- Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Kathmandu, May 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has obtained a vote of confidence from the parliament. This is the fourth time he sought the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives since he assumed the office in December, 2022.
In the second meeting of the lower house today, the Prime Minister presented the proposal seeking the vote of trust amidst the protest and slogans from the major opposition Nepali Congress. Lawmakers representing other opposition parties also expressed their dissent by standing from their seats during the proceedings.
The proposal put forth by Speaker Devraj Ghimire before the meeting for a decision received 157 votes in favour and none against the proposal while one chose to remain neutral. According to Speaker Ghimire, a total of 158 lawmakers took part in the vote of confidence procedures.
The NC lawmakers picketed the well, chanting slogans against the procedures to present the Prime Minister’s proposal to obtain the vote of confidence. The Speaker granted permission to the Prime Minister to table the motion seeking confidence.
The major opposition has been persistently obstructing parliamentary proceedings, demanding the establishment of a parliamentary committee to impartially investigate the alleged involvement of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the misappropriation of cooperative funds.
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Gurung elected UML Banke chair and Oli Bajura chair
Nepalgunj, May 20: Neerak Gurung has been elected the chairman of CPN (UML) Banke district committee. Gurung got 291 votes while his closest contender Dilli BC 154 votes.
In the ninth district convention started on Friday, despite efforts to make a unanimous selection, the election was held due to lack of consensus.
Similarly, Ratna Khatri won the vice-chairmanship of the working committee. He got 313 votes. He is also the Social Development Minister of Lumbini Province Government.
Chief Election Officer Sunita Sharma informed that Balaram Bhattarai was elected as the secretary by getting 139 votes while Nirmala Sunar was elected as deputy secretary (female category) and Kishor Thapa was elected as deputy secretary (open category). Out of total 466 voters, 458 votes were cast in the election.
Meanwhile, Lal Bahadur Oli has been elected as the chairman of UML Bajura district committee. He got 218 votes while his nearest rival Bharat Bahadur Thapa 203 votes. Similarly, Janak Bahadur Bohora was elected as the vice chair with 274 votes while his nearest rival Megh Bahadur Shahi got 120 votes.
Likewise, Kashi Bahadur BK was elected secretary with 241 votes while his nearest rival Janak Bista got 171 votes. Hari Bahadur Rokaya was elected as deputy secretary (open category) while Raj Kala Sarki was elected as deputy secretary (female category).
There were 439 voters but 425 votes were cast in the election held in the eighth district convention of the party.
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Adhikari appointed as Vice Chairman of Koshi Province Planning Commission
Biratnagar, May 20: Dr Rajendra Adhikari has been appointed the Vice Chairman of Koshi Province Planning Commission. A meeting of the Koshi province Council of Ministers today decided to appoint Adhikari to the post, said Lila Ballabh Adhikari, minister for internal affairs and law and the spokesperson for the provincial government.
Dr Adhikari is a resident of Birtamod, Jhapa. Minister Adhikari said that the meeting of the provincial government also decided to present the Annual Report of the Office of the Chief Attorney for Fiscal Year 2079/80 in the Koshi Province Assembly and to recommend to the Office of the Prime Minister for issuing diplomatic passport to Koshi Province Assembly member Bhakti Prasad Sitaula to travel to Canada.
Similarly, the Koshi Province Government decided to send amount at the rate of Rs 502 thousand to the Dudhkunda municipality of Solukhumbu, the Khandbari municipality of Sankhuwasabha and the Phungling municipality of Taplejung for setting up and operation of Migration Centre.
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Allegations leveled by Home Minister are fictitious: Nepali Congress
Kathmandu, May 20: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has reiterated its demand of forming a parliamentary committee for carrying out fair and independent investigation, alleging that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane’s involvement was seen in the misappropriation of the cooperatives’ funds.
A meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party held at the Parliament Building in New Baneshwar today stated that there is clear evidence showing Home Minister Lamichhane’s involvement in the cooperatives funds embezzlement and repeated its demand for forming a parliamentary committee for conducting an impartial probe.
Talking to the media persons after the meeting, NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said the topic of Home Minister Lamichhane’s involvement in the misappropriation of cooperative’s funds is not only carried by the media, but it is also a matter evidenced from the police investigation and the charges registered in the court.
“Our bottom line is formation of an independent, impartial committee for conducting an investigation into the misappropriation of the cooperative funds and recommending stern action against those involved in this. The allegations made by Home Minister Lamichhane in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Sunday are false, misleading and fictitious,” said the NC Chief Whip Lekhak.
According to Lekhak, the Home Minister should not question others in the House, rather he should respond to questions raised on him.
The Nepali Congress has decided to also draw the Prime Minister’s attention over the ‘irresponsible statement and presentation’ by the Home Minister.
NC Chief Whip Lekhak said the meeting also decided that the Nepali Congress was open for proving the accusations leveled by Home Minister Lamichhane by conducting fair and free investigation on them.
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Vote of confidence proposal tabled in HoR amidst NC’s protest
Kathmandu, May 20: A proposal related to a vote of confidence to the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has been tabled in the parliament despite the ongoing protest of major opposition Nepali Congress.
As soon as meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) resumed after 15 minutes of its postponement today, the Congress MPs stood up from their seats, surrounded the well and shouted slogans in protest. Even in the restarted meeting, Congress MPs continued shouting slogans.
Despite the protests of the NC lawmakers, Speaker Devraj Ghimire permitted PM Dahal to table the proposal for seeking a vote of confidence.
NC is disrupting the House business demanding to form a parliamentary probe committee to investigate into the cooperatives’ deposit embezzlement. NC is implicating Home Minister Lamichhane in the cooperatives’ deposit misappropriation.
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Narrative that none is above law getting established: PM Dahal
Kathmandu, May 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said political leadership is never above the law. Presenting a proposal to seek a vote of confidence before a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, the Prime Minister said hope among the citizens is growing for good governance and the establishment of a rule of law. “A narrative that none is above the law is being established.”
Nepal’s democracy was lately considered to be dominated by political interests. There were doubts about whether political leadership was dominating the law. This had caused the reason for increasing trust deficit and hatred towards the overall system, the Prime Minister said. But the government’s interventions against the fake Bhutanese refugee scam grabs of Lalita Niwas land, Bansbari land, and the Bal Mandir’s land and the gold smugglings have been the strong reasons for rebuilding the citizen’s trust in democracy, he added.
Though the government is achieving meaningful accomplishments on almost all fronts and is achieving pride, the Janata Samajbadi Party (People’s Socialist Party) Nepal withdrew its support to the government, he said, adding that political unity is warranted to address challenges in the nation. “I am thankful to the JSP for its support to the government since the beginning. I respect the party’s right to support and not to support the government. But I again urged the party for cooperation to address challenges in the nation.
According to the Prime Minister, the government can’t fulfill its long-term commitments in absence of the support and cooperation from the House. “I do not want to take more time in the sovereign parliament. But want to just tell you that as the Prime Minister, I expressed my commitments in my first address to the parliament. Today, at this moment, I request this respected parliament for a vote of confidence on the government’s achievements.”
Stating that the Parliament and the government have to go a long way to achieve the goals of the 16th Periodic Plans, the Prime Minister reiterated that the support and cooperation from the respected parliament is vital for the government to advance towards the long-term commitments. “We are describing the upcoming decade as a period of rapid development. For this, wider discussions and a wider vision based on a national consensus are needed. The government has already signed a power trade agreement with India and Bangladesh. There are increasing possibilities for exports to China. Many works are yet to be carried out big ‘game-changer’ hydropower projects.”
He said the macro-economic indicators are positive, but the integrated efforts of the government and the parliament were needed to make the economy fully vigorous.
“Today, I do not only seek a vote of confidence from this sovereign parliament, but also seek a meaningful support and cooperation to remove the despondency seen in the country. I seek the parliament’s intervention against efforts to use the social and political consciousness generated by democracy against democracy itself,” the PM said.
Arguing that he should be given a vote of confidence even for the genuine implementation of federalism and for a logical conclusion of the peace process, Prime Minister Dahal said, “I am steadfast in my commitment for governance reform at all the points where the citizens come into contact with the State.”
The Head of the Government sought the parliament’s intervention in unraveling the policy-related complications for achieving economic progress and employment by means of entrepreneurship. He stressed on making concerted efforts for taking a large section of population living under the absolute poverty line to a dignified life.
Stating that the initiatives taken by the government for policy and practical reforms have made a highly positive impact on the investors, the PM said the high-level visit to Nepal by Qatar’s king, the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister, among others have expanded the nation’s prestige and its international dimension. “A situation is now created in which Nepal will take on the global leadership on behalf the mountainous countries on climate change. A record has been set in tourist arrivals. The news headlines of shortage of chemical fertilizers and school textbooks have now become things of the past,” he added.
The main opposition party lawmakers were surrounding the ‘well’ of the House meeting hall and shouting slogans in protest when the PM was making a statement seeking the vote of confidence in the parliament.
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NC’s parliament obstruction is unparliamentarily: Prime Minister Dahal
Kathmandu, May 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the main opposition Nepali Congress has demonstrated unparliamentarily behaviour by not creating a comfortable environment for the Prime Minister to take a vote of confidence as per the constitution.
Responding to the queries raised on the discussions on the vote of confidence motion in the House of Representatives today, he expressed concerns that the main opposition party obstructed the Prime Minister’s efforts to take the vote of confidence, which is unparliamentarily.
“The Prime Minister to whom you supported in the past and your step today of house obstruction while receiving the vote of confidence, this incident will be established as a stigma in the parliamentary history,” said Prime Minister Dahal.
He thanked the CPN (UML) and other parties and parliamentarians who supported him in the vote of confidence motion.
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Nepali Congress should review its role: UML leader Poudel
Kathmandu, May 20: CPN (UML) Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Poudel has requested the main opposition party Nepali Congress to follow the democratic practice and end the deadlock in the Parliament.
In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Poudel supported the proposal the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ presented in the House seeking a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 100, Sub-article 2 of the Constitution of Nepal and hoped for end to the deadlock in the Parliament for political stability in the country.
“I request all the parties to support the government to speed up development in the country while maintaining political stability. I call upon the Nepali Congress to reconsider its role and follow democratic practices in the parliament,” Poudel said.
Vice Chair Poudel claimed that the current government has given a message of guaranteeing good governance, disillusionment surfaced at the civil level has been eradicated and hope is being communicated through recent efforts made by the government.
The main opposition party Nepali Congress is protesting in the Parliament demanding the formation of a parliamentary probe committee regarding the misappropriation of funds of the cooperatives. Today, the process of taking the vote of confidence has progressed amid the commotion.
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Nepal Day Parade observed in New York
Texas, May 20: Nepal Day Parade was organised in New York in the United States of America on Sunday. The event aimed to promote Nepal’s art and culture internationally.
The event organised by the Non-Resident Nepali Association, New York chapter featured presentation of artistic expressions and cultural traditions from all seven provinces of Nepal, along with highlights of Nepal’s diverse tourist destinations.
Various conventional Nepali musical instruments, a cultural procession, and the Deuba programme caught the attention of visitors.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who attended the celebration, emphasized that visiting Nepal is a must-do experience in one’s lifetime.
Stating that he was familiar with Nepal’s art and culture, the mayor acknowledged the contribution of the Nepali community in New York to promote the cultural values of the city.
Addressing the function, Chuck Schumer, the majority leader of the US Senate, said he was influenced by the cultural presentation during the event. As he said, one should visit Nepal to experience its aesthetic art and culture lively.
Nepali Consular General Bishnu Adhikari, Nepal Government’s tourism promoter Gokul Shrestha, NRNA, US President Dr Arjun Banjade were among those present on the occasion. There was a significant presence of Nepali New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut states in the celebrations.
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NA Chair stresses on developing Upper House as venue for resolving political issues
Kathmandu, May 20: Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA), Narayan Prasad Dahal, has said the upper house shall be developed as a forum for finding solutions to political issues.
He is of the view of seeking a guardianship of the upper house in finding a way out to the ongoing parliament impasse. For this, the support of the opposition is needed.
The major opposition NC obstructed the NA session today, too, demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee to probe the alleged misappropriation of cooperative funds.
He urged the opposition for cooperation to regularise the parliamentary proceedings as it is mandated to proceed ahead with important bills, discuss the government policies and programmes, and present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
As the lawmakers from the major opposition continued to stand from their respective seats as a gesture of protest, the NA Chair postponed the meeting for 1:15 on May 21, Tuesday.
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Nepal expresses grief over passing of Iranian President, Foreign Minister
Kathmandu, May 20: The Government of Nepal has expressed sorrow over the passing of President of Iran, Dr Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
“We are deeply saddened to know about the passing away of His Excellency Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President, and His Excellency Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the helicopter crash yesterday,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on the social platform, X, today.
The Ministry also extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members, and the government and people of Iran.
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Jaleshwar prison house dilapidated, overcrowded
Mahottari, May 20: Mahottari prison building in Jaleshwar has become dilapidated due to lack of timely maintenance.
This prison, which was established back in 1853, is currently 171 years old.
The inmates have complained that the old building is facing risk as the roof is peeling off, the bricks of the wall are disintegrating and the wood beams on the ceiling have started hollowing eaten up by insects and the falling dust is covering the rooms.
Although only 135 jailbirds could be accommodated in the prison, currently more than 500 prisoners are kept there.
Chief at the prison (jailer) Ramchandra Sah said that there are more prisoners than the capacity therefore they were failing to manage basic needs to the jail birds. According to him, there are 24 rooms, 15 toilets, seven hand pumps (water taps) for the 594 prisoners in the prison.
There is a problem to sleep, sit and do daily activities in the lack of space. “Managing a large number of prisoners in a room that is about one and a half feet wide is really a problematic matter over here.”
Jailer Sah complained that they were frequently reporting the precarious situation of the prison house and the problem of overcrowding to concerned authorities, but no solution is made so far.
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District Hospital, Humla faces shortage of medicines
Simkot (Humla), May 20: The District Hospital in Humla has been facing a shortage of medicines for over a month. The 15-bed health facility in this mountainous district of Karnali Province has been grappling with the situation amidst a surge in patients seeking treatment for seasonal health issues.
With this, patients have been compelled to seek out private medical stores to purchase medicines that are supposed to be available free of charge at the government health facility. This has increased an additional and unexpected financial burden on the patients.
Dhan Bahadur Tamata, a visitor from Raya of Kharpunath rural municipality-3, was disappointed to know that he should visit a nearby private medical store to manage drugs prescribed for the treatment of his younger sister who is presently admitted to the hospital. As he said, he has already spent over four thousand rupees on medicines from private stores. According to him, the hospital pharmacy does not even have a stock of vitamin supplements.
Jhapri Sunar of Thehe of Simkot rural municipality-2 said people like her are finding it very hard to manage their budget for purchasing medicines from the private store.
According to the hospital’s medical officer Dr Surjan Kumar Singh, the influx of patients suffering from seasonal health issues has significantly increased in the hospital as the district has been waiting for rainfall for a long. On Sunday, around 80 patients visited the hospital while on usual days, this number would be less than 50.
People walk up to one to two days to catch vehicles to reach the hospital. It does not even have anti-vomiting drugs.
Chief of Health Service Office, Prem Bahadur Singh, admits the shortage of medicines in the hospital pharmacy. The purchased medicines have been stuck in Nepalgunj in suspension of air flights. In case of the resumption of flights, the transport of medicines from Nepalgunj is expected in a couple of days, he said.
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Multi-hazard risk: Rs 81 billion needed to implement early warning system
Kathmandu, May 20: It is estimated that the cost of promoting the multi-hazard early warning system will be around Rs 81 billion 40 million and 80 thousand (US$ 614 million). This cost is required to implement the government strategy to integrate the multi-hazard early warning system with the goal of minimizing the potential loss of property due to various disasters and making the early warning system effective.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has said preparations are being made to organize the multi-disaster early warning system and it has made a preliminary estimate that it will cost more than Rs 81 billion to update the system.
According to the Authority, preparations are being made to promote a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of providing early warning of future disasters and assisting in increasing the response capacity to reduce potential risks.
Despite the development of early warning system in Nepal related to floods, landslides there is no provision for early warning of other natural disasters in Nepal. For the first time, the government is starting preparations with the goal of enhancing disaster response capacity by installing early warning system on multi-disaster scenarios. Anil Pokharel, the executive head of the authority, has informed that the estimated cost for the next seven years will be Rs 81 billion.
“After the development of flood forecasting in Nepal, there are multiple examples of saving many lives and preventing the loss of millions of property. But the system for getting prior information about natural disasters such as landslides, lightning, forest fires, floods, cold waves, avalanches, windstorms, hailstorms, and air pollution is not . As a result, no early warning system is being developed in the country so far.
Since the loss of property is increasing due to these disasters, we have aimed to develop an early warning system to reduce the possible damage caused by such multi-catastrophic events. He said that discussions are being held with relevant stakeholders for the development of a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of reducing the human and economic losses caused by all kinds of disasters. He informed that the information collected from the multi-source information system will be provided in the local language so that it could be understood by the general public.
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Two dead, 21 injured in Surkhet bus accident
Bheriganga (Surkhet), May 20: Two people were killed and 21 others injured in a bus accident in Surkhet today.
The deceased have been identified as Sher Bahadur Khadka, 65, from Dullu municipality-10 in Dailekh and currently residing in Thakurbaba municipality-5 in Bardiya and Bhimsen Rana of Dungeshwor rural municipality-6 in Dailekh, according to Spokesperson for the District Police Office, Surkhet, Deputy Superintendent of Police Birendra Bir Bishwakarma.
The bus (Karnali Province 02001 Kha 0852) coming towards Surkhet from Dailekh fell off the road and got stuck in a tree near Katkuwa of Birendranagar municipality-7.
Among the injured, one is said to be in critical condition while others are out of life-threatening conditions.
The injured are being treated at the Karnali Province Hospital, Surkhet, and Birendranagar-based health facilities.
The accident could have resulted in more fatalities if the vehicle had not lodged into the tree. The accident is due to over-speed, according to the police preliminary evaluation.
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