Prachanda, Girija hold discussions

Kathmandu, 3 March: Prime Minister Prachanda Tuesday held consultations with main opposition leader Girija Prasad Koirala’s at the latter’s residence amid chilling of relations between the two parties and their leaders.
Details weren’t immediately available
But the main opposition Nepali Congress Monday asked government to convene a winter session amid charges preparations were afoot only to call a summer session only.
An informal meeting at Girija Prasad Koirala’s residence said government was attempting to bypass and avoid parliament by imposing rule by ordinance.
A meeting of 18out of 25 political parties 9 February had demanded immediate convening of parliament by the Maoist-led government.
The meeting objected to what it described a ‘unilateral’ government decision to declare 7,000 martyrs.
Government declared 7,000 persons, mainly Maoist supporters, killed during the 10-year people’s war, Janaandolan-II and Madesh andolan martyrs.
Nnnn

Indian federal minister arriving

Kathmandu, 3 March Indian federal steel minister
Ram Bilas Paswan arrives Tuesday for a two-day visit.
He is also chairman of ruling Lok Janasaakti Party.
Paswan is chief guest of a meeting of Dalit Janajati Party in Birgunj.
Nnnn



TRADE, COMMMERCE, ECONOMY

Next annual budget Rs 263 billion

Kathmandu, 3 March: The budget for the fiscal year 2009/10 to be presented in May/June will hover around Rs 263 billion, Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai told donors Monday.
The minister told donors only half the allocated Rs 124 bullion development expenditure was expected to be spent this year.
Meanwhile, Nepal Development Forum meeting is being held in the capital from 12 to 14 May.
Only Rs 7.8 billion had been spent for development in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
Nnnn