Almost all broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Friday have given priority to reports related to ruling party senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal’s scathing remarks against the government. Other economic and political issues have also received attention from the editors.
Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Friday.
Important
At a time when the main opposition has been unable to galvanise anti-government voices in the country, a ruling party senior leader has criticised the government for failing on multiple fronts. The point is highlighted in Kantipur‘s editorial cartoon, which says that the Opposition should takes cues from Madhav Nepal to make the government aware of its failures. Naya Patrika says that Nepal’s remarks need to be connected to growing dissatisfaction within the NCP over the functioning of the government. The paper says that the Madhav Nepal group is outraged over Party Chairman KP Oli’s move to get the party secretariat to finalise nominees for various provincial positions within the party. Nepal has been saying that the decision should have been taken by the Standing Committee. Nepal has also alleged that Oli took the decision while he was on his African tour.
The Himalayan Times quotes Madhav Nepal as saying in Parliament, “I can understand people’s frustration over governance issues. The government should listen to people’s grievances and act accordingly.” Nepal said that some people were openly challenging the sovereignty of the country, but the government was not taking action against them.
Meanwhile, Nagarik, reports that top leaders of the NCP, who were committed to ending factionalism in the new party, have formed their respective corteries. The paper says that leaders Oli, Dahal, Nepal, Gautam, Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Ram Bahadur Thapa now have their corteries.
Ignored
Nijgadh Airport: MPs file motion against plan to fell trees
The Himalayan Times says that Nepali Congress MPs Pradeep Giri, Gagan Thapa and Dibyamani Rajbhandari have filed a motion of urgent public importance in Parliament raising concern over the government’s plan to cut down a large number of trees in Bara even before the detailed design of the new airport was prepared.
Melamchi to pay Rs 900 million in compensation for road damages
Naya Patrika says that the Melamchi Drinking Water Project is paying Rs 900 million to the Department of Roads to repair roads damaged during the laying of drinking pipes. The paper says that the amount will be paid for the department to repair main roads damaged by the project. However, the project will repair secondary roads on its own.
Interesting
Nepal-China energy meet to kick off in Kathmandu
Karobar reports that a key meeting of energy sector officials from China and Nepal is taking place in Kathmandu on Friday. The report says that the five-day meeting will discuss energy demand and supply projections in both the countries. According to the paper, discussions will also be held on the possibility of building cross-border power lines and hydels such as Nalgadh, Naumure, Sun Koshi 2 and 3, Tamore, Fukot and Karnali.
Indian petroleum minister Pradhan due in Kathmandu
Arthik Abhiyan reports that Indian Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is expected to land in Kathmandu on Friday, a day after the Indian delegation which was supposed to attend an Indo-Nepal petroleum meeting failed to show up. The details of the visit are under wraps.
