Good morning!
Here’s a quick summary of important, ignored and interesting reports from the weekend to kick-start your day:
Important
Rapper VTEN released
Popular Nepali rapper Samir Ghising aka VTEN, who was arrested for using explicit words in his the song ‘Hami Yestai Ta Honi Bro’, has been released on Friday evening.
According to SP Durga Singh at Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur, the rapper was handed over to his father. Ghising was arrested from Jhamshikhel, Lalitpur on Thursday by a team from Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) and handed over to Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur. He was presented before the court on Thursday and was remanded in custody for seven days. Police, however, released him early as he deleted his controversial video on YouTube and many social media users protested the arrest.
National Medical College students beaten up
The management of National Medical College in Birgunj on Friday thrashed students who were demanding that the college refund them the excess of the tuition fee charged against the government-stipulated standards. The students accused the college management of shoving and beating the protesting students.
The protest rally taken out from the college premises marched around different parts of the city before it converged into a corner meet at Ghantaghar of Birgunj. Addressing the corner meet, Medical Struggle Committee coordinator Prakash Chand accused the manager of the college Barsuddin Ansari and others of thrashing them while demanding the refunding.
He claimed they had evidence that the college had charged MBBS pursuing student Rs 5.5 million to Rs 6.2 million in fees. Chand informed they would file fraud cases against the college for charging higher than the fee ceiling set by the government.
Ignored
PM addresses NAM session
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, addressing the 18th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), said that human rights could find their true meaning only in a condition of comprehensive democracy.
Comprehensive democracy, the Prime Minister said, must be practised beyond the borders, at the global level as well by ensuring sovereign equality, avoidance of threat or force, no interference in internal affairs, respect and dignity of all nations, non-exploitation, and fair opportunities for all countries to grow and develop.
Tourism Minister unhappy about delay in development projects
Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai has expressed dissatisfaction over delay in infrastructure projects. Speaking in a programme in Taplejung on Friday, minister Bhattarai said that most of the projects were stranded due to negligence of contractors and users’ committees. He also urged the people-elected representatives to monitor such projects. He said that the projects had to be completed as soon as possible if people wanted to take tourism seriously.
Former lawmaker Subedi dies of brain tumour
Former central member of erstwhile CPN-UML, Kamala Subedi, 50 has died on Saturday. She was suffering from brain tumour. Her dead body was kept in the Nepal Communist Party office where all senior leaders paid tribute to Subedi, who was also a former member of the Constituent Assembly. PM KP Sharma Oli also expressed condolences.
Interesting
Foundation stone laid for Motihari-Chitwan gas pipeline
The construction of Motihari-Chitwan pipelines has begun. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply, Matrika Yadav, formally began the construction by placing a pillar mark at Amalekhgunj on Friday.
With the Motihari-Chitwan gas pipeline, expansion of Amlekhjung-Chitwan petroleum pipeline will also begin. Nepal Oil Corporation has informed that the pipeline will be expanded to 62 km from Amlekhgunj to Lothar of Chitwan.
On the occasion, Minister Yadav informed that the extension of the pipeline was being carried out as per the plan of supplying fuel with the pipeline in various parts of the country.
NRNA will not abandon Laprak project, says president Panta
President Non-Resident Nepali Association Kumar Panta has said that the reconstruction project in Laprak village, near the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake, undertaken by the NRNA will not be left in limbo.
Former president Bhaban Bhatta on his last day in office had said that the NRNA could not continue the project. Bhatta had submitted a written letter to the National Reconstruction Authority and Dharke rural municipality. Bhatta had cited lack of funds for pulling out of the project.
Newly appointed president Panta, on the other hand, has said that NRNA will complete its work and hand over the remaining work to NRA by the end of 2020.
Indian govt lobbying to get hold of Lower Arun Hydropower Project
The Indian government has upped its effort to get hold of the 640 MW Lower Arun Hydropower Project. The Indian government, which is building Arun III Hydropower Project, has been asking the Energy Ministry and the Investment Board to give them the other project as well.
