Maoists state sit-ins

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 3 June: Maoists, ousted from government, staged two hour sit-ins in front of 75 district headquarters from 10 in the morning Wednesday protesting what they called unconstitutional action of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to retain sacked Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Prime Minister Prachanda had to quit government instead as Maoists failed in their bid to sack Katawal.
Maoists charged a presidential and army coup demanding ‘civilian control’ over Nepal Army mocked by Dr Yadav who said rule of law should prevail.
Maoists have announced the first phase of their protests against the president from the street and parliament until mid-June.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood and outgoing US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell held discussions with Prachanda Tuesday on the future of the peace process.
“We told them the defence minister [Bidya Bhandari] was trying to distort the peace process by making statements against the comprehensive peace agreement.
‘We are committed to the peace process but the new government is trying to provoke us, we said during discussions,” Dr Baburam Bhattarai told reporters after the meeting.
Bhandari, Nepal’s first woman defence minister, said the government of Madhav Kumar Nepal opposed integration of 16,000 plus Maoist combatants in Nepal Army—a demand of Maoists.
Prachanda embarrassingly revealed a Maoist game-plan to start a rebellion in the state army through integration.
Meanwhile, Li Gen Kul Bahadur Khadka, Maoist appointed army chief, Tuesday called on Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The general, against whom the army is preparing indisplinary charges, who retires in three months, discussed his future with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday.
Outgoing Powell has been appointed director general of US foreign service.
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All-party meeting to discuss fate of displaced persons

Kathmandu, 3 June: An all-party meeting in being held Wednesday to discuss the plight of nearly 2,000 persons displaced by harassment and abuses of Indian security guards along the border in Dang.
Displaced accuse personnel of Seema Surakshya Bal (SSB) of sexual harassment as well.
The displaced have moved into inner Nepal from the border.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

SBI acquires majority stake in Nepal SBI Bank

Kathmandu, 3 June: State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest bank, has acquired a majority 55 percent stake in Nepal SBI after buying 437,400 shares of Agriculture Development Bank.
The shares were bought through competitive bidding.
The Indian bank previously had 50percent state in the joint venture bank.
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