The news of the government banning Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal calling it a criminal group has been covered on front pages of all national dailies. PM KP Sharma Oli and NCP co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal discussing on reshuffling the Cabinet has also made to the front pages of Wednesday’s newspapers.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
Govt bans Chand-led party
Nagarik, Rajdhani, Annapurna Post, Kantipur, Republica, The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post report that the government on Tuesday branded the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal a criminal group and banned its activities, just days after the second blast in the capital in past few weeks. The outfit had claimed responsibility of both the explosions, but had shown no signs of renouncing violence.
The party’s violent activities in the run-up to the second Investment Summit, scheduled for March 29-30, had emerged as the government’s major cause for concern. On Tuesday afternoon, Oli, during his meeting with representatives from the foreign employment sector, had ruled out talks with “a group that is involved in bombing and criminal activities”.
A high-level government team had invited the Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal for talks last year, but it had said the Chand outfit refused. A politburo member of the Chand party, however, said that they were never called for talks officially.
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that all high-level leaders of the splinter group are underground fearing arrest.
Cabinet reshuffle likely, but only after the Investment Summit
The Kathmandu Post reports that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli plans to remove some “underperforming ministers” and induct new faces into his Cabinet. PM Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, co-chair of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, have started discussions on Cabinet reshuffle which will probably only take place after the investment summit. PM Oli had planned to do it before the investment summit scheduled for March-end.
Ignored
Nepali woman breeze past Bhutan
The Himalayan Times reports that Nepal began the Women’s SAFF Championship campaign with a 3-0 victory over Bhutan in the inaugural match at the Shahid Rangashala in Biratnagar on Tuesday.
Aanjali Kumari Yonjan, Sabitra Bhandari and skipper Nitu Thapa scored a goal each for the home team who are looking for their maiden international trophy. Nepal had played in finals of the first three editions, losing to India thrice. In the fourth edition, Nepal failed to make it to the final after losing to India in the semi-finals.
A total of six teams are taking part in the tournament. Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh are in Group A, while India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are in Group B. The top two teams from both groups will make it to the semifinals. On Wednesday, four-time champion India will play the Maldives.
Bills, receipts worth Rs 122 million missing in the NTB
Nagarik reports that an investigation claimed that bills and records worth around Rs 122 million are missing in the Nepal Tourism Board. The information was made public by the Office of the Auditor General. The Office had asked the NTB to provide them with the records, but NTB officials said that the records had gone missing.
Deputy Auditor General Bishnu Prasad Rimal has said that officials at NTB lack fiscal discipline and an investigation should be made regarding the cause. Sources believe that the bills were hidden from the office of the Auditor General because there are signs of corruption.
Interesting
No actions to be taken against consultancies
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that the government would not be taking any actions against consultancies involved in sending students to unregistered Australian institutions because the students in Australia hadn’t made any formal complaint to the government. The future of hundreds of Nepali students is in limbo after the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), the regulatory body, on February 19, revoked the vocational education and training accreditation of the Australia Institute of Business and Technology, where around 90 per cent of the 1,000 nursing students enrolled are Nepalis. The government formed-committee had asked the students and their family to file an official complaint. However, no one has given a formal complaint against any consultancy.
Govt asks local units to send in details of vacant posts
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has asked for details of the employees needed at the local level. The ministry has written to all local units asking for details of vacant posts and the employees they currently have.
Aviation regulator announces new safety measures post Air Dynasty crash
The Kathmandu Post reports that aviation regulator—Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal—has announced new measures to enhance the operational safety of helicopters in Nepal following the Air Dynasty helicopter crash in Taplejung on February 27. The country’s civil aviation body is preparing the VIP flight guideline for helicopters and hiring foreign experts to conduct operational safety assessments in the wake of increasing chopper accidents.
Rajan Pokhrel, Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, says a helicopter safety team has been given two weeks to prepare the VIP flight guideline. Pokhrel, who oversees the country’s aviation safety department, says that as soon as the team submits its report, its recommendations will be implemented.
