All major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have published reports about the strike imposed by 11 transport entrepreneur associations on the Araniko Highway, and the government’s resistance to them. Political issues including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s India visit beginning tomorrow and preparations for unification between CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre have also been highlighted.
Important
Govt acts tough against transporters’ cartel
Newspaper reports claim that the government looked quite tough against transporters who tried to retain their cartel on highways this time. As 11 entrepreneur committees imposed a strike demanding that the permit issued to a new company named Mayur Yatayat be scrapped, the government says it will not bow down to them.
Instead, the government has decided to easily provide route permits to new companies, according to Nagarik, The report informs that five entrepreneur committees got permit to play Kathmandu-Dhulikhel route, a major section of Araniko Highway yesterday itself.
Kantipur, Republica and The Kathmandu Post have also covered the issue on the front page.
Former PMs urge PM to respect national interests
Former prime ministers and foreign affairs experts have called on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to put protection and promotion of national interests on priority during his upcoming India visit, according to the lead story in Gorkhapatra.
Oli is leaving for New Delhi on a three-day state visit on Friday and he had consulted former PM’s to set agendas for discussions with the Indian side. Former PMs Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Lokendra Bahadur Chand and former chair of Council of Ministers Khil Raj Remgi were present during the discussion.
Lead stories of Rajdhani and Annapurna Post also have the same angle. In addition, Rajdhani highlights that the main opposition Nepali Congress has stressed implementation of past agreements during the visit.
UML, Maoist Centre to form unification announcement preparation committee
Naya Patrika says the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre which are preparing to merge into a new communist party have decided to form an interparty panel to prepare for the announcement.
The committee might be formed today itself as the Party Unification Coordination Committee meeting has been called for 9 am today, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the unification process reached the final stage and it would be formally announced on April 22, reports Gorkhapatra. Republica, on the other hand, says the two parties are seeking a middle path for unification as they are yet to settle many contentious issues.
Ignored
Nepali banks now can borrow from foreign institutions
The Himalayan Times lead story for the day says commercial banks of Nepal can now borrow money from foreign financial institutions too. The central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank, has made the decision as Nepali commercial banks are currently facing crisis of lonable funds, the report says. However, there are some conditions for foreign borrowing.
Three Gorges says West Seti is not fit for investment
China’s Three Gorges International has hinted that it is likely to withdraw from the West Seti Hydropower Project as it has said the project is not fit for investment, writes Annapurna Post in its three-column box story. The company has argued that it cannot invest in the project due to unfavourable policy of the Nepal government.
Tourist buses used in red sandalwood smuggling
Police in Kathmandu have found that tourist buses providing services on Kathmandu-New Delhi route are found to be used in the smuggling of precious red sandalwood, report Nagarik and Rajdhani.
The fact was revealed after 11 kg wood was found on a bus (Na 4 Kha 4516) that arrived in Kathmandu from the Indian capital in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Interesting
Independent lawmakers also get office at Parliament Secretariat
The Federal Parliament Secretariat has decided to provide offices to independent lawmakers also, along with parliamentary parties of national parties, according to Nepal Samacharpatra. Quoting Joint Secretary Suraj Kumar Dura, the report says the decision was made respecting demands of independent lawmakers.
