The arrest of alleged mastermind of a number of gold smuggling cases which took place over past few years via the Kathmandu airport has been the most significant issue for all Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Wednesday. The announcement of Indian Ministry of External Affairs that it already decided to close the field office of its Embassy in Biratnagar has also been covered on the front pages of major newspapers today as the office was dragged into a controversy many times.
Besides, newspapers continue to comment on the political scenario created after the merger of then CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre into the Nepal Communist Party.
Important
Gore spills beans about more names
After his arrest, accused mastermind behind multiple gold smuggling cases including the recent one involving 33.5 kg gold, Chudamani Upreti alias Gore has confessed to his role in facilitating the smuggling, but also shared with police and other investigation officials that he was not the chief culprit, but there were many others, according to newspaper reports.
Kantipur lead story for the day says Gore told investigators that he would just ‘manage’ the smuggling process and smuggled yellow metal and took care of their finances whereas there were many others ‘above him’ who would actually smuggle the gold.
The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post also report that Gore has spilled the beans about many other previously unsuspected persons who were directly or indirectly involved in the smuggling racket. The people involve police officials, customs officials and ground handlers at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Gore told investigators that SSP Shyam Khatri could explain everything about the racket, according to Rajdhani.
On the other hand, the Morang District Court has extended the remand of 28 suspects arrested in connection with the case. Two suspects, however, have been freed, according to another report in Rajdhani.
Nepal Communist Party accused of ignoring inclusion
Annapurna Post, Nagarik, Naya Patrika, Republica and The Himalayan Times have analysed the composition of newly unified Nepal Communist Party’s Central Committee to conclude that it is not inclusive so as to represent different social and cultural groups of the country.
Women cover just around 17 per cent share of the 441-member Committee though the statute of the party itself has made it mandatory to have at least 33 per cent women in the Committee, according to newspaper reports. Likewise, participation of Janajatis, Dalits, Madheshis, Tharus and Muslims is also not proportional to their population size in the country, according to Annapurna Post.
The number of women leaders in the country is not sufficient to get the legal recognition by the Election Commission, therefore a serious question has been raised over the issue, the report adds.
Republica and The Himalayan Times quote women leaders in the party who view that the level of participation and inclusiveness in their party was discouraging.
On the other hand, there are 10 couples who have been included in the Committee, according to Nagarik.
Rastrakabi Ghimire to be taken to India for treatment
Kantipur and Gorkhapatra report that 99-year-old Rastrakabi Madhav Prasad Ghimire, perhaps the most revered living litterateur of the country, will be taken to India for his further treatment today. Ghimire is at a Kathmandu hospital for last 12 days.
Though he has witnessed minor improvements over past few days, internal bleeding has not stopped and hence the family has decided to take him to New Delhi’s Medanta Hospital, according to Kantipur. Nepal Army is supporting the family for his treatment whereas Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has already announced to cover all his treatment costs.
‘The poet of nation’ is suffering from various ailments for last four months and he was admitted to hospitals frequently in the period, informs Gorkhapatra.
Ignored
Govt not to change retirement age
Though an experts’ panel had suggested that the government upgrade the retirement age of civil servants from 58 to 60 considering various factors, the government has made a choice not to abide by the suggestion, according to Nepal Samacharpatra. The government has argued that low retirement age can be helpful to recruit more personnel from the new generation.
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration recently finalised the draft of Federal Civil Service Bill and sent it to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to suggestions.
Reconstruction pace very slow in capital
The pace of reconstruction of residential buildings destroyed in the 2015 earthquake has been marked very slow in the capital, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, as just 331 houses have been reconstructed, according to a report in Naya Patrika.
Around 6,000 houses were destroyed in the earthquake here, whereas the National Reconstruction Authority has signed an agreement with 5,807 families for the reconstruction grant, the report says, adding lack of low interest loan is also a major barrier for reconstruction.
Oli directs party to help govt implement policy
Whereas the main opposition party Nepali Congress has said the government’s annual policy and programme was just a bundle of hollow plans, Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party Chairman KP Sharma Oli has directed leaders of his party to support the government in its implementation, according to Gorkhapatra lead story.
During a meeting of the NCP Parliamentary Party today, Oli said he was ready to be accountable for each and every point of the document; therefore all lawmakers belonging to the party should wholeheartedly support the government.
Salt Trading’s Rs 3 billion misappropriated
Kantipur reports that around Rs 3.25 billion that the government-run public utility Salt Trading Corporation received as grants from governments of Nepal, India and Japan has been misappropriated by its officials.
A team formed by the Ministry of Finance has found that the money as well as other goods were misappropriated by the Corporation.
Interesting
Nepali Congress trains lawmakers on the government’s policy
The main opposition Nepali Congress has launched a training programme for its lawmakers on the annual policy and programme of government, which President Bidya Devi Bhandari recently presented before a joint meeting of two houses of the Federal Parliament, so that they could effectively present their ideas during the discussion, according to Rajdhani anchor story.
The party has mobilised experts and economists close to the party including Bishwa Paudel, Govinda Raj Pokharel, Ram Sharan Mahat, Narayan Khadka and Minendra Rijal among others for the training, the report says, adding, they told the lawmakers to speak less but more effectively.
