Chair Dahal stresses on directly elected executive system for stability

            Kaski, May 24: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has advocated for directly elected presidential executive system in the country.

            In his address to an event organized in course party’s Mid Hill Awareness campaign today, Dahal said that the campaign was launched to train and mobilize the people for the directly elected presidential system.

            At the programme, senior vice chair, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, urged to take up the issues of social justice, economic prosperity, and good governance raised by the Maoists to the people.

            General secretary Dev Gurung mentioned that the campaign will pile pressure on the government to complete the remaining work of the Mid-Hill Highway.

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NA members to deliberate on federalism in constituencies

            Kathmandu, May 24: All National Assembly (NA) members have set out to their respective constituencies to participate in the discussion on issues relating to federalism.

            The discussion themed ‘Role and responsibility of the National Assembly members in strengthening federalism, coordinating and partnering with provincial and local levels’ is slated to take place in all seven provinces on May 25-26.

            There are altogether 59 NA members.

            According to the Parliament Secretariat, NA members will also dwell on the issues such as implementation of federalism, fiscal federalism, public services and development among others.

            While Krishna Prasad Sitaula will coordinate for the discussion to be organized in the Koshi Province, Mohammad Khalid has been appointed to coordinatethe   Madhesh Province, according to a press statement released by the Secretariat.

            Ganga Kumari Belbasi will oversee the discussion in Bagmati Province while Kamala  Devi Panta has been assigned the task in Gandaki Province and Gopal Bhattarai in Lumbini Province.

            Likewise, Maya Prasad Sharma has been chosen as a coordinator for the discussion to be held in Karnali Province while Madan Kumari Shah will lead the discussion in Sudurpaschim Province.

            All NA members elected from respective provinces will be participating in the discussion, read the press statement.

            NA Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal will mark his presence in the Bagmati Province discussion while NA Vice-Chairperson Bimala Ghimire will present in Lumbini Province and nominated NA member Anjan Shakya in Karnali Province.

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RSS photo exhibition ‘Mountain Tourism’ to kick off Sunday

                Kathmandu, May 24: On the occasion of the Republic Day-2082 BS, the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) is organising a photo exhibition ‘Mountain Tourism: Our Identity’ from Sunday.

            The exhibition to be held at the RSS central office in Bhadrakali Plaza will feature 100 photographs of the Himalayas, life in the Hindukush snow range and major touristic destinations of the country.

            Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey will jointly inaugurate the exhibition on Sunday morning.

            In order to draw the attention of the international community to the challenges facing the mountainous countries like Nepal due to climate change, photographs of the Himalayas taken by RSS reporters and photojournalistsin different periods will be put on display in connection with the recently held ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’.

            RSS general manager Siddharaj Rai expressed confidence that the exhibition would help enrich the content of RSS in view of the diversification of its products..

            Before this, RSS had hosted exhibitions on the themes ‘construction of physical infrastructure’ and ‘cultural diversity of the country’.

            The National News Agency is confident that the exhibition will contribute to the debate and advocacy for the conservation of the Himalayas at a time when the international media is raising its voice with priority on the challenges posed to human civilization by climate change and the impact on Himalayan life.

            It may be noted that eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks above 8,000 metres are situated in Nepal. There are 8,000-meter high Himalayan ranges in Nepal. Including Sagarmatha, Kanchanjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Choyu, Manaslu, Annapurna and Dhawalagiri.

            Nepal has 1,792 mountains, including 90 above 7,000-meter and 1,310 above 6,000-meter.

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‘Political leadership must mend their ways for enabling republic’

            Kathmandu, May 24: Chairperson of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chitra Bahadur KC has asserted that leaders should mend their ways as challenges have appeared in republic system due to the decisions and actions of the leadership of main political parties.

            At an interaction organized here today by the Rastriya Janamorcha on the occasion of the Republic Day-2082 BS, he recommended maintaining good governance and eliminating corruption and irregularities for strengthening republic.

            “To that end, all nationalists, intellectuals and the general public should pay serious attention and keep vigil”, leader KC added.

            Also speaking on the occasion, general secretary of CPN (Masal), Mohan Bikram Singh stressed the need for all Nepali people to unite to resist the country sliding to the regressive path by protecting the political achievements.

            “Now is the time to advance struggle to foil the efforts meant for reviving regression or monarchy”, he noted.

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Nembang’s ‘Limbu History’ awarded

            Kathmandu, May 24: Late Krishna Bikram Nembang’s book ‘Limbu History: Tibetan, Lepcha, Koch, Sen and Rai Relationships’ has been awarded with a cash prize of rs 100,000.

            The award is given under the ‘Bishnudatta-Saraswati Angbuhang Academic Fund’ established by the Limbuwan Study Centre.

            In a ceremony held in Lalitpur today, poet Bairagi Kaila handed over the award to late Nembang’s son Dharmendra Bikram Nembang.
On the occasion, the Bishnudatta-Saraswati Angbuhang Academic Fund has increased the award amount.

            Bishnudutta Angbuhang, the founder and donor of the fund, informed that Rs 5 million has been added to the fund.

            Bhagiraj Ingnam, chairman of the Centre, said that the award is presented in every two years to the researchers who carry out research on Limbu language and culture.

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Regmi’s contributions should be reached out to the people-President Deuba

            Kathmandu, May 24: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that ascetic leader Khagendra Raj Regmi’s contributions to the nation were exemplary. 

            Addressing the first memorial day of former Syangja district President of the NC here today, former Prime Minister Deuba said, “I have known Regmi since his teaching career and met him at home. I found him decent and exemplary in party organization building”.

            At the programme, Vice President Dhanraj Gurung recalled Regmi as their revered political guru. “We were educated to work for people and nation from him“, Gurung added.

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Will give up politics if my involvement in any irregularities during public life proves-Minister Lekhak

            Kathmandu, May 24: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said that investigation can be initiated on any person any time under the aegis of the constitutional body.

            Talking to journalists here today, he viewed that with thousands of employees under the Ministry of Home Affairs the resignation of minister as soon as an investigation is initiated against any employee sets a bad precedent.

            Home Minister Lekhak stated, “There are thousands of employees under the Home Ministry. Any constitutional body can investigate any of these employees at any time. If that were the case, would all ministers resign? Is that the kind of system we want to establish? Therefore, I have already stated that there is politically planned and conspiratorial misinformation being spread against me”.

            Minister Lekhak said he would not only resign from the Home Minster but also remain away from politics if his involvement in financial irregularities during his political and public life were proved.

            “Regarding the question that is being raised now on the issue of ‘visit visa’ at Tribhuvan International Airport’s immigration, if anyone proves my involvement even on any financial irregularity in my public and political life, I will not only resign from my position but withdraw politics”, Lekhak said.

            “Therefore, there is a planned and conspiratorial misinformation being spread against me”.

            Lekhak further shared that he had requested time in the upcoming meeting of the House of Representatives to be held on May 27 to put my extensive view on this matter.

            Earlier today, the Home Ministry also issued a press release expressing serious concern over the news published and disseminated linking the Ministry’s leadership to the incident at Tribhuvan International Airport immigration office.

            The release clarified that there is no involvement of the Ministry and its leadership in any illegal activities or irregularities.

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Clash between yarsa pickers in Dolpa

            Kathmandu, May 24: A clash was ensued between two groups of yarsa pickers in Thulibheri Municipality-1 of Dolpa this afternoon.

            There was a scuffle between the residents of Maikot village of eastern Rukum and Kaike village of Dolpa over the yarsagumba collection area.

            A squad of Armed Police Force Nepal Battalion No. 46 has been deployed from Dolpa to control the situation.

            APF informed that two rounds of firing were opened to control the clash. According to him, the situation now has come to normalcy.

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RSP accepts Supreme Court’s decision: Vice President Wagle

            Bharatpur, May 24: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) vice-president Swarnim Wagle has said that his party will fight legal and political battle for the justice of President Ravi Lamichhane by accepting the Supreme Court’s decision.

            Speaking at the first session of Kalika Municipality in Chitwan today, Wagle said that they would stand united in the legal and political fight for justice.
“Yesterday, an unpleasant decision came from the Supreme Court, we have to be patient and move forward with strength”, he said, adding, “We are determined to move forward politically with belief in the rule of law”.

            Wagle said that the issue of President Lamichhane is political and the party will move forward with new strategy in the coming days.

            “The central committee meeting is scheduled for Sunday. We move forward with decision as to how to proceed in the Parliament”, he said.

            Vice President Wagle clarified that Rabi Lamichhane will continue to lead the party in the capacity of President.

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CJ Raut stresses on delivering justice for greater good

            Patan (Lalitpur), May 24: Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut has stressed the need to deliver justice and performance in a way to serve greater good as per the State-stipulated laws.

            At a one-day national workshop held here today by the Secretariat of the Central Child Justice Committee on ‘Exploring the Role of Stakeholders in Promoting the Child Justice System in Nepal’, CJ Raut raised the question – whether the best interests of children are being served in judicial administration and processes, indicating that attention needs to be paid to the issue.

            ‘If there are any flaws in the law, they must be fixed. There should not be a lack of skilled human resource. Justice cannot be done to children through flawed laws. Reforms are necessary. People bearing the responsibility of delivering justice must perform their duties and exercise their rights with integrity’, he added.

            CJ Raut noted that there has been a quite delay in addressing child rehabilitation, highlighting the need for a more interventional role within the justice system.

            ‘We all need to focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society. We must create necessary infrastructure and an enabling environment for this, and a parental role from all three levels of government is essential,’ Chief Justice Raut added.

            Chair of the Central Child Justice Committee and Supreme Court Judge Til Prasad Shrestha emphasized the need for the government to prioritize addressing the issues in the area of child sector reform and child justice.

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