Capital Maoist demonstrations against presidential action

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 May: Police have been put on high alert to prevent violence Sunday as Maoists hold a are holding a public demonstrations against a presidential order asking Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal to continue in office even after dismissal by the Maoist-led government.
Police have deployed especially around presidential mansion, army headquarters and Singha Durbar already declared prohibited areas where demonstrations are banned.
Maoists said the action of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav was unconstitutional; Maoists in government have been obstructing parliamentary proceedings demanding correction of the presidential order.
CPN-UML and kingmaker MJF with 53 seats in parliament held discussions overnight to cobble a government.
During the inconclusive talks, MJF demanded a written commitment from CPN-UML a new government will implement eight Madesh demands for One Madesh One Pradesh.
Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, TMLP and NSP claim they have the support of 305 lawmakers in the 601-member parliament to form a government.
The four parties are promoting former CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal as a new prime minister.
Nepal lost a presidential race to Dr Yadav in 2008 after May’s first constitutional assembly elections.
Nepal was ditched by Maoists at the last moment; the party still opposes Nepal’s candidature for prime minister.
The signatures will be submitted to Speaker Subash Nemwang Monday, the parties claimed.
A two-week political stalemate continues after Prime Minister Prachanda resigned.
Maoists are attempting to abort a Nepal takeover by asking MJF to lead a government with the support of 12 more independent members.
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14 Indians killed for attempted abductions

Kathmandu, 17 May: Fourteen Indians have been killed—most of them were burnt alive in the terai-- in the last three weeks for alleged attempts to abduct children for their eyes and kidneys, published reports said.
One Nepali was also 15 killed so far.
One Indian woman was burnt to death of Mohottari Friday.
One Indian was held by villagers in Saptari Saturday and handed over to police for allegedly attempted abduction.
The feared abduction of children in the region has spread panic.

One killed and three missing in Jajarkot storm

Kathmandu, 17 May: One woman was killed and three are missing after heavy snowfall and storm in Jajarkot overnight.
Following a long dry spell that has destroyed winter crops and created food shortages, different parts of the country has started receiving rainfall bringing some relief to the people.
Sixteen-hour load-shedding has been gradually reduced.
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Three injured in Kapilvasthu bombing

Kathmandu, 17 May: Three persons were injured overnight when their home was bombed by an unidentified group in Kapilvasthu.
Some of the seriously injured have been airlifted to the capital for emergency treatment.
Violence continues in the south unabated.
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BJP leader Jashwant Singh wins in Darjeeling; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17May: Jashwant Singh, former foreign minister from India’s main opposition BJP, was declared elected Sunday from a parliamentary constituency in Darjeeling.
BJP supported the Gorkhaland movement of Nepalis of Indian origin for a separate state in the region adjoining east Nepal.
Singh follows developments in Nepal.
Congress-I routed BJP and communists in the staggered month-long elections whose results were announced Saturday.
“With the routing of BJP, the Hindu fundamentalist and reactionary force, the republican set-up in Nepal is safe and secure.
“As the Congress government will continue, I don’t think India’s foreign policy in Nepal change,” Foreign Department Chief of Maoists CP Gajurel was quoted in The Kathmandu Post as saying.
Former King Gyanendra held extensive discussions with BJP leaders, including projected leader LK Advani, during his three-week India tour earlier this year.
Octogenarian Advani announced retirement from politics after theparty’s disastrous electoral performance.
All predictions of a hung parliament in India were proved wrong after the ruling alliance led by Congress-I gained a 272-seat majority in the Lok Sabha.
The government led by Manmohan Singh engineered the ouster of monarchy in 2008 with the help of Nepal’s major political parties and Indian communists.
The election result gives Congress-I a big maneuvering space to continue its Nepal policy which the BJP charged the Singh government had previously abandoned to communists.
Indian communists in the federal government were frequent Nepal visitors during periods of intra-party fractions threatening the peace process.
They negotiated differences between parties as representatives of the government of India.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“I am the army chief.”

(Lt Gen Kul Bahadur Khadka, Naya Patrika, 17 May)
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