Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli asking British Prime Minister Theresa May to reconsider and change the Nepal-India-UK tripartite agreement on Gurkha recruitment inked in 1947 has been featured in a few dailies along with the controversial step taken by the government which aims to stop allowing students who haven’t passed their Grade XII to study abroad.
Here is a summary of major front pages stories :
Important
Oli discusses Gurkha recruitment with May
The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times report that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has proposed that the Nepal-India-UK tripartite agreement on Gurkha recruitment inked in 1947 be revised and a new agreement be signed between Nepal and the United Kingdom. The pact permits the governments of the United Kingdom and India to recruit Nepali citizens in their armies.
Oli put forth the proposal during his talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May held yesterday at her office at 10 Downing Street in London, according to Oli’s Press Adviser Kundan Aryal.
Aryal said that during the talks, Oli said the TPA had become obsolete and that a new agreement between Nepal and the UK should be signed encompassing recruitment, retirement and post-retirement situation of Gurkhas.
Aryal further added that May who is leaving the office in the coming weeks has assured PM Oli that she would convey his proposal to her successor.
Govt to make +2 certificate mandatory to study abroad
Kantipur, Annapurna Post, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times report that Nepali students, who wish to pursue non-academic courses, like vocational education or language courses in countries such as Australia and Japan, will not be allowed to do so from now onward, thanks to the government’s radical move aimed at curtailing the rights of high school graduates to make choices. What’s more, students who have not completed Grade XII will not be allowed to study abroad.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology published a notice on Wednesday stating that students who have completed Grade XII or equivalent will be given ‘no objection letters’ to study abroad only if they intend to pursue academic courses of bachelor’s level or above.
People take the streets demanding Pranesh Gautam’s release
Republica and The Kathmandu Post reports that galvanised by news reports and social media posts about the arrest of comedian Pranesh Gautam for a film review, dozens of people took to the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday to express outrage over the increasing threat to freedom of expression in the country.
Protestors walked from Pulchowk to Maitighar Mandala, with their mouths taped, carrying placards demanding the release of Gautam, who has been in police custody since Friday. Gautam was taken into custody under the Electronic Transaction Act after filmmaker Milan Chams filed a police complaint last month for a video on Meme Nepal, a popular Facebook page, reviewing Chams’ recent film, Bir Bikram 2.
By late afternoon on Wednesday, #FreePraneshGautam was trending on Nepali Twitter, and hours later, the Kathmandu District Court extended Gautam’s judicial remand by two days. He was earlier remanded to five-day custody following his arrest on June 7.
Ignored
Seven NAC airplanes unused, losses jump to Rs 60 m a month
Naya Patrika reports that Nepal Airlines Corporation which in total has nine airplanes for domestic flights is only using two. Sources close to NAC say that the internal team of NAC is responsible for the downfall of Nepal’s national flag carrier which is on the brink of going bust. High ranking officials at NAC say that the planes are grounded because they do not have pilots to fly them. But pilots argue that NAC hasn’t provided them with proper training to fly these airplanes. Sources say that more and more pilots have been transferred to the international division leaving the domestic division short of trained pilots.
Over 40 temples encroached upon in Janakpur
Annapurna Post reports that over 40 temples and statues inside the temple in Janakpur have gone ‘missing’ over the past two decades. People believe that land mafia along with the people responsible to preserve the responsible for the encroachment of the temples. Some temple premises have been encroached by the government whereas most have been encroached by the general public.
TU service commission illegally altered answer sheets
Kantipur reports that officials of Tribhuvan University service commission used unfair means to make sure that their relatives and friends passed the examination. According to sources, the officials were involved in irregularities from setting the question papers to checking the answer sheets. The officials of the TU service commission put ex-officio member of the Public Service Commission in the dark while conducting the examination. Sources say that the marks in the answer sheets have been up to three times.
Interesting
Thapa emerges as key player in NCP
Nagarik reports that Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has become a key player in the ruling party. Sources close to the party believe that Thapa’s faction will play a key role in the future of the party. As the party merger still hasn’t concluded, Thapa is making sure that his camp is stronger. Currently, his camp has one secretariat member, two standing committee members, and 37 central committee members.
PSC dispute: SC issues show-cause
Nagarik reports that the Supreme Court has asked the advocate Bikash Thakur reason as to why the advertisement seeking employees for the local and provincial level should not be scrapped. Justice Purushotam Bhandari, however, did not issue an interim order. Bhandari has asked both parties to come to the court on June 18.
Letter from President’s office takes five days to reach Federal Parliament Secretariat
Rajdhani reports a letter sent by President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s office assigning Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel to work as Acting Prime Minister took five days to reach the Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar. Sources also add that the Parliament Secretariat didn’t have any idea that PM KP Sharma Oli was going to Europe and only received an official letter on Wednesday.
