President asks party leaders to cooperate

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 April: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Friday asked leaders of political parties to cooperate to draft a constitution and take the peace process to a conclusion.
The president Friday invited leaders of all 24 parties in parliament to a tea reception to mark New Year 2066.
Prime Minister Prachanda, main opposition Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and other party leaders were present.
“Right now reconciliation between political parties in needed; that is the need of the country and people. Political parties should move forward unitedly by maintaining unity and cooperation between political parties to draft a democratic constitution and establish peace.”
The president hosted the reception amid fears the constitution maay not be drafted within the May 1010 deadline.
“The prime minister should be liberal for cooperation. He should have a broad mind. I am ready for cooperation,” Koirala said.
“How can I work alone, Girija babu? You have to help as well,” Prachanda said.
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Load-shedding reduced to 12 hours

Kathmandu, 18 April: Load-shedding was reduced by four hours Friday to 12 hours a day by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Water level of rivers has risen after snowmelt and rainfall.
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Four senior officials fined

Kathmandu, 18 April: CIAA Friday fined four senior officials for not disclosing assets as required by law.
Health secretary, Dr Sudha Sharma, Engineer at the Eastern Regional Irrigation Directorate Dhruba Kumar Neupane, Planning Officer at Ministry of Local Development Narayan Prasad Koirala and senior forest
Officer Pravat Chaudhari were fined Rs 5,000 each.
They have been asked to furnish details within 30 days.
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Violence continues in terai

Kathmandu, 18 April: Ram Kumar Mahoti was shot dead by an unidentified group in Dhanusha Friday as violence continues in the terai.
Krishna Gupta was injured in a bomb blast at a factory in Kapilvasthu Friday.
Three members of a family were killed in Ilam Friday.
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Nepali Congress against ordinances

Kathmandu, 18 April: Main opposition Nepali Congress Friday registered notices in parliament Friday rejecting three ordinances promulgated by government.
The party rejected ordinance to amend electoral rolls, another ordinance on disappeared (crime and punishment) and an ordinance to make public service inclusive.
The party charged ordinances were issued bypassing parliament to make the legislature ineffective.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Britain has fooled the Nepalis. They have made us believe that a hike in our superannuation allowance is as good as an increment.”
Vice-chairman of Gurkhas Ex-Servicemen’s Association Himal Rai, The Himalayan Times, 18 April)

“Constitutionally. I am a powerful executive prime minister; but in practice, I am not.”

PM Prachanda, Annapurna Post, 18 April)

“If agreement is not implemented [by Maoists], political structure csn change.”

(Jhalanath Khanal, Annapurna Post, 18 April)

“I want to take all the parties together for completion of the peace process and important task of drafting the constitution; but other political parties are being difficult.”

(PM Prachanda, The Kathmandu Post, 18 April)
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