Most Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Sunday have given the topmost priority to the government decision to propose two dates for the fourth BIMSTEC summit and the Morang District Court’s decision to send one more suspect of 33.5 kg gold smuggling case to judicial custody. The Cabinet decision to endorse the working procedure for Kathmandu-Terai fast track and three police officials’ statement about the ongoing gold smuggling investigation have also received significant attention.
Few other political, sociocultural and economic issues have also been published on the front page today.
Important
Former police officials express concerns over gold smuggling probe
Three former high officials of Nepal Police on Sunday told reporters that the ongoing investigation into a series of gold smuggling cases carried out by the racket Chudamani Upreti aka Gore is erroneous, according to newspaper reports.
Former AIG Rajendra Singh Bhandari and former DIGs Hemanta Malla and Ramesh Kharel have viewed that the operation led by a joint secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs is likely to discourage capable police officials who were trained and experienced in undercover operations, according to Kantipur.
They also expressed their concerns over ‘hasty’ arrests of police officials in connection with the case, reports Republica.
Ministerial panel to monitor fast track construction
The lead story in The Kathmandu Post and a snippet in Kantipur report that a panel led by Defence Minister will supervise and monitor the construction of Kathmandu-Terai fast track that the Nepal Army is constructing.
The Cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided to form the committee as it also endorsed the Expressway Operation Working Procedure, according to the TKP report.
Former Princess Prerana reluctant to hand over house to govt
Despite the Supreme Court order to hand over Bijaya Ghar of Chhauni to Nepal Trust, former Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Singh, the only daughter of former King Gyanendra Shah, is reluctant to leave the luxurious house that she claims her father gifted her as dowry, according to reports in Nagarik and Nepal Samacharpatra.
Nepal Trust, formed to manage government properties used by former royal family members, wrote a letter to Singh to evacuate the building within 35 days one month ago, but she is refusing to receive the letter, reads the Nepal Samacharpatra report.
Ignored
Transport Minister wants to lift ban on old vehicles
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth is likely to make yet another controversial decision, shortly after opening the BP Highway for big buses, as he is preparing to lift the ban on vehicles older than 20 years, Republica reports in its lead story.
Minister Mahaseth is under the pressure of businesspersons to life the ban implemented only in March, according to the report.
Talks begin on NCP-Forum unification
The lead story in Rajdhani claims that ruling Nepal Communist Party has begun talks with Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal in a bid to unify the two parties.
The talks have begun as soon as the Forum joined the KP Sharma Oli-led government on Friday, according to the report.
The talks, however, are just informal now, according to the report.
Nepal-India EPG may exist for one more month
The Eminent Persons’ Group on Nepal-India Relations is preparing for its final meeting scheduled to be held in Kathmandu later this month. The panel comprising four experts from both sides is likely to request the two governments to extend its term for next one month, reports a three-column story in The Kathmandu Post, adding the Indian side has floated the proposal for extension.
Tourism entrepreneur Karna Shakya faces Phewa encroachment probe
Reports in Nagarik and Republica say that a committee has been formed to investigate into reports that famed tourism entrepreneur Karna Shakya among others encroached the Phewa Lake in Nepal’s tourism capital Pokhara.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the government to investigate and find out whether Shakya’s Water Front Resort lies within 65 metres of the lake and prepare a report within next two months.
Prices of daily consumables likely to go up
The government proposal to revise tax rates for the next fiscal year will result in higher inflation in the market of daily consumables, according to The Himalayan Times.
The price hikes are likely to make it difficult for the government to contain inflation at 6.5 per cent in the next fiscal year as proposed in the budget, the report informs, adding, hardware, sanitary items, furniture, electronics, marbles, automobiles, motor parts among others will be dearer after mid-July.
Interesting
New law on safe motherhood and reproductive health rights
The government is planning to introduce a new law to ensure safe motherhood and reproductive health rights of Nepalil women, according to which a woman working at any type of organisation is entitled 98 days of maternity leave including the time before and after child delivery, Kantipur reports in its anchor story for the day.
The 98-day period is the minimum time and if required, she can get one more month of paid leave upon the consultation of health workers, according to the report.
