Dasain holidays cut two days; Koirala’s Congress misuses army chopper for vote

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 5 March: Government Tuesday cut dasain holidays by two days.
One-day national holiday announced this year for Id, Loshar and Christmas has been increased to two days.
Nepal, one the world’s only Hindu kingdom, is the only country in the world that has now announced national holidays for all the world’s major religious.
The government declared the country a secular state without putting the issue to a more even though independent opinion polls say more than 60 percent of the people want the country a Hindu monarchy.
Government, on advice of a visiting Belgian minister, isn’t putting the monarchy to a vote in the still uncertain 10 April constituent assembly election.
Widespread abuse of state resources are already being misused for the vote.
Questions have arisen about the impartiality of elections after the Nepal Army was ferrying abusing the election code by ferrying free of charge Congress candidates while filing nominations last Tuesday, Janaastha reports.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Rukmangud Katawal ordered generals to transport 28 probable candidates to file nominations during a strike.
Two military helicopters were mobilized to ferry probable lawmakers from Kathmandu to districts.
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Sekhar Thapa now personal secretary of PM

Kathmandu, 5 March: Sekhar Thapa has been appointed personal private secretary of the prime minister.
Thapa succeeds Bal Krishna Dahal who has been given a party ticket to contest elections.
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