PM Prachanda, Madhav Kumar Nepal hold discussions

Kathmandu, 31 Dec: One day after main opposition Nepali Congress decided to build an anti-Maoist alliance with the help of 23 political parties in CA, Prime Minister Prachanda held a two-hour discussion with former CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal Wednesday.
Nepal is a firm critic of the Maoists in government.
Maoist Spokesman Dinanath Sharma charged Congress was conspiring to isolate Maoists and topple the CPN (Maoist)-led four-month government.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, head of a nine-member Nepali Congress task force to build an anti-Maoist alliance will begin consultations with other parties later Wednesday.
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Congress observing national reconciliation day

Kathmandu, 31 Dec: Main opposition Nepali Congress is observing the 33rd national reconciliation day Wednesday.
The party marks the day when Nepal’s first elected Prime Minister BP Koirala returned from self-exile with other party colleagues in India where Indira Gandhi was ruling at the center to reconcile with the king.
The Congress anti-king and anti-panchayat campaign from across the border didn’t deliver results.
The Gandhi federal government in New Delhi was cooperating with the king then.
Prime Minister Prachanda Tuesday suddenly drove to the BP Memorial Museum in Sundarijal and viewed displays there on the eve of national reconciliation day.
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Blackout continues in the far-West

Kathmandu, 31 Dec: A blackout continued in 10 districts of the mid and far-West for the third consecutive day Wednesday.
The region is plunged in darkness since Monday after students took control of a sub-station of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in Kanchanpur cutting off power supply as they demanded priority in electricity distribution on a priority basis in Kanchanpur.
Industries in the region have closed down and people have been inconvenienced in the middle of winter.
Students took over the sub-station on the day government enforced a crippling 12-hour load-shedding schedule.
Radio broadcasts have been affected.
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Sher Bahadur Deuba points a pistol at Dr Minendra Rijal

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 31 Dec: Sher Bahadur Deuba is demanding the expulsion of Dr Manindra Rijal from Nepali Congress and parliament, Janaastha reports.
But sources said President Girija Prasad Koirala is giving him additional responsibilities to attract Rijal towards him.
Rijal is not seen much in the public these days.
Deuba and wife Arjoo were having dinner with some close friends at their home that day over political discussions.
Deuba was suddenly enraged with Rijal in another room.
Deuba brought a pistol from a room upstairs and pointed it at Rijal; Arjoo separated them.
It’s not clear how the misunderstanding developed.
Rijal is considered an extremely close confidante of Deuba; differences have developed now.
The incident occurred three weeks ago.
Dr Rival visited Deuba the day after the incident and the former prime minister was still angry.
According to sources, Rijal went to Deuba to apologize.
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Commercial banks propose two-day closure

Kathmandu, 31 Dec: Private banks have proposed to Nepal Rashtra Bank a two-day closure Saturday and Sunday because of increased load-shedding, Kantipur reports.
The Nepal Bankers’ Association has proposed the closure from 1Janauary 2009.
The use of generators and invertors to meet power shortage has increased cost 25 percent.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“”Police were sent abroad of the recommendation of ministers and the IGP. I am facing accusations from various quarters for not making recommendations.”

(Deputy Prime Minister Bamdeb Gautam, Nepal Samacharpatra, 31 Dec.)

“The home ministry didn’t announce the names of martyrs [abound 8,000 plus]. Martyrs can’t be declared just on the recommendation of one ministry; a decision will be made on the recommendation of all parties.”

(Bamdeb Gautam, Nepal Samacharpatra, 31 Dec.)

‘Thamel is just a small market. There are costly and secure places in Kathmandu where plus two students are also ply their trade to meet expenses.”

(Sex worker Sapana Chetri, Naya Patrika, 31 Dec.)
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