Broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Sunday have prioritised a host of social, political and economic issues. The negotiations between the UML and the Maoist Centre for the merger of the two parties and preparations for the first meeting of Parliament have received considerable attention from the press. Here’s a roundup of important, ignored and interesting news reports that made it to the press on Sunday:
Important
All posts in new party up for grabs, except for ‘co-chair’
Allies of the Left Alliance, the UML and the Maoist Centre have intensified negotiations on the structure of the new party that will emerge after the merger between the two parties. Naya Patrika says all positions in the new party will be up for grabs, except for the position of ‘co-chair’, which will be jointly held by Prachanda and Oli. The paper says that the two parties have not reached an agreement on the hierarchy of leaders in the new party.
The report says that during the initial negotiations over the central committee of the new party, leaders have hinted that the number of members will be in ‘triple figures.’ But the standing committee of the Maoist party itself is 83-member strong, it will difficult for all the members to find a place in the new central committee. It says that a 350-member central committee is on the agenda.
Army to be deployed if separatist movements emerge
The government is working on a draft law that will allow the ‘central forces’ (army) to be deployed if extremist or separatist forces emerge in the districts or in the provinces. Accoring to Annapurna Post, the centre’s Home Ministry is working on a new domestic security Act.
Ignored
How many postal stamps have been issued in Nepal?
Kantipur says thousands of postal stamps have been issued in Nepal under the name of different people and organisations in Nepal. However, not all of the stamps are in use. The report says that some of the stamps never go into circulation as they are dumped in the store immediately after they are issued.
Banks making money from interest on grants for quake victims
Kantipur says over a dozen banks have been found to have made money from interests on government grants to victims of the 2015 earthquake. According to the report, banks, which have been authorised to distribute the government grants have been found to have deposited the money on ‘sundry’ accounts and earned interest on it.
Finance Ministry tightens import procedure
Annapurna Post says that following directives from the new finance minister, customs officials in Nepal have ‘tightened’ import procedures at key border points in the country. The report says that traders who show fake bills during the import process have been targetted by officials. They say that the traders are undervaluing their products to pay less tax and then overvaluing them to earn more profit from the consumers.
Interesting
Rs 25,000 in fixed deposit for every girl child
Naya Patrika says officials at Omsatiya Gaunpalika in Rupandehi District have decided to open a fixed deposit account worth with Rs 25,000 for every girl child born in the area. The report says that the programme was introduced after a rise in the number of sex-selective abortion cases in the area. The money, however, can only be used by the girl child after she reaches 20 years of age.
