Panchayat era leader Rabindra Nath Sharma dead


By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 23 Nov: Rabindra Nath Sharma, 78, who shot into prominence in the panchayat era died Saturday night of diabetes and kidney failure.
He held top ministerial positions in the panchayat toppled through a movement in 1990.
Sharma was a land reforms officer before joining the panchayat and worked closely with King Mahendra and King Birendra.
Sharma formed the RPP after 1990, left the conservative party, joined the RPP-Nepal and as its chairman defiantly canvassed for monarchy defying physical assaults by Maoists in the campaign.
He was repeatedly assaulted by Maoists during the campaign; the former rebels stopped political opponents from going to the people on an unfair vote okayed by the so-called international election observers.
The observers have been criticized for not visiting constituencies in far-flung areas to give a final and competent verdict on the controversial vote.
He quit the party after the vote and rejoined RPP.
Sharma is survived by a wise, three sons and one daughter.
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Govt. slashes fares, yet to be accepted by transporters

Kathmandu, 23 Nov: Under threat of pressure from student unions, government has slashed taxi fares seven percent but reduced rates are yet to be accepted by transporters saying reduced rates were unilaterally imposed Saturday.
Fares on diesel-operated vehicles have been cut six percent on a temporary basis until a ‘scientific ‘ rate is worked out three months later.
Fares were slashed after prices of POL products were slashed twice in two months as price of oil fell in the international market.
But the fare reduction won’t come as a relief to people.
Taxi operators have been tampering with meters as the administration watches helplessly.
Drivers report number of passengers has dropped drastically with the rampant tampering with meters.
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Bhutanese pro-democracy leader Tek Nath Rijal corresponds with former king

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 23 Nov: Self-exiled pro-democracy leader Tek Nath Rijal has written to former king Jigme Singhe Wangchuk requesting the creation of an environment for the honourable return home of 108,000 refugees, Kantipur reports.
The letter written 14 November deals with his torture, the behaviour of the king with Bhutanese nationals and Jigme’s commitment to the India president.
“We had placed great hope on King Wangchuk. But during his rule, work as expected didn’t happen with hopehe will advise the new king,” Rijal told Kantipur.
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Chief Election Commissioner Pokhrel to observe Bangladesh elections

Kathmandu, 23 Nov: Nov; Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokhrel has been appointed to a panel to observe next month’s elections in Bangladesh, Annapurna Post reports.
The panel formed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has already started work in Bangladesh.
It is headed by a UN official who is special representative for Afghanistan.
]Note: Pokhrel conducted the 10 April CA elections.]
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