Good morning. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports from Thursday to kickstart your Friday.
Important
NCP weighs resolution motion option to get MCC deal ratified
The Nepal Communist Party leadership, under pressure from various factions of the party to not present the MCC compact with the US before parliament, is looking at the option of getting lawmakers to adopt a special resolution before ratifying the controversial deal.
According to sources, the party leadership is tinkering with the idea of a parliamentary resolution stating that Nepal shall not join any military alliance before presenting the deal for ratification before parliament. A party leader close to the government said that Prime Minister KP Oli himself does not want to sign the agreement without breaking the link between the economic cooperation under it and the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy. That is why the government is looking at the option of getting the resolution passed before getting the deal ratified.
Nepali Congress protests IT bill
Members of the Nepali Congress organised a protest in Kathmandu against the Information Technology bill, which has been criticised for being a part of the government’s plan to curtail people’s freedom of expression. Party leaders such as Gagan Thapa and Pradeep Poudel, who spoke at the protest demanded that the government withdraw the bill. They accused the Prime Minister of siding with big business owners at the cost of revenue for the state. They also said that the provisions of the IT bill do not bore well for democracy, for which the people struggled for decades.
Ignored
Govt revokes decision to scrap telecom licenses
The government has revoked its own decision to cancel the licenses of two telcom companies that defaulted on royalty payments to the government. The government on August 30, 2019 decided to cancel licenses issued to Smart Telecom and Nepal Satellite Telecom (Hello Nepal) after the two companies defaulted on payments. However, a recent meeting of the cabinet decided to allow the two companies, along with the ISP Web Surfer, time to clear their dues in five installments. Each installment has to be paid at the end of every fiscal year for the next five years.
Siddhababa moves court against bail order
‘Spiritual guru’ Siddhababa, aka Krishna Bahadur Giri, has moved the Biratnagar High Court against a lower court’s order to post Rs 300,000 bail in rape case filed against him. Giri is demanding that the court annul the Morang District Court’s decision two weeks ago to release him on bail. Giri has been accused of raping one of his followers in October last year. He said that he should be allowed to fight the case from outside prison without posting any bail.
Footballers involved in brawl suspended
All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has suspended players involved in a brawl earlier this week following a league match in Kathmandu. According to the association, Manang Marshyangdi’s Jagjit Shrestha and Ashok Baral have been suspended for five matches and Ranjan Bista for two. Similarly, Machhindra’s Deepak Rai, Devendra Tamang and Bijay Dhimal serve a two-match ban. Baral has been fined Rs 10,000. Both clubs have been fined Rs 50,000
Interesting
Don’t spare anyone who violates traffic rules: DIG Pokhrel
Nepal Police DIG Bishwa Raj Pokhrel has ordered the rank and file of traffic police to not spare anyone who breaks the traffic rules. The Metropolitan Police Office chief, who was addressing members of the traffic police in Kathmandu, said that traffic policemen and women on the road are being observed by the whole world. “The traffic police’s conduct on the road reflects the whole nature of the force,” said Pokhrel adding that traffic police should remember this when they are on duty.
