Indian bhattas start work at Pashupatinath temple

Kathmandu, 5 Sept: Two newly appointed Indian bhattas started worship at Pashupatinath temple Saturday morning amid Maoist protests.
Maoists defied prohibitory orders around the temple complex and staged protests at their appointments vowing to continue until Nepali priests are appointed.
Maoists failed in their mid during the nine-month rule of Prachanda.
Prohibitory were enforced Friday after Maoists dragged the Indian priests for their retreat before beginning formal work, shred their threads and abused them.
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Govt. asks UN to continue food assistance

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 5 Sept: Following a UN WFP threat to withdraw from Nepal, government Friday asked WFP to continue its food assistance because of the likelihood of food shortage in rural areas following winter and summer drought.
The threat coincided with the suspension of immediate food distribution creating shortages, especially in worst affected Jajarkot district.
WFP attempted to draw the government to drag into controversy after National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a government appointed body, and NGO INSEC, funded by western donors, charged a cholera/diarrhea epidemic in the nid and far-West that claimed nearly 400 lives was also caused by sub-standard grains, lentils and oil distributed by the UN agency.
“We would like to reiterate what has already been stated by the Ministry of Health and Population, this crisis was a result of contaminated water as well as poor sanitation and hygiene practices,” the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers said, according to WFP.
To get out of an embarrassing charge, the WFP has attempted to interpret government has certified, as demanded, the quality of food it has distributed.
The suspension of food supplies By the UN food agency aggravated the critical food situation.
People are still dying of the epidemic in themed and far-West..
A government team, with representatives if the consumers and UN will investigate the changes in a transparent manner, the PM’s office assured..

Nobody injured in Kapilvasthu bomb blast

Kathmandu, 5 Sept: Nobody was injured in Friday’s bomb blast at the office of the district education office next to district police headquarters targeting the CDO.
Terai Cobra took responsibility for the blast.
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Staff meeting of PLA

Kathmandu, 5 Sept: A general staff meeting of division commanders of PLA at seven cantonments under UNMIN watch started in the capital Friday.
Speakers asked for a government view on integration.
The meeting comes after the first meeting of the special committee on integration headed by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal; Maoists are represented in the committee.
Chairman Prachanda attended the meeting.
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Departing Army Chief gives Maoists a parting shot

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 5 Sept: Departing Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal gave Maoists a hard-hitting parting shot in an uncompromising public speech.
Maoists failed to sack him when they hold office for nine months.
“Government has identified 1098 armed outfits. Who are going to be integrated?” he asked at a crowded farewell reception hosted by Nepal Army at army headquarters attended by nearly 1,000 guests.
“The peace agreement says there’s be integration in security forces under established standards and anybody meeting the standards can join security agencies,” he said rejecting mass integration of Maoists in the state army he described as a state army with representatives of ethnic groups.
“There are Gurung, Rais, Magar, Madeshi and other ethnic battalions in the army,” he added. Nowhere in the world are there recruitment in the army on the basis of ethnicity, religion and region.”
‘Totalitarianism isn’t acceptable to Nepal Army. How are we who accept the law, constitution and government orders feudals? What do you call those who plunder, hack, kill, kidnap and those who disagree with you?” he asked in bitter criticism of Maoists before retiring Wednesday.
“An attempt in being made to politicize the army in the name of civilian supremacy. Don’t try to make the army a cadre of a party in the guise of civilian supremacy,” he warned.
The size of the army, he said, should be determined only after general elections following drafting of a constitution.
The retiring chief revealed he received death threats through is wife whom he praised.
Army, he said, cannot compromise with separatists,
“There’s such a situation is east Nepal and the terai. One Madesh, one pradesh demand is being raised,” he added.
“For five/six months she received telephone calls almost every day to prepare a white sari and book a place at Aryaghat. But she never lost her cool,” the chief said in a hour-long speech.
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