Nepali Congress ultimatum to Maoist-led govt.

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 9 Nov: An aggressive Nepali Congress Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel Sunday submitted a nine-point memorandum to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda accompanied by threats to launch a strong movement if demands aren’t met by next Monday 17 November.
The main opposition demanded a response through the CA as the government chief assured a response would come Monday.
Congress threatened to block the passage of the annual budget 2008/09 currently being discussed in the (CA).
Ministers are replying to questions raised by members on appropriations for various ministries after a dasain/tohar recess.
The main opposition demanded Maoists honour and implement past agreements between seven parties; the Congress demanded immediate return of seized assets and dissolution of YCL—demands abandoned before the 10 April CA election.
Congress also demanded the reconstitution of a controversial integration committee for unification of PLA and Nepal Army on consensus.
Paudel took special time in the CA and asked Maoists walk the path of consensus which, he said, has been abandoned.
“Assurances aren’t enough,” Congress leader Laxman Ghimere said after the memorandum was submitted.
“Political understanding should be reached,” Maoist leader Agni Sapkota said.
Congress has adopted a belligerent attitude towards CPN (Maoist).
Meanwhile, Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala reiterated charge Maoists were delaying drafting a constitution by diversionary tactics --raising the issue of integration of PLA with Nepal Army.
Koirala made the charge while unveiling a life-size statue of Ganesh Man Singh at the BP Koirala Museum in Sundarijal.
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Disco owner injured in shooting at Durbarmarg

Kathmandu, 9 Nov; A disco owner was injured in
a shooting incident Sunday night at Durbarmarg.
Amit Lama was injured, police said.
Shooting broke out even as Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam increased surveillance of casinos, restaurants and discos after assuming office amid claims of improved law and order situation.
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Breakthrough in constitution rules and regulation drafting committee

Kathmandu, 9 Nov: After prolonged differences, members of a constitution rules and regulation drafting committee agreed Sunday night to avoid mention of a whip to enforce party discipline.
No mention was made for a conscience vote as the committee works to draft a constitution, committee chairman Narayanman Bijukakchaya said.
The breakthrough Sunday paves the way to finalize the rules and regulations for the committee Monday; the rules and regulations will be sent to the CA for approval Tuesday, Bijukakchaya said.
More than seven months after the election for the CA, the first concrete step has been taken for beginning work of constitution drafting.
Altogether 10 drafting committees have to be formed,.
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Three parties agree

Kathmandu, 9 Nov: CPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and CPN (Unity Center/Mashal) agreed Sunday to take to the CA a proposal to resolve the current differences between the main political parties on defining major parties.
Prime Minister Prachanda, CPN-UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal and Mashal General-Secretary Narayan Kazi Sherstha came to an agreement to take a cabinet proposal to CA to resolve political deadlock by identifying ‘major parties’.
The three leaders agreed to send a cabinet proposal on major parties to the CA.
Parties, including the Congress and TMLP, claimed such parties weren’t included in an integration committee for unifying PLA and Nepal Army triggering a national crisis. government.
Three parties also agrees to reconstitute the National Planning Commission after differences between ruling parties on political nominees, CPN-UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal said.
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Badal denies meeting murder suspect

Kathmandu, 9 Nov: Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal denied published reports he met Kali Bahadur Kham Bibid in Chitwan during a visit to the district.
He said allegations he met the Maoist commander suspected of involvement in the murder of Kathmandu trader Ram Shrestha were false and baseless.
But Badal confirmed, in a statement in the CA Sunday, he met Maoist commanders during a recent visit to Chitwan.
Badal said he was ‘conscious of his responsibilities’ and denied meeting Kham who has been suspended from the CPN (Maoist).
Badal gave a statement after Chairman Subash Nemwang ordered either the home minister or the defence minister to make a statement in the assembly on the Shrestha murder.
Nepali Congress and other parties raised the issue after reports of a meeting surfaced in newspapers.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“People’s republic and other issues that have been raised is not political honesty. Political dishonesty of Maoists will adversely impact the drafting of a new constitution.”

(Madesh Janaadhikar Forum leader Sharad Singh Bhandari, Deshantar, 9 Nov.)