Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have given priority to a host of topics from multiple spheres. The statement of Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa over the probe into rape and murder of Nirmala Pant in Bhimdatta Nagar of Kanchanpur district around two months ago has been covered on the front pages of most newspapers.
Some other issues that have been featured on the front pages of the newspapers are medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC’s warning of launching another round of hunger strike demanding an early endorsement of the Medical Education Bill, the prediction made by Asian Development Bank about Nepal’s weakening economic growth and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s address to a function in New York. Some newspapers have published reports about the proposed construction of an international airport in Nijgadh of Bara.
Important
Home Minister blames police for Pant murder probe lapses
Home Minister Thapa told lawmakers during a meeting of the State Affairs Committee of Parliament on Wednesday that police negligence was responsible for delaying the investigation into the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant, according to newspaper reports.
In the meantime, he also revealed that police forged the fingerprint of the victim’s father Yagya Raj Pant while handing over Nirmala’s body to the family for cremation.
The Kathmandu Post quotes him, “It’s shameful to see what the local police did. It also burnt Pant’s clothes as an attempt to destroy the evidence.”
Nepal Police Chief Sarbendra Khanal was also present in the meeting, and lawmakers asked both the officials when the culprits of the case will be booked, reports Naya Patrika.
Dr KC warns of another hunger strike
After the current session of Federal Parliament failed to endorse the new Medical Education Bill, medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC has warned of launching the 16th fast-unto-death, according to newspaper reports.
Dr KC issued the warning in his statement yesterday after media reports claimed that the government was preparing to wrap up the current session today.
ADB predicts Nepal’s weak economic growth
The Asian Development Bank has revised its prediction for Nepal’s economic growth for the current fiscal year, and claimed it would be around 5.5 per cent, according to reports in Rajdhani, Karobar and Abhiyan. The government has announced to achieve an ambitious growth rate of 8.8 per cent.
Though the ADB prediction is lower than the government target, it is better than the average growth rate in past 10 years, according to economist Sharad Bhandari.
Ignored
Environment Minister defends Nijgadh project
Whereas media reports claim two ministries of the government—Forest and Environment; and Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation—are at odds over the construction of an international airport in Nijgadh of Bara considering the project’s impact on environment, the Environment Minister, Shakti Basnet, also said the project will be constructed at any cost, according to Abhiyan.
Meanwhile, Naya Patrika reports in its lead story that chopping down the trees for the project may involve some environmental costs; but selling them will general enough funds to construct the airport.
Oli in US renews commitment to democracy
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed a function on peace, democracy and development organised by the Asia Society in New York, during which he stressed Nepal’s ‘unflinching’ commitment to democracy and fundamental freedom, according to The Kathmandu Post.
On the occasion, Oli said the government would not make any compromise on democratic norms, values and principles.
Gorkhapatra and Annapurna Post have also covered the event on their front pages.
Saptari racket found forging citizenship certificate for Rs 60,000
Police in Saptari district of Province 2 have discovered that a racket was active in the district in helping people who fail to meet criteria for citizenship to acquire the document from the District Administration Office, according to a report in Nagarik.
It has been found that the group was selling a forced certificate for Rs 60,000 to Rs 200,000 based on the financial status of the client, the report says.
Lawmakers quiz Minister over transport syndicate
Members of the Development and Technology Committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday grilled Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth for recognising the transport entrepreneur committees which were scrapped by the government decision some months ago, Republica reports in a four column story.
In response, Mahaseth claimed that the federation that the government signed an agreement with was not any organisation that imposed transport syndicate.
Interesting
Ilam police make it mandatory for drivers to put on shoes
Traffic police in Ilam district of eastern Nepal have made it mandatory for drivers in the district to put on their shoes while driving so as to control accidents, Kantipur reports in the anchor story.
The police have argued that the drivers are likely to slip while on slippers, sandals or flip-flops; hence they must wear shoes.
