Almost all newspapers published in Kathmandu on Wednesday have prioritised reports related to the ongoing Nepali Congress Mahasamiti meeting. Other social, economic and political issues have also received the attention of the editors. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Wednesday:
Important
NC general convention to elect almost all office bearers
The ongoing Nepali Congress Maha Samiti meeting has decided that from now on all office bearers of the party shall be elected by local party representatives. Republica reports that the move is aimed at curbing the discretionary power of the president to nominate a vice-president, a general secretary and a joint general secretary. The report says that all office bearers, except for the treasurer, will now be elected by the general convention. The party has also decided to increase the headcount of the central working committee to 161.
Naya Patrika reports that the Ram Chandra Paudel faction of the Nepali Congress has taken the decision as a sign of its growing influence within the party. Similarly, the Deuba faction is glad to increase the number of members in the central working committee. Kantipur reports that the CWC was expanded due to pressure from Madheshi and indigenous leaders demanding quota in the committee.
Oli under fire from own party leaders
Nagarik reports that Prime Minister Kp Sharma Oli has come under heavy criticism from various leaders of his own party during the ongoing standing committee meeting of the party. Senior leader Bhim Rawal accused Oli of sheltering groups that were a threat to national integrity. Similarly, Yogesh Bhattarai alleged that Oli was bestowing favours to the members of his own coterie rather than providing opportunities to as many leaders as possible.
Ignored
Teachers to be barred fron joining political parties
Nepal Samachar Patra says that the government is working on a new rule that will bar teachers working in a government school to be involved in politics. If they do so, they will lose their jobs.
College flouts rules
Kantipur reports that a medical college in Janakpur is conducting classes for students who have not appeared for the medical council’s entrance exam. The report says that Janaki Medical College lied to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and admitted 34 Indian nationals. This was revealed after the college submitted its first-year examination form to the IOM.
Interesting
NOC back to making profits
Naya Patrika in its lead story highlights how Nepal Oil Corporation is making a profit of Rs 1.5 billion every month through the sale of petroleum products. It mentions how in the past year the price of petroleum has increased nine times and decreased only three times. It goes on to report that NOC profits make a profit of Rs 13.71 per litre and on a good day its profit goes up to Rs 60 million.
Parliament leaders pocketing staffers’ salary
Kantipur in its lead story reports how some members of Parliament are pocketing salaries of their personal secretaries and other officials working for them. Those who have done this include speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina and opposition party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba. All of them scoop up over Rs 100,000 a month this way.
