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From the Kathmandu Press: Wednesday, November 29, 2017

File image: Chudamani Sharma being taken to court

Major Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Wednesday have prioritised a host of issues in the front page. Most of them are related to provincial and federal parliamentary elections as 32 districts of the country already held polls and 45 others are going to the polls next week.

The overshooting of a Tara Air aircraft in Hummla and a blast near a Nepali Congress event venue in Dang have also got significant attention in the front pages today.

Important

Chudamani Sharma released on bail

Suspended Director General of Inland Revenue Department, Chudamani Sharma, at the Special Court, on Sunday, June 4, 2017.

Former chief of the Inland Revenue Department Chudamani Sharma, who is facing an embezzlement charge at the Special Court, has been released on Tuesday by posting a bail of Rs 10 million, reports Rajdhani.

Republica quotes the court spokesperson Nagendra Keshari Pokharel as saying that Nepal Investment Bank has stood guarantee for Sharma’s bail.

Sharma is accused by the anti-corruption constitutional watchdog, CIAA, of embezzling state coffers while he was working at the Tax Settlement Commission. Earlier, the CIAA had kept him in custody; but the Supreme Court had released him in response to a habeas corpus writ filed by his wife.

Earlier yesterday, Sharma had recorded his statements over the charge at the court.

Two other accused of the same case, Lumbadhwaj Mahat and Umesh Prasad Dhakal, have already been released on bail.

Gezhouba urges Nepal to revoke Budhigandaki deal cancellation

File image: Minister for Energy Janardan Sharma (l) exchanges an agreement with the representative of Gezhouba Group for the construction of Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project, in Kathmanndu, on Sunday, June 4, 2017.

China Gezhouba Group Company on Tuesday has called on the Nepal government to withdraw its decision about cancelling the contract made with the Chinese firm for the construction of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project. The company has claimed the process of contract termination was “invalid”, reports The Kathmandu Post, adding the abrupt ouster violated terms of the memorandum of understanding signed with it.

The company has sent its letter in this regard to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and the Ministry of Energy, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Karobar quotes a government official as telling the paper that a foreign company cannot challenge the Cabinet decision. “It is no more logical for the controversial Chinese company to oppose the decision as any constitutional body including the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority also cannot challenge the policy decision made by Cabinet.”

 

Ignored

Ballots from 71 stations yet to be sent to headquarters

Sealed ballot boxes

Ballot boxes from 71 voting stations of six districts that went to polls on Sunday are yet to be taken to district headquarters, the Election Commission says, according to a report in Nagarik today. The Commission’s spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal says ballot papers are yet to be brought to the headquarters from nine places of Sankhuwasabha, six of Bhojpur, 20 of Dolpa, 10 of Mugu, 25 of Jajarkot and one of Darchula.

Meanwhile, the newspaper reports from Jumla and Dolpa that cold weather has posed a threat to the safety of ballot boxes.

Election Commission favouring bigwigs

File: Election Commission

Republica‘s lead story for the day claims that the Election Commission is favouring top leaders of major parties while implementing the election code of conduct. It says despite an initial announcement barring political parties and candidates from using helicopters, high-profile leaders are spending millions on the choppers.

The report quotes Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav as saying that the constitutional body has been compelled to compromise under political pressure.

EC seeks clarification from UML over voting ad

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli speaks at a function in Dailekh, on November 23, 2017.

The Election Commission has sought a clarification from the CPN-UML claiming the party violated the election code of conduct by publishing an advertisement in national dailies with a picture of party Chairman KP Sharma Oli, calling people to vote for the party.

The party has been directed to submit the explanation over the act within next 24 hours, reports Gorkhapatra.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has also published a similar advertisement featuring party President Sher Bahadur Deuba in some dailies.

Interesting

High customs duty proposed on sugar to promote domestic industry

The government is mulling over increasing customs duty on the import of sugar as high as upto 50 per cent in a bid to promote domestic industries, reports The Himalayan Times in its anchor story.

The report says sugarcane farmers have expressed happiness over the decision.

Supreme Court verdict ends quickest Everest scaling debate

File image: Mount Everest

For over 13 years, there was a debate over who—Pemba Dorji Sherpa or Lakpa Gelu Sherpa—climbed the Mount Everest in the shortest period. However, the Supreme Court on Tuesday gave an end to the debate, giving the title to Lakpa Gelu, reports Rajdhani.

The Court has observed that Pemba Dorji could not produce convincing evidence to support his claim as mentioned in mountaineering laws of the country. In 2003, Lakpa Gelu had conquered the highest peace in 10 hours and 56 minutes; but Pemba Dorji had claimed the next year that he climbed the summit in eight hours and 10 minutes. Lakpa Gelu, then, had moved the court against the claim.

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