Defence minister Bidya Bhandari begins defence talks in India

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 21 July: Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari Tuesday morning was scheduled to hold talks with her Indian counterpart A.K.Anthony on resumption of military supplies suspended after the royal takeover.
Bhandari is in the Indian capital where US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is discussing a strategic partnership with India.
The request for resumption of military supplies is being made at a time when the peace talks between Maoists, political parties and government have been stalled in Nepal.
Maoists, haven’t made any comments so far, but will certainly oppose the government request of Nepal’s biggest military supplier.
The request is also being made at a time when Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala came out publicly opposed the proposed integration of Maoists in Nepal Army (NA) after signing a 12-point peace agreement in New Delhi with Maoists.
Koirala claimed the agreement doesn’t propose integration of Maoists in the state army.
The peace process and the drafting of a new republican constitution has run into rough weather with the Koirala statement.
Bhandari was also scheduled to have talks with Foreign Secretary Shib Shanker Menon and Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday.
Bhandari is having substantive talks in the Indian capital on the second day of her visit.
Nepal’s first woman defence minister is in India ahead of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s visit.
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Monetary relief for families of dead in mid-West and Qatar

Kathmandu, 21 July: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal announced relief of Rs 10,000 families of every persons killed by a cholera epidemic in the mid-West in the last three months.
Nepal paid an inspection visit of the region Monday.
More than 150 persons have died in the epidemic in eight districts.
Seven more persons died in the epidemic in Rukum, Kanchanpur, Jumla and Darchula Monday as the prime minister was on an inspection visit.
Thirty-three persons have died so far in Rukum.
Government Monday also announced relief of Rs 100,000 for each family of 12 persons killed in a boating accident in the Gulf.
Government assured the bodies of remaining three bodies will be flown back soon.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“UML Chairman is here; I’m also Maoist chairman. The difference is one party has surrendered to imperialists. I have proposed civilian supremacy but the other party has crushed it with boots.”

(Chairman Prachanda, Annapurna Post, 21 July)

“Man Bahadur: ‘Sir, I need medicine.’ PM Nepal: ‘I have brought the medicines. The doctors will provide it to you later.’ Man Bahadur: “I may not live to wait; I need the medicines immediately, sir.” PM: ‘I can’t provide you the medicine. I am not a doctor.’

(Conversation between PM Nepal and a patient of diarrhea in mid-West Monday, The Himalayan Times, 21 July)
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