Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Friday have accorded the topmost priority to contemporary political issues. A press meet hosted by CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and his statements against some decisions of the incumbent government, decisions of the Cabinet meeting, an agreement between the UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre about the formation of new provincial governments, provincial assemblies’ preparations for commencing new sessions among others have received prime attention in the front page of today.
Nepal Electricity Authority’s announcement that it will sign the power purchase agreement for Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in US dollar terms is also widely discussed. Whereas some news reports have termed it a positive step, some other reports are too critical of it.
Important
Oli to ‘rectify’ Deuba’s wrong moves
Organising a press conference in Kathmandu yesterday, the ‘prime minister-in-waiting’ KP Sharma Oli said he would revoke some long-term decisions made by the incumbent government, according to Naya Patrika. After the government decided to lower the threshold for senior citizen allowance to 65 years from 70 and to add Rs 100,000 to earthquake surviving families, Oli made the remark. Oli said Deuba was trying to bleed the state coffers dry.
Oli said the new government would review all the decisions taken by Deuba after his government turned to be a caretaker one and revoke the ones that could be against the constitution, law and national interest, according to The Himalayan Times lead story. He added that the decision on elderly allowance was taken with mala fide intention.
Meanwhile, some other newspaper reports have also criticised the government move. Nagarik lead story says the decision to reduce the age bar and some other recent decisions will cost the state billions of rupees. The Kathmandu Post also carries a similar story.
Nepal gets 56 new martyrs
Gorkhapatra says the government decided to add 56 more people to the list of the country’s martyrs. A Cabinet meeting held yesterday made the decision.
The new list includes 38 civilians who were killed in a bus ambush by then Maoist rebels in Bandarmudhe of Chitwan in 2005, according to Janata Post.
Meanwhile, the meeting decided to transfer Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Maheshwor Nepane, after he did not agree to Minister Jitendra Narayan Dev’s plan to fire Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Sanjiv Gautam, according to Nagarik.
New case against ‘absconding’ Chudamani Sharma
Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post say the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority is preparing to file another lawsuit against suspended chief of Inland Revenue Department, Chudamani Sharma. Sharma was suspended after he is accused of embezzlement while was an official at the Tax Settlement Commission.
Now, the anti-corruption constitutional body plans to file another case accusing him of amassing property worth Rs 45 million illegally.
Janata Post reports that Sharma is absconding after learning about the Commission’s preparations to indict him in another case.
Ignored
Indian envoy admits obstruction on ginger export
Republica says Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri, has admitted that there could have been obstruction on Nepal’s import of ginger to India due to phytosanitary requirements as agreed between the two countries.
Earlier, media reports had accused India of blocking Nepali agricultural products to pass through entry points in Jhapa and Ilam without any reason.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Puri said the Indian government was eager to work with the new government here, according to Annapurna Post.
Dolpa local govt officials indulge in foreign trips
Annapurna Post anchor story says elected officials and staff of five among eight local governments of Dolpa district are visiting various places of India by misusing the government funds.
Officials including chiefs of Tripura Sundari, She-Phoksundo, Dolpo Buddha, Chharkatangsong and Mudkechola are visiting the neighbouring country after allocating Rs 550,000 to Rs 3.5 million for the tour, according to the report.
Interesting
Key leaders ‘qualify’ for elderly allowance
After the government lowered the threshold for senior citizen allowance to 65 years from 70, Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is under fire. In this context, Republica has listed out key political players of the country who have crossed the 65-year mark to qualify themselves for the allowance.
The list includes Deua himself (71), KP Sharma Oli (66), Bamdev Gautam (69), Ram Chandra Paudel (73), Subas Chandra Nembang (65), Madhav Kumar Nepal (65), Mahantha Thakur (70), Dinanath Sharma (73), Gopal Man Shrestha (71) and Krishna Prasad Sitaula (68), among others.
Nepali eye surgeon gets India’s Padma Shri
The Indian government has decided to confer Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the country, to senior ophthalmologist from Nepal, Dr Sanduk Ruit, according to The Himalayan Times.
The country’s Press Information Bureau has made the announcement on its official Twitter page, informing, “He has gifted vision to more than one lakh people. Through low-cost cataract surgery…”
Meanwhile, Dr Ruit thanked the government and the people of India, as well as his patients and well wishers, for the recognition, according to the report.
