Cabinet meeting to discuss formation of special integration committee

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Amid differences between three ruling parties and main opposition Nepali Congress, the cabinet meets later Monday to form a special committee to integrate the Nepal Army and the Maoist PLA.
“Integration may not necessarily take place only in the Nepal Army,” Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal said in a conciliatory tone in the Annapurna Post.
Maoists reiterated committee should be headed by Peace Minister Janardhan Sharma Prachakar with another Maoist member in the five-member committee including representatives of the four parties—three ruling and the Nepali Congress..
Prime Minister Prachanda said the previous committee under the Koirala government was headed by Congress Peace Minister Ram Chandra Paudel and included Congress Home Minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula.
Congress now opposes inclusion of two Maoist members in the special committee which the party says shouldn’t be headed by CPN (Maoist).
CPN-UML says it should now headed the special committee.
The cabinet is also discussing formation of a coordination committee to coordinate activities of ruling parties.
Maoists have proposed the name of top leader Mohan Baidya Kiran while CPN-UML has proposed the candidature of former General Secretary Madav Kumar Nepal.
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Monday is kukur puja

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Devotees gave additional living care to the dog Monday on the second day on Tihar.
Pets and those without dogs garlanded street dogs fed and put tika on them.
Astrologers said auspicious tike for bhai tika Thursday is between 11.45 to 11.55 in the morning.
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Casino workers to obstruct traffic

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Casino workers will obstruct vehicular movement on the capital’s streets for one hour Monday protesting a police raid on a casino last week.
They have demanded end to such raids and threatened to launch a Valley strike this week in phased protests if such raids don’t stop.
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Deuba bows down to Girija

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Sher Bahadur Deuba , an aspirant to lead the Congress in the CA, says he is ready to work with Girija Prasad Koirala who declared he is still leader on the main opposition.
After speculation Koirala might now contest the leadership, Deuba and Ram Chandra Paudel staked claims.
“I have no objection if the octogenarian leader wants to lead the party again in parliament,” Deuba said in Biratnagar Sunday.
Ailing Koirala with breathing problems and who has to move around with oxygen tank by his aside, has lately become active in the opposition.
He is currently in his hometown Biratnagar from where he has declared a jihad against Maoists and Prachanda..
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VP seeks recognition

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Vice-president Paramandha Jha has sought a more active role for himself.
“I threw this tea reception to let people know where live,” Jha told invitees at his guests at his Bahadur Bhawan office Sunday.
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10 countries approved for child adoption

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Nepal has identified 10 countries as eligible for inter-country child adoption, The Himalayan Times reports.
Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Norway, United States and Canada have been passed the muster, thanks to their unblemished record in safeguard of child rights.
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Abandoning loktantra, Girija asks Prachanda not to renounce democracy

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has lately abandoned loktantra, the Indian synonym for democracy, he adopted after the fall of the royal regime in 2005.
The former prime minister has now started re-using the name prajatantra or democracy.
Koirala now says prajatantra is again under threat from Maoists and declared jihad against the extreme communists from Biratnagar Saturday.
He never realized or even ignored the threat while mainstreaming them by bringing the rebels into the mainstream from 11-years of exile in India and the jungle.
“Prachanda became prime minister becoming the prime minister because of democracy movement; he’ll be sidelined it he abandons democracy,” Koirala said in Biratnagar Sunday.
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Maoist wanted for murder in cantonment under UNMIN observation

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: A missing Maoist suspect Kali Bahadur Kham Bibhid wanted for the murder of Koteshwor trader Ram Hari Shrestha is at a cantonment in Shaktikhor, Binod Tripathi reports in Kantipur from Bharatpur, Chitwan.
He is active in the cantonment issuing directives.
He had been suspended from the party which assured action against him.
He met Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal in Chitwan last week as police watched helplessly.
Shrestha’s widow, Ramila, Sunday demanded immediate action against the suspect.
UNMIN is also watching helplessly when a wanted man is inside a cantonment under its observation.
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