocultural and economic issues. A number of newspapers have published reports about Nepali political leaders’ love for foreign visits. All three private newspapers—The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times and Republica—have published Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s statement made during his Constitution Day address that Nepal cannot be made a ‘guinea pig’ to experiment rights movements on their front pages. Nepali broadsheets, however, have largely ignored the statement. Likewise, the boycott of Constitution Day celebrations by Madhesh-centric parties has also been featured on front pages of the newspapers.
Following up on the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant in Bhimdutta Nagar of Kanchanpur, some newspapers have published reports about increasing rape cases across the country.
Important
Province 2 govt boycotts Constitution Day
While the federal government and six other provincial governments celebrated the Constitution Day with much fanfare, the Province 2 government boycotted marking it, according to newspaper reports.
Nagarik reports in its lead story that only staff celebrated the Day in Province 2 capital Janakpur, as Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut chose to boycott the event. On the other hand, the report also carries a photograph of provincial minister Jitendra Sonal taking part in the event organised to protest the constitution.
Leaders ‘just love’ foreign visits
Rajdhani, Annapurna Post and Nagarik report that more political leaders have been engaged in a number of foreign visits of late. Currently, nine teams of leaders representing ruling and opposition parties are abroad whereas three other teams are at the last stage of preparations. Two other teams have just returned home, according to the Annapurna Post report.
Just yesterday, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun left for China whereas Nepal Communist Party senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal took a flight to Ghana.
30 per cent increase in rape cases
Nepal Samacharpatra and Naya Patrika report on their front pages that criminal cases, rape and murder in particular, are increasing every day.
Whereas the increase was around 10 per cent every year in past seven years, the latest increase is about 30 per cent, according to Nepal Samacharpatra. Meanwhile, Naya Patrika reports that two murders and three rapes are reported to police everyday on average.
Ignored
Congress accuses govt of weakening federalism
The main opposition party Nepali Congress has accused the incumbent government of weakening federalism and federal structures, reports Rajdhani in a two column story.
During a press conference in Kathmandu yesterday, the party’s Vice-President Bimalendra Nidhi said failure to name provinces except two and apparent differences surfaced between federal and provincial governments were some of the indications of the government’s failure to strengthen federalism.
Indian company fails to collect funds for Upper Karnali
Indian company GMR, which was assigned to construct 900 megawatt Upper Karnali Hydropower Project, has failed to meet the second deadline to collect funds for the project, reports Karobar in a two column story.
Meanwhile, the company has filed an application at the Investment Board Nepal seeking another extension. The Board’s Chief Executive Officer Maha Prasad Adhikari says the Board will take an appropriate decision soon.
Nepal Police losing public trust
Naya Patrika‘s lead story for the day claims that Nepal Police is gradually losing public trust in the wake of rising criminal incidents. Even Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa have also expressed doubts over police capacity to handle criminal cases whereas Inspector General Sarbendra Khanal has also conceded weaknesses, according to the report.
Interesting
Nawalparasi teenage girls being trained in self defence
In the wake of incidents of violence against women and children, non-government activists have launched a self defence training programme for teenage girls in Nawalparasi district, according to Kantipur anchor story.
During the training, the girls are trained to make people aware about violence against women and counter attempts of attack against them, among others.
