Seven political parties meet to address Tharu demands

Kathmandu, 14 March: Seven leading parties held discussions at the prime minister’s residence Saturday to address Tharu demands.
The discussions were held as Tharu protests snowball.
Violence continued in the south for the 13th day Saturday.
Tharu community decided not sit down for talks with government after two persons were killed in police firing in Dang Friday.
MJF has recalled lawmakers on a drive to collect opinion on a new constitution to discuss Tharu demands for de-listing the Madeshi community.
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Three parties nominate candidates for by-elections


Kathmandu, 14 March: Three political parties—CPN-UML,RPP and MJF—announced their candidates for six parliamentary by-elections 10 April.
Sher Bahadur Chand (RPP), Niru Pal (CPN-UML) and Hari Taylor (MJF) will contest from Kanchanpur 4; the seat was vacated by Sher Bahadur Deuba who was elected from two constituencies.
Bal Bir Pun (RPP), Hari Prasad Gharti Magar (CPN-UML) will contest Rolpa 2 vacated by Prime Minister Prachanda; MJF hasn’t fielded a candidate from the hill district from where Maoists launched their people’s war 13 years ago.
Nanda Bahadur Gurung (RPP) and Salikram Paudel (CPN –UML) will try to grab the seat vacated by Maoist Minister Deb Gurung from Kaski 1’ MJF is not fielding a candidate in the hill district.
Yogendra Mandal (RPP), Jiban Ghimere (CPN-UML) and Jayaram Yadav (MJW will contest the Morang 5 seat.
Saraswoti Kharel (RPP), Binod Dhakal (CPN-UML) and Chunnarayan Tabdar will contest from Morang 7.
Rajendra Prasad Sah (RPP), Raghubir Mahaseth (CPN-UML) and Siyaram Raya (MJF) will fight from Dhanusha 5.
Nepali Congress hasn’t announced its candidates.
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Supreme court okays army recruitment

Kathmandu, 14 March: A three-man bench of the
Supreme court Friday okayed recruitment of 3,100 army personnel vacancies challenged by the government.
Nepal Army recruited the personnel defying a defence ministry order.
But the bench ordered the army not to take further recruits until a final verdict on a petition claming the recruitment was unconstitutional and against the spirit of a 12-point agreement between seven parliamentary parties and Maoists.
The court said the army had already recruited and appointed personnel; the decision couldn’t be overturned.
Maoists have also started a recruitment drive even as 19,000 former combatants await integration in Nepal Army or resettlement.
They are under watch of the UN in 28 cantonments and satellite camps.
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New Australian ambassador assumes responsibilities

Kathmandu, 14 March: New Australian resident in Nepal Susan Grace formally assumed responsibilities Friday.
She presented her credentials to Dr Ram Baran Yadav the same day.
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TRADE, ECONOMY, COMMERCE

Govt. economic targets won’t be met: Dr Baburam Bhattarai

Kathmandu, 14 March: Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai conceded Friday the Maoist-led government won’t meet its target of seven percent GDP growth which will only be limited to 3.5 percent in the current fiscal year.
Inflation will hit a record 14.4 percent although government had targeted to limited it to 7.5 percent.
Bhattarai said Kosi river floods, load-shedding and strikes obstructed government economic plans.
Capital expenditure will be limited to only Rs 10.71 billion—a fall of 15.75 percent from projections.
But revenue collection totaled Rs 79.6 billion so far- beyond the target to increase collection by 31.7 percent.
Government until Friday raised Rs 1.51 billion in income tax under a scheme to declare taxes voluntarily.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The grandfather king [Gyanendra] could not rule the country for long and the leaders’ [referring to Girija] mission [to India] would also fail.”

(Dr Baburam Bhattarai, The Kathmandu Post, 14 March)
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