Broadsheet dailies (both in Nepali and English) published in Kathmandu on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, have given prominent space to the Supreme Court’s order to free Sajha Yatayat chief Kanak Mani Dixit, who was arrested in a disproportionate assets case two weeks ago.

Important

Apex court orders Dixit’s release

The Himalayan Times, Rajdhani, Nepal Samacharpatra and Annapurna Post have given prominent space to the Supreme Court’s order to release Sajha Yatayat chairman Kanak Mani Dixit, on their front page. State-run Gorkhpatra has a snippet saying that the court has ordered Dixit’s release.

In its four-column lead story, The Himalayan Times  says, “The order of Kanak Mani’s release was passed by division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sushila Karki and Justice Jagadish Sharma Paudel in response to a habeas corpus writ filed by Kanak Mani’s wife Shanta Dixit.”

Nepal Samacharpatra in its anchor for the day says Dixit is no longer in CIAA custody. The report says the SC has said it was not necessary to detain Dixit to investigate corruption charges levelled against him.

Rajdhani, in its four-column lead with a screaming double-decker headline says Dixit who was in detention for 10 days has returned to the ICU of Bir Hospital, where he was receiving treatment earlier. 

House session from today, NC under pressure to lead govt

Nepal Samacharpatra, Gorkhapatra, Nagarik, Republica, Naya Patrika and Annapurna Post have given space to a report on how Nepali Congress, the main opposition, is under pressure from its ranks to attempt to form a government in its leadership.

In its three-column lead story for the day, Gorkhapatra, says the budget session of Parliament is set to begin on Tuesday. The report quotes an official from Parliament secretariat to say that pre-budget discussions will be given priority during the session.

Meanwhile, other newspapers report that the Nepali Congress is under pressure from its leaders to challenge the UML for leadership of the new government. Republica in its lead story for the day quotes NC central committee leader Bimalendra Nidhi (considered close to Deuba) as saying, “Most of the lawmakers speaking at the meeting (a recent PP meeting) said the present government has failed to implement the new constitution, expedite the reconstruction tasks, resolve the Madhes crisis, ease the supply of fuels and control the rampant black market.”

“Lawmakers have opined the need for seeking an alternative to this government as it has failed in all its tasks.”

 

Ignored

Why the hazy sky?

Republica in its anchor for the day has a report on why Nepal’s skies have been hazy in April. The report (‘experts say’), written by two experts who were keeping track of the developments, says Nepal is also a significant importer of air pollution: Satellite images and computer simulations show pollutants emitted on the heavily populated Indo-Gangetic plains crossing into Nepal and climbing up our valleys and slopes from October until May.”

Drought continues to take toll on farmers

Nagarik in its anchor for the day reports on how a long spell of drought in the country has cost the economy Rs 11 billion. The report quotes an official as saying that the government is going to deploy teams around the country to assess the situation. It says that the Karnali region has been worst hit by the drought attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon.

New committee formed to import fuel from China

Karobar, in its two-column report, says that the government has formed a three-member committee to look into the possibility of importing fuel from China. According to the report, joint secretary at the Ministry of Supplies Anandaram Regmi and a representative each from Nepal Oil Corporation and Customs Department are members of the committee.

 

Interesting 

Deuba wants Vastu-compliant office 

Naya Patrika in its three-column story below the fold says the Nepali Congress’ newly elected President Sher Bahadur Deuba has ordered that his office be Vastu-compliant. The report says that the party has brought down a few walls to make space for the new office. It also says that Deuba consulted Vastu expert Dr Madhav Mangal Joshi before renovation work began.