- Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Kathmandu, May 16: General Secretary of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa, has said that the NC wants to solve the problem in the Parliament through a dialogue.
At a press conference at the Federal Parliament Building Lhotse Hall on Thursday, he accused the ruling party of trying to invite a tussle while discussion and dialogue were being held on holding of the parliament meeting. “We want a solution through dialogue, but looking at the events and scenes in today’s meeting it seems that the ruling party wants to provoke a confrontation. The government should take responsibility for this,” he said.
“Even though MPs of all the opposition parties stood up and protested, the speaker forcibly entered the regular agenda and tried to take the meeting ahead, which showed that he was following the instructions of the ruling party,” Thapa said while calling upon Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” to respond to that regard.
He said that his party will not allow the parliamentary session to proceed until a parliamentary committee is formed to conduct an impartial investigation of those involved in co-operatives’ fraud.
24- ‘Development of Karnali and Sudurpaschim in priority’
Baitadi, May 16: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari has said that the current government has prioritized the development of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.
Inaugurating a sports tournament in Baitadi on Thursday, Minister Bhandari argued that the policies and programmes document of the government for the upcoming fiscal year has given priority to the development activities of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.
“There are immense potentials on medicinal herbs and mining in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. The policies and programmes include unlocking such potentials and running the industries,” he added.
Likewise, the government’s priority at present is creating an environment to retain youth at home by stopping their mass exodus.
Minister Bhandari argued that the promotion of agriculture, industry and entrepreneurship development is today’s priority.
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25- Chair Khatiwada vows timely change in laws on vital registration and
citizenship
Kathmandu, May 16: Chairman of State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives, Ramhari Khatiwada, has expressed commitment to amend the laws on vital registration and citizenship.
During an interaction the Forum of Women, Law and Development (FWLD) organized with media persons on problems relating to birth registration here Thursday, Chairman Khatiwada vowed the Committee he led would take initiative for the amendment of laws relating to both the birth registration and citizenship.
He informed that an agreement was made with the Home Ministry to direct all 77 district administration offices that they issue citizenship certificates in mother’s name.
Referring to the births that occur in the airplanes, Chairman Khatiwada viewed evolving concept of birth registration in the international law could also be paid heed while making legal reform on it.
Executive Director at FWLD, Sabin Shrestha, viewed it would be against constitution to create hurdles on birth registration because Article 39 (1) of the constitution has guaranteed legal identity to every child.
She drew the attention of Chairman Khatiwada towards Article 7 of Child Rights Convention to which Nepal is a party has the provision that the child must be provided a birth registration certificate within an hour, but thousands of children are deprived of this rights. So, timely reform on legal provisions is essential, he reiterated.
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26- NA meeting put off
Kathmandu, May 16: Today’s National Assembly (NA) meeting was put off after the obstructions from the opposition Nepali Congress (NC).
National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal put off the meeting as the NC lawmakers stood from their respective seats immediately after the start of the meeting.
NA Chairman has called the next meeting for 1:15 on Friday.The opposition NC has been obstructing the House business for long demanding a parliamentary committee to probe in the cooperative scams.
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27- HoR meeting postponed till Friday
Kathmandu, May 16: As the opposition Nepali Congress (NC) continued obstructing the House business, the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting was postponed on Thursday.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire postponed the meeting until 11:00 am on Friday after the HoR members of the NC encircled the rostrum of parliament.
In the meeting, Speaker Ghimire had given time to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane to speak in parliament but the parliamentary business could not proceed following the NC’s protests.
The opposition NC has been obstructing the House business for long putting its demand for the formation of a parliamentary committee for a fair probe into the alleged involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane on misappropriation of cooperative organizations’ funds.
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28- Nepal has potential for economic benefit: Leader Dr Rijal
Bhairahawa, May 16: Central member of the Nepali Congress and former minister, Dr Minendra Rijal, has said Nepal is yet to reap expected benefits despite its location between two large economies.
At an interaction organized by NC regional working committee of Rupandehi here Thursday, leader Dr Rijal, however, viewed Nepal has huge potential of economic growth once it reaps benefits from the economic powers in neighbourhood.
On a different note, Dr Rijal viewed NC should not forge electoral alliance but field its candidacies on its own strength.
He argued that NC’s votes declined because it did not field its own candidates in all constituencies. The programme was also addressed by district leader Sushil Gurung.
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29- Writ petition filed against appointment of Sudurpaschim Chief Minister quashed
Kathmandu, May 16: The Supreme Court has scrapped the writ petition filed against appointment of Dirgha Sodari as Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province.
A full bench of Justices Prakash Kumar Dhungana, Kumar Chudal and Sunil Kumar Pokhrel issued the directive order, scrapping the writ petition.
Province Assembly member of Nagarik Unmukti Party, Laxman Kishor Chaudhary, had filed a writ petition against the appointment of Chief Minister Sodari on April 21.
Sodari is the parliamentary party leader of CPN (Unified Socialist).
He filed the writ petition after Province Chief Najir Minya scrapped both candidates’- Laxman Kishor and Kailash Chaudury- claim for Chief Minister following the resignation of then Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shahi.
Province Chief Minya later app0inted Sodari as Chief Minister, which prompted Laxman Kishor to file the writ petition.
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30- CNI and EU officials discuss enhancing bilateral trade
Kathmandu, May 16: Confederation of Nepalese Industries and European Union (EU) officials discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation enhancement between Nepal and EU here on Thursday.
The discussion was held today between the officials of the CNI and Deputy Director General of the European Commission, Myriam Ferran, and the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, where matters relating to strengthening of bilateral trade relations between the two sides and increasing the export capacity of Nepali products to the European market were discussed.
According to the CNI, the discussion focused on graduation of Nepal from least developed to a developing country by 2026, the potential of Nepal’s manufacturing and information technology sector, and related commercial benefits and economic development.
On the occasion, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agarwal shed light on various aspects of the economic and commercial relations between Nepal and the European Union and shared about the areas of cooperation that the EU can provide for the economic development of Nepal in the future. He sought necessary support to re-operate direct air flights from Nepal to the European countries.
EU Ambassador to Nepal, Veronique, said that the European Union is committed to support Nepal in its journey of economic growth and development.
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31 – NATTA Gandaki Province to promote Nepali tourism in Chinese cities
Kathmandu, May 16: The Gandaki Province chapter of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has decided to conduct tourism promotion programmes in various cities of China for a week.
NATTA’s Gandaki Province Chair Hari Ram Adhikari informed at a press meet that a programme ‘Pokhara-Nepal tourism promotion and sales mission in China’ would be organized in various cities. A 16-member team left for China on Thursday for the same.
Guangzhou city of China will host an international travel fair for three days. The 16-member team will also attend the Guangzhou international travel fair.
A documentary showing tourism activities in Pokhara will be screened in Beijing amidst a programme coordinated jointly by Nepal Tourism Board and Nepali Embassy in China.
Even the promotional materials will be distributed on the occasion.
Discussion will be held with businesspersons and their associations in a bid to create atmosphere conducive for conducting direct flights from Pokhara to Chinese cities. The delegation will inspect the economic and tourism developments in China.
It is believed that the promotional programme would be helpful to bring in more number of Chinese tourists in Nepal. The NATTA informed that number of tourists from China has doubled this year as compared to the last year. In April this year, a total of 9,750 Chinese tourists visited Nepal.
Moreover, the visit is further expected to foster collaboration between tourism entrepreneurs of both countries.
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32- Federal Affairs Minister urges constitutional bodies to play effectiveroles
Kathmandu, May 16: Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Bhanubhakta Joshi has urged the office-bearers of the constitutional bodies to play an effective role in further strengthening the harmony and tolerance among Nepalis.
During an interaction on Thursday with the chairs and office-bearers of the constitutional bodies that align with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Joshi underscored the need to move ahead by addressing different challenges that come with the political instability in the country.
“The constitutional commissions are sovereign bodies. The commissions should keep the aspirations of concerned communities in priority. Commissions’ capacity is required to be made further effective,” according to Minister Joshi.
On the occasion, the chiefs and office-bearers of the commissions said that the state should implement the recommendations of social justice made by the commissions. Chairman of National Dalit Commission Devraj Bishwakarma bemoaned that the state has not recognized the performance of the commission despite there have been several works done amid limited means and resources.
Likewise, Acting Chair of National Inclusion Commission, Bishnu Maya Ojha, said that the commission lacks sufficient budget to empower the targeted community and work for their capacity building.
Similarly, Chairman of Indigenous Nationalities Commission Ram Bahadur Thapamagar pointed out lack of coordination and cooperation among the state mechanisms and commissions and called for more investment from the government.
Also speaking at the meeting, Acting Chair of Madhesi Commission Jibachha Sah, Chairman of Tharu Commission Bishnu Prasad Chaudhary and Chairman of Muslim Commission Samim Miya Ansari shared about the commissions’ performance for the protection of rights and promotion of cultures of the concerned communities.
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