Chinese envoy Hou Yanqi’s statement that the US’ remarks on Beijing’s BRI initiatives was fabricated and wrong. Along with that news, NCP’s attempt to make sure Samim Miya Ansari remains in contention for the position as head of the Muslim Commission has also made it to the front pages.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
China says US trying to disrupt Nepal-China ties
Nagarik, Kantipur, Arthik Abhiyan, Annapurna Post, Republica and Nepal Samacharpatra report that China has strongly objected to the remarks by a visiting senior US Defense Department official, Joseph H. Felter that projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Nepal and elsewhere are primarily aimed at serving the interests of China.
Chinese ambassador Hou Yanqi on Tuesday termed the remark an attempt to harm cooperation between Nepal and China, which in recent years was on an upward trajectory. Arguing that China is a good partner in the development of Nepal, Hou expressed confidence that the government and people of Nepal won’t subscribe to such rumours.
The envoy also clarified that it was not China but Nepal that would select projects to be implemented under the BRI. She added that projects requested by the Nepali side are selected on the basis of the needs and priority set out by the Nepal government.
EC removes Ansari’s name from NCP PR list
Nagarik, Naya Patrika, The Himalayan Times and Republica report that the Election Commission on Tuesday removed the name of Samim Miya Ansari, who has been recommended to head the Muslim Commission, from the Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s proportional representation list for the House of Representatives submitted by the party during the parliamentary election last year.
The decision was taken after the ruling NCP filed an application at the poll panel yesterday seeking removal of Ansari’s name from the PR list, said EC Spokesperson Shankar Prasad Kharel. Media reports had also stated that Ansari was ineligible to chair the Muslim Commission as his name was on the NCP’s PR list.
However, sources at the EC say that even though Ansari’s name has been removed by his party, his eligibility to head the Muslim Commission can still be challenged in court.
Man arrested on Ncell bomb charges
Nagarik, Kantipur and Annapurna Post report a leader from Netra Bikram Chand-led party has been arrested on charges that he was involved in the Ncell bomb explosion case. Surya Bhujel, was arrested by the police on Tuesday on assumption that he was the mastermind behind the attacks. Police are looking for more suspects.
Ignored
SC tells Pathao to carry on
Karobar reports that the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a request for an interim order to halt the operation of Pathao, a popular ride-sharing service company. A division bench of Justices Kedar Prasad Chalise and Anil Sinha declined the petitioner’s plea for a stay on Pathao’s services after hearing arguments from both parties in a session that lasted several hours.
The writ against Pathao was filed by advocate Shyam Kumar Shrestha, a member of the Nepal Bar Association, who argued the company was operating illegally and demanded it be shut down. The petitioner had demanded that the court issue an interim order for a temporary halt of services while the final verdict on the case is pending. Both parties will now be presenting their written explanation to the court.
NC central committee meeting adjourned
Naya Patrika reports that Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has postponed the party’s central committee meeting for an indefinite period. Senior leaders Ram Chandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula and leaders loyal to them boycotted the Central Working Committee meeting of the main opposition Nepali Congress on Tuesday. Both leaders have demanded that the discipline committee and the election committee be formed on consensus and simultaneously as they are paralegal bodies.
LPG bottlers’ threat creates artificial scarcity in market
The Himalayan Times reports that after threats from bottlers to halt the supply of cooking gas in the domestic market from March 1, distributors of liquefied petroleum gas are witnessing long queues outside their depots.
LPG bottlers are miffed at the government for overlooking concerns raised by them and LPG distributors have expressed their solidarity with the protest announced by bottlers. Demanding that the government raise the commission for bottlers and LPG distributors, bottlers have warned the government that they will halt collection of LPG product delivery order from Nepal Oil Corporation from March 1.
Stating that almost 1,100 tonnes of LPG is being supplied to the market daily, Govt warned distributors not to create an artificial shortage of LPG. Meanwhile, NOC has called bottlers and distributors for talks to address their concerns on Wednesday.
Interesting
Legal complications likely to delay arms purchase from US
Republica reports that even though the United States has been pushing Nepal on the procurement of thousands of M16 rifles as agreed earlier between the two governments, officials in Nepal have cited complications in local law.
The legal hurdle is likely to further delay the purchase of over 5,000 units of the M16 and other weaponry worth approximately Rs 1 billion for the Nepal Army.
In a meeting with visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Joseph H Feltman on Monday, Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokhrel communicated to him about the legal hurdle in the government-to-government (G2G) arms procurement deal.
The US wants 100 percent payment cleared before the arms are supplied whereas Nepali law does not allow clearance of payment at one go. The payment has to be on an installment basis.
Nepal on high alert as India-Pakistan dispute worsens
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that after India’s air attack on Pakistan, Nepal says it is on high alert. Citing both countries could attack one another using Nepali land, the government has said it has told security forces to be alert. The Home Ministry has said that it has raised security around the India-Nepal border and Tribhuvan International Airport.
Dictionaries for all 123 national languages
Annapurna Post reports that the Language Commission has decided to print dictionaries of all 123 languages spoken in Nepal. The commission is doing so to make sure that some of these languages don’t die out. Around 66 of the 123 languages are on the verge of dying out. The commission is planning to print dictionaries for around 12-15 languages per year. Dictionaries for Kusunda, Chamling, Lappcha, Belahare and Jerung, along with a few others, have already been prepared by the commission.
