PM Prachanda holds reception to celebrate tihar, Nepal sambad

Kathmandu, 29 Oct: Prime Minister Prachanda Wednesday held an official reception to celebrate tihar and Nepal sambad 1129 recognized by the government as a national calendar.
He hoped the reception will start a precedent
Representatives from all walks life and foreign diplomats attended the function at Baluwatar.
The calendar has been given the same status as the Bikram sambad and the Roman calendar.
NC President Girija Prasad Koirala wasn’t present at
Baluwatar where Congress was represented by his deputy Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Former CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal didn’t also attend.
Nnnn


Unidentified parties protecting criminal groups: Upendra Yadav

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 29 Oct: Foreign Minister and MJF President Upendra Yadav charged Wednesday unidentified political parties ‘carrying one or two country-made weapons” were protecting them and talks on the tarai can’t be held with such ‘criminal groups’
This is the first time such a frank assessment has come from a leader of a tarai-based party.
Yadav supported the stance of Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam who earlier said negotiations on regional demands will only be held with ‘political groups’
Government has confirmed contacts have been established with nine rebel groups for negotiations.
Jwala Singh, leader of the most violent group, demanded government withdraw police from villages to district headquarters as one of four pre-conditions to initiate a dialogue.
Nnnn

Bamdeb Gautam criticizes Congress

Kathmandu, 29 Oct: Home Minister Bamdeb Gautum, who also heads a a committee to integrate Nepal Army and Maoist PLA, said Wednesday since the committee decisions will be based on consensus Nepali Congress decision to stay from the body is meaningless.
Congress is demanding two seats in the committee like Maoists.
Gautam asked the Congress to join the government body with representatives of three ruling parties; one seat has been set aside for the main opposition Nepali Congress.
MJF Chairman and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav also asked Congress to join the committee since it is headed not by Maoists but by the CPN-UML.
Nnnn

Black flags greet home minister in camps

Kathmandu, 29 Oct: Black flags waived by people displaced by the Kosi river greeted Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam when h inspected camps in east Nepal.
Displaced demanded immediate resettlement.
Nnnn

.