Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Tuesday have given priority Nepal winning its first ever ODI series against the UAE and the deteriorating health of medical activist Dr Govinda KC.
NMA’s ultimatum to the government to meet Dr KC’s demands has been highlighted considerably along with Deepak Manange being sworn in as a provincial assembly member. A proposal to give CDOs sweeping powers to mobilise police and army forces has also been reported in Tuesday’s papers.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
Nepal win maiden ODI series
Kantipur, Annapurna Post, Nagarik, Rajdhani, Gorkhpatra and Naya Patrika carry stories of Nepal winning its first ODI series after beating the UAE by four wickets on Monday. The foundation for the victory was laid by captain Paras Khadka who became the first Nepali to score an ODI 100. Skipper Khadka lauded the team effort in chasing down the highest total. Khadka said that it was expected of an ODI side to chase 250-280 and felt everyone chipped in.
It was Nepal’s first series victory after the country earned the coveted ODI status in March last year. In their first series, Nepal had shared the spoils 1-1 with the Netherlands. The victory against the Emiratis has also lifted Nepal to the 15th spot in the ICC ODI rankings which was released by the cricket’s world governing body shortly after the match. Although the UAE currently shares the 15th place, Nepal can climb up the ranks with a win in their next ODI match.
Manange sworn in as provincial assembly member
The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post report that gangster turned-politician Rajeev Gurung, aka Deepak Manange, took his oath of office and secrecy as a provincial assembly member of Gandaki Province, 13 months after his election.
Gandaki Province speaker Netranath Adhikari administered the oath to Gurung. Adhikari invited Gurung for swearing-in after the Business Advisory Committee of the provincial assembly decided to this effect. Earlier in December, he had filed an application at Gandaki Province, demanding he is allowed to take oath as a provincial assembly member.
He was elected to the state legislature of Gandaki Province in the 2017 provincial election. But his election victory was short-lived after police issued an arrest warrant against him in an attempted murder case.
Police arrested him in the Capital in April and was taken to Dillibazaar Prison. On December 20, the Supreme Court released him on bail.
NMA wants government to fulfil Dr KC’s demands on Tuesday
Republica and Nagarik report that doctors and health workers across the country are planning to halt all hospital services, except for emergency, if the government does not immediately address the demands of Dr Govinda KC, who has been on a hunger strike since January 9 demanding crucial reforms in the medical education sector.
Doctors in the Kathmandu Valley gathered on the premises of the TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj and staged a relay hunger strike while doctors in the districts outside the valley also staged hunger strikes at the respective NMA chapters.
Dr Mukti Ram Shrestha, president, NMA said that if the government does not take any initiative to address Dr KC’s demands by Tuesday, then they will shut all hospital services. On Monday, services at hospitals across the country were partially affected.
Ignored
Bill giving sweeping power to CDO tabled
The Himalayan Times reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday registered the Internal Security Bill at the House of Representatives proposing to give broad powers to chief district officers, including the power to mobilise provincial police, monitor the work of Nepal Police and provincial police and to inspect and monitor public service delivery in their districts. The bill stipulates that CODs will coordinate with the provincial government on the patters of peace and security in the district and will also have to coordinate with provincial internal affairs ministries to mobilise provincial police.
The bill states that chiefs of the security bodies working in districts will be under CDOs’ control and district administration officers can open area administration offices and border offices and border administration offices as per their need. CODs can impose a curfew, declare riot-hit zones and carry out search and seize operation.
Tribhuvan University VC says its hands are tied
The Kathmandu Post reports that the Vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University, Tirth Raj Khaniya has said that the university’s hands are tied as the accused professor doesn’t isn’t associated with the university anymore. This after the story about former Sociology professor Krishna Bhattachan sexually harassing former students was made public by the Kathmandu Post. Since then, dozens of former students have taken to social media to demand that the university take action against Bhattachan.
Bhattachan continues to deny the allegations against him. In a letter to the editor, he condemned the Post’s report, describing it as a malicious intent to sabotage and systematically attack the Indigenous Peoples’ movement by defaming his and labelled the allegations manufactured, baseless and false.
CIAA officer arrested for seeking bribe
Kantipur reports that Assistant Sub-Inspector at the CIAA has been accused to taking a bribe. Janma Adhikari who was posted at by the CIAA at Surkhet asked for Rs 100,000 from a service seeker to put his case on hold. He was arrested from Bardiya National Park on Sunday.
Interesting
NC mum on widebody deal
The Kathmandu Post reports that the Nepali Congress has conspicuously maintained silence on the reported irregularities in the procurement of two wide-body aircraft. After the media reported extensively on misappropriations crossing Rs4 billion while buying the two Airbus planes for the Nepal Airlines Corporation, the Nepali Congress had jumped on the bandwagon to demand an immediate probe into the matter. However, irregularities during the procurement of two wide-body aircraft are not on the agenda.
It was reported that NC president and then-prime minister Deuba also held the tourism portfolio on June 19, 2017, when the decision to send $79 million as the first installment for buying the planes was taken. Congress leaders believe that the wide-body issue was deliberately taken out of the minutes after Deuba’s name started surfacing in the media.
Oman to take Nepali workers at zero cost
Kantipur reports that Oman has agreed to facilitate the employment of Nepali workers in the Gulf country at zero cost in a meeting held between the two parties on Monday. Oman has agreed to the terms set by Nepal which include labour security, taking labourers to Oman at zero cost and labour insurance. A memorandum of association was also signed between the two countries.
