A function that the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre jointly hosted yesterday on the occasion of the establishment day of Communist Party of Nepal and Lenin’s birthday has become the most significant issue discussed on the front page of major Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu today. Some newspapers have highlighted statements made by leaders about the proposed unification between two parties whereas others have raised concerns about a dispute the two parties had about the event banner.
Newspapers continue to publish reports about situations emerged after the government decision to stop registration and renewal of transport entrepreneur committees as NGOs.
Important
Oli, Dahal renew unification commitment
Speaking at a function that their parties jointly organised to commemorate the establishment day of the Communist Party of Nepal, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal renewed their commitment to party unification despite recent differences surfaced, according to newspapers.
Though a dispute over the banner used on the state delayed the programme for around four hours, the leaders’ address gave a sense of hope to their cadres, according to Nagarik.
Naya Patrika lead story adds that the extensive talks for last five months are finally getting materialised. Perhaps that is why the both leaders yesterday said they did not have any desire to go back from the unification plan, Kantipur informs.
Gorkhapatra claims the CPN-Maoist Centre has withdrawn from its demand for ‘equal’ share in the unified party; now it just wants a respectable position.
Ex-DIG arrested in connection with gold smuggling case
Newspaper reports inform that Nepal Police has arrested formed DIG Govinda Niraula after a team under the leadership of Home Ministry Joint Secretary Ishwar Paudel suspected his involvement in a recent gold smuggling case. Kantipur says the investigators have also thought that he was working in cahoots with international smuggling rackets.
Nepal Samacharpatra even claims that the panel has even suspected the role of then IGP Upendra Kant Aryal. Aryal, however, is walking free.
Various other high police officials have already been recalled to the headquarters for further investigation.
Ignored
Medicine crunch hits various districts hard
Annapurna Post lead story for the day says government-run health facilities in 25 districts across the country do not have any medicine to distribute to members of the public. The government has a law to distribute certain medicines for free, but the Department of Health Services has been unable to send the medicines on time, the report says.
Event some local government units in the Kathmandu Valley itself are suffering from the crunch, according to the report.
5,000 schools await reconstruction
Nepal is marking the third anniversary of devastating 2015 earthquake on Wednesday. However, as many as 4,900 schools which lost their buildings to the quake are not reconstructed yet, according to Nepal Samacharpatra anchor story.
The government had targeted completing reconstruction of all schools by this month; but only 3,613 schools have been rebuilt. Therefore, the Ministry of Education has said completing the task needs two more months, the report adds.
Chitwan National Park records five tiger deaths in 10 months
A total of five tigers have died in a short span of last 10 months in Chitwan National Park, reports Republica in its lead story for the day. The fifth case occurred just on Sunday as the Park officials found a female tiger dead in the eastern part of the Park in Sauraha.
Lalbabu Pandit chasing after ‘cheap popularity’
As the country is in the process of transformation into the federal administrative setup, the Ministry of General Administration and Federal Affairs is one of the busiest government offices these days. However, ignoring his responsibility for policy formation and reforms, Minister Lalbabu Pandit is spending his time by making surprise visits to various offices, Nagarik anchor story for the day says, adding the comment that he is just chasing away the cheap popularity.
Explosion targets CEC Yadav’s house
Newspaper reports claim that an unidentified group on Sunday evening planted an improvised explosive device targeting the house of Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav in Hattiban of Lalitpur.
Quoting a police official, Gorkhapatra says the explosion broke some window glasses and a section of the compound wall. Police have not identified who planned and executed the attack, but are looking into the case.
Interesting
Transporters try to get rid of all property before getting scrapped
Warned by the government that it may nationalise their property after scrapping their registration as NGOs, organisations of public transport entrepreneurs are trying to sell their property including land and houses before being scrapped, according to the lead story in Karobar. Likewise, they have been found withdrawing their money from the banks as the government has also warned of suspending their transactions if they launch any strike, the report says.
Outer Ring Road: 6.6 km track within one year
It has been 13 years since the government and stakeholders began discussions about construction of the Outer Ring Road in Kathmandu Valley. However, the actual construction is just beginning now as a recent Cabinet meeting endorsed the project, according to Abhiyan anchor story. Subsequently, the first section of the road, a 6.6 km track, will open within next one year after acquiring land from locals, the report adds.
