Maoist politburo to discuss

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 June: A Maoist politburo meeting Friday will government’s overnight decision to overturn the decision ousted Prachanda government to sack Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Government of Madhav Kumar Nepal also supported beleaguered ceremonial President Dr Ram Baran Yadav who asked Katawal to continue in office even after dismissal by Prachanda, who is also chairman of CUCPN (Maoist).
The coalition government took the decision although CPN-UML and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, in an attempt to appease Maoists, was trying to ease out the army chief.
A large section of PM Nepal’s party also believes President Dr Yadav acted unconstitutionally in overturning the decision of the ousted Maoist-led government bundled out of office in nine months.
Top Maoist leaders reacted immediately.
Narayankazi Shrestha said the government decision was ‘suicidal’.
“The decision will be suicidal for CPN-UML and the nation. The council of ministers under the leadership of Madhav Kumar Nepal has encouraged the supremacy of military.”
Dr Baburam Bhattarai said: As the government has overruled our decision there is no way to continue dialogue. Now, we will focus on agitation.
Since ouster in May, Maoists are already agitating in parliament and on the street.
‘This is a natural decision of a puppet government. A
puppet government does what the master orders,” said Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal of the Maoist-led government.
“Since the president appoints the chief of army staff, the power of dismissal is also vested in him,” Gen Katawal told the supreme court Friday in reply to a writ challenging his continuance in office.
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China invites PM Nepal

Kathmandu, 19 June: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has been invited to visit China, foreign ministry sources said.
Chinese Ambassador Qiu Guohong expended the invitation Thursday through Foreign Secretary Gyan C. Acharya.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shib Shanker Menon arrives Saturday to finalize date and details of the proposed India visit of PM Nepal.
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Inquiry committee formed

Kathmandu, 19 June: Joint Deputy Attorney General Yubaraj Subedi will head a three-member judicial committee to investigate the death of Maoist district leader Rajendra Phuyal.
Maoists charge CPN-UML Youth Force for murdering the Kathmandu district leader.
Police said Phuyal died of poisoning.
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TRADE. COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Kathmandu, 17 June: Government collected Rs 121.24 billion in revenue in the 11 months until 14 June of the current fiscal year—a 34.4 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year, the finance ministry said.
Revenue collection declined after the fall of the Maoist-led government in May.
Until mid-May, revenue collection averaged 40 percent growth.
Ousted Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai claimed revenue collection growth was a major achievement of the Maoist-led government.
But the ousted government failed to spend the money in capital development.
Only Rs 33 billion of the allocated Rs 92 billion in capital expenditure has been spent so far.
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