Good morning! Here’s a quick summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from Saturday to kickstart your Sunday.
Important
India issued controversial map after consulting Oli: Deuba
Former Prime Minister and the main opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba says New Delhi issued the controversial map of India, which has triggered protests in Nepal, after consulting Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Speaking at a programme in Kaski, Deuba said that when he was the prime minister, his government signed the Mahakali Treaty by ‘making Kalapani’ the Nepal-India border. “Prime Minister Oli has betrayed the country by surrendering Kalapani and Lipulekh to India,” said Deuba.
Meanwhile, the ruling NCP has dismissed Deuba’s claim. Party spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that during an all-party meeting a few weeks ago, Deuba expressed solidarity with the government on the issue. He said that such irresponsible comments from a senior leader does not help the cause of national unity.
Home ministry urges public to surrender arms
Samajwadi Party ‘dislikes’ cabinet reshuffle, but will not leave government
Ruling coalition partner Samajwadi Party says although it does not support the Prime Minister’s reshuffling of the cabinet, it will not leave the government just yet. Health Minister Upendra Yadav, who has now been given the reigns of the law ministry, will continue to represent the party in the government, the party said. Yadav’s portfolio was changed and his state minister, who was also from the Samajwadi Party, was relieved of his position after Prime Minister Oli reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday night. While some leaders of the party pressed the leadership to leave the government, party chiefs Upendra Yadav and Baburam Bhattarai decided to stay on, sources say.
Ignored
NC resorts to making Minister Bhattarai’s mourning rites election issue
Leaders of the Nepali Congress campaigning for Khem Raj Paudel, who is contesting the parliamentary by-poll against the front-runner Bidya Bhattarai have accused Bhattarai of not following Hindu rituals during the mourning of her husband Rabindra Adhikari. Leaders Dhan Raj Gurung and Ram Hari Khatiwada, who spoke at various prograrmmes in Pokhara on Saturday, accused Bhattarai of attacking Hindu norms by shortening the mourning period to seven days from the prescribed 13. Referring to it, Gurung said, “Anyone who does not follow the mourning rituals cannot defend religion.”
Referring to Bhattarai, Khatiwada said that a person who cannot complete the mourning rituals of her husband can’t be expected to fulfil promises made to the people.
CK Raut’s party organises rally in Kathmandu
Members of the CK Raut-led Janamat Party organised a political rally in Kathmandu on Saturday to protest against ‘racism’. Raut, who recently joined mainstream politics after abandoning his demand for a separate Madhes, registered his party at the Election Commission recently. His party is also contesting for a few seats in Madhes in the by-polls on Saturday.
Hundi, fall in migration decrease remittance
Remittance is the country’s biggest source of foreign currency, but the amount the country received in remittance is decreasing steadily for the past few months. Experts say the number of Nepali workers flying abroad has decreased following the government’s decision to halt sending the people to Malaysia, one of the most popular attractions. On the other hand, many Nepalis abroad have been sending their money via illegal channels of hundi, they believe.
Interesting
Black pepper smuggling on the rise
The smuggling of black pepper into India from Nepal via Biratnagar customs point has increased of late. Interestingly, it is not produced in sufficient quantity in Nepal, so the smugglers import it from other third countries and smuggle it. Data at the customs office in Biratnagar show that the import of black pepper is steadily rising in the past years whereas police have also reported smuggling cases more frequently.
