Maoists obstruct parliament session

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 7 Aug: Maoists Friday obstructed parliament as declared after accusing government and ruling partners for ignoring demands to seriously consider month-old demands to rectify presidential action to retain Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Deputy leader of the parliamentary party Narayan Kazi Shrestha accused the government for ignoring commitment to consider a four-point demand within Thursday when the ultimatum expired.
‘Proceedings will be permitted the day the presidential action is discussed in parliament,” Shrestha said as Maoist lawmakers gheroed the rostrum.
The speaker then adjourned the session until Monday.
The budget has yet to be approved.
“The issues raised are serious. The peace process and constitution drafting will be affected. They can’t be concluded without addressing concerns,” Chairman Prachanda warned in Pokhara where he was addressing a party political training camp.
“Government is running on remote control,” he said in ridicule..
Ruling parties charged Maoists for breaking a commitment not to obstruct budget session of parliament.
CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said Friday the movement declared by Maoists is irrelevant.
Prachanda is scheduled to fly to London to address party workers in the British capital as a political crisis has deepened.
He has been invited by Maoist supporters in United Kingdom.
Only nine months remain for the constitution to drafted within the mid-May 2010 deadline.
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Defence minister approves army chief leave

Kathmandu, 7 Aug: Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari Friday approved one-month leave of Army Chief Gen Rukmamngud Katawal who proceeds on home leave Monday prior to retirement.
Lt Gen Chatra Bahadur Gurung has been recommended as acting chief.
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PM Nepal says he won’t sign agreements in India without consulting parties

Kathmandu, 7 Aug: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal told a parliamentary committee Friday he won’t sign agreements in India without approval and understanding with political parties.
There won’t be any secret agreement, he told the committee.
“Don’t have suspicious agreements will be made against national interest,” Nepal told committee members.
Nepal said he will discuss border issues during his India visit beginning 18 August.
India has presented strip maps for signature as Indian officials said their official endorsement by Nepal will resolve 90 percent of the border dispute.
The strips have been signed by mapping officials from the two countries.
But they haven’t been approved by the central governments and are, therefore, invalid.
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Raj Kumar Sharma joins Maoists

Kathmandu, 7 Aug: Ram Kumar Sharma returned to Maoist fold Friday after five years.
Chairman Prachanda welcomed the top functionary of the TMLP into the party along with his wife Indu Sharma.
Sharma charged the TMLP was a party of landlords.
Sharma began his political career as a CPN-UML activist and was also associated with MJFN.
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Tul Bahadur Serchan arrested

Kathmandu, 7 Aug: A person who claimed he knew of the Narayanhiti royal palace massacre was arrested in the capital Friday.
Tul Bahadur Serchan made the claim at Reporters’ Club.
He is a retired intelligence officer and claimed Crown Prince Dipendra didn’t trigger the massacre.
Serchan will be presented for psychiatric examination at a mental hospital Sunday.
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