Broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Tuesday have priortised a host of political, social and economic issues on their front pages. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to India and negotiations between the CPN UML and the Maoist Centre are two issues that have made it to most of the front pages. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the press on Tuesday.
Important
Maoist ministers unhappy with Prime Minister Oli
Republica says that ministers from the Maoist Centre party have accused Prime Minister KP Oli of taking important decisions without consulting them. The paper says that ministers from the party have complained to the party chief Prachanda that the Prime minister did not consult them before transferring 30 secretaries ahead of his visit to India. The Himalayan Times says quotes the CPN-MC leader Dev Gurung as saying that the ministers will also raise the issue with the Prime Minister. Party spokesperson Pampha Bhusal told the paper that the Finance Minister Yubraj Khatiwada and officials from the National Planning Commission are working on the government’s policies and programs without consulting the ministers. Republica says that the planned merger between the two parties could be delayed by a few weeks or even months as distrust between the two sides widens.
Forum or RJP? Which party will join Oli govt?
Naya Patrika says Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has left three ministerial berths in his Cabinet vacant so that Madhesh-based parties, who voted in favour of his confidence motion recently, can join the government. Although Forum-Nepal and the RJP are in contention for the posts, getting Forum Nepal onboard is Oli’s priority, the paper reports. The paper says that the RJP hasn’t been able to choose its leader in Parliament as leaders are divided on the issue of joining the government.
Oli’s to Modi: Why Indian projects aren’t completed on time?
Kantipur reports that during the delegation-level meeting between Nepal’s Prime Minister Oli and his Indian counterpart Modi, Oli asked Modi why India-backed projects in Nepal do not finish on time. The paper says that Oli told Modi that he was not the best diplomat and would put things in a ‘straightforward’ manner. Oli told Modi that New Delhi has always been pointing out that the lack of a stable government in Nepal was the main obstacle for India to implement projects. However, this time around, a stable government has been formed in Nepal and problems can be addressed easily.
Ignored
Basnet walks free in money-laundering case
The Kathmandu Post reports that the Special Court has found ‘notorious don’ Parshuram Basnet not guilty in a money-laundering case. The paper says that a joint bench of Special Court Chairman Baburam Regmi, Ratna Bahadur Bagchand, and Narayan Prasad Pokhrel acquitted Basnet stating that the Department of Money Laundering Investigation’s claim that Basnet amassed property worth Rs 110.1 million by illegal means could not be established. The paper says that the Office of Attorney General has 50 days to file an appeal against the verdict at the Supreme Court. In the last eight months, this is the third time the Special Court has acquitted a politically well-connected person charged with amassing property illegally. The Special Court had earlier acquitted Rajeev Gurung (Deepak Manange) and Milan Gurung (Chakre Milan) in similar cases.
Interesting
Final breakthrough in Melamchi tunnel
The Himalayan Times reports that the much-hyped Melamchi Water Supply Project was set to achieve its final breakthrough on Monday night. The project is nearing completion 20 years after work began.
Drone delivers medicine to rural Nepal
Kantipur has dedicated considerable front page space to innovator Mahabir Pun and his group’s attempt to ferry medicine using drones. According to the report, Pun and his group tested a cargo-laden drone flight in Myagdi. The drone flew over 1 km with load of 1kg of medicine, the report says. Similar tests are being undertaken to use drones to ferry medicine to remote parts of the country,
