PM Prachanda begins five-day working official India visit later Sunday

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda begins a triumphant five-day working, goodwill official visit of India later Sunday.
Prachanda will visit New Delhi as an elected government chief after CPN (Maoist) emerged as the biggest political party in Nepal in the April CA poll displacing traditional Nepali Congress to the opposition.
Prachanda directed the 11-year insurgency from India, even under watch of the government of India near New Delhi, before the successful April 2006 collapse of the royal regime and rule of King Gyanendra.
The prime minister said he is carrying a draft of a new treaty to replace the1950 treaty of peace and friendship with India.
He will discuss relief and rehabilitation of Kosi river flood victims besides discussing, trade, transit, border and other issues.
Prachanda is being accompanied by foreign, water resources and supplies ministers.
The visit begins 24 hours after the Delhi bomb blasts that killed at least25 persons and injured 90 others, reports from the Indian capital said.
One blast went off near the Nepal embassy at Baharakhamba Road where the visit was being discussed.
The prime minister will reply to amendment proposals of the government policy and programme at the CA before flying for New Delhi.
After Prachanda discussed his India visit with Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday the former prime minister said Prachanda’s caretaker government has no authority sign any treaties with India.
The statement comes from a person swept to power through foreign conspiracy and street protests and who dissolved parliament and the constitution after he was appointed by the former king through a political decision- an euphemism for an unlawful act.
“The government is not a caretaker but has full authority,” Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ retorted. ‘This government has the people’s mandate. It not only has a simple but two-third majority in the CA.”
Bilateral discussions begin only Monday.
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Curfew continues for third day in Manthali

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: Curfew continued for the third consecutive day in Ramechap district headquarters Manthali to separate CPN (Maoist) YCL and CPN –UML Youth Force Sunday.
Tension heightened after YCL attacked Youth Force.
CPN-UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal demanded action against YCL warning the unity between the ruling parties could snap.
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Violence continues in tarai

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: Violence continues in the tarai.
The zonal office of the CPN-UML in Banke was bombed Saturday by the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha.
A child was injured when an abandoned bomb exploded in Sarlahi Saturday.
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President to witness Indra jatra festival later Sunday

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav will participate in the Indra jatra festival at Basantapur Sunday.
Goddess Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairab are installed on chariots and pulled around the town.
The king traditionally participated in the festival watching it from Gaddi Baithak.
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PM Prachanda inspects Narayanhiti

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Saturday inspected the Narayanhiti royal palace vacated by former King Gyanendra after the declaration of a republic.
Prachanda inspected Tribhuvan Sadan the site of the royal carnage in which the entire family of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya were murdered by Crown Prince Dipendra.
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Girija eyeing to appoint daughter Sujata party general secretary

Kaythmandu, 14 Sept: At the fag end of his political career, Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala is efforting to appoint daughter Sujata Koirala, who is central committee member and chief of the foreign department, to the vacant post of party general secretary, Santosh Acharya reports in Nepal newsmagazine.
Thepost is vacant after Dr Ram Baran Yadav was elected president.
Koirala has made known his intention during meetings with central leaders; he has received suggestions not to nominate her general secretary or joint general secretary immediately by bulldozing her nomination.
Arjun Narsingh KC is also eying for the job be seeking a promotion with Acting President Sushil Koirala.
The Deuba faction believes a replacement of Yadaav isn’t needed as Bimalendra Nidhi is the second general secretary.
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Former home minister admits Maoists may have hidden weapons
By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: Former Home Minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula, considered a Maoist sympathizer in the Nepali Congress, admitted Sunday Maoists who are now in power may have hidden their weapons before entering camps administered by UNMIN in 2006.
“Maoists must have hidden weapons. There are many instances of Maoists leaving camps with weapons. There was also an attempt to form a rebel group,” Shitaula told Nepal newsmagazine.
Shitaula admitted ‘tolerating’ Maoists during his stewardship of the home ministry justifying his tolerance.
‘The peace process could have been disturbed with direct confrontation. The combatants had to be given room to enter the camps,” he said in justification. “It couldn’t be verified if all combatants and weapons were at the camps.”
He admitted rebel groups haven’t surrendered completely anywhere.
The close aide of Girija Prasad Koirala revealed the party president won’t contest the leadership of the parliamentary party,
“That’s the possibility. Most probably he won’t contest,” Shitaula said.
Koirala last week nominated Sher Bahadur Deuba to chair the meeting in his absence.
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Hem Bahadur Gurung appointed IGP

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: AIGP Hem Bahadur Gurung has been appointed IGP of Nepal Police.
The cabinet appointed Gurung Sunday.
The cabinet decided not to extend the tenure of IGP Om Bikram Rana and 10 other senior officers who reached superannuation age.
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