Maoists will resume disruption of parliament

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: Maoists will resume disruption of parliament Monday when it meets.
Maoists didn’t disrupt proceedings Sunday for the first time in five months to allow passage of a motion condoling the death of former Nepali Congress Law Minister Tek Bahadur Chokhyal Friday.
Maoists are demanding discussing a censure motion in the legislature condemning ceremonial President Dr Ram Baran Yadav for ‘unconstitutionally’ retaining sacked Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Ruling parties argue a ceremonial president can do no wrong.
The ceremonial president acted at the request of 18 political parties against th spirit of the third popular president that installed a power prime minister.
Maoists charge ruling parties are attempting to create a parallel power center around the head of state after they lost the 10 April 2008 constitutional assembly elections to Maoists that emerged as the biggest political party.
Maoists have given government until Friday to meet demands threatening to launch another round of protests to replace the government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal if demands aren’t met.
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PM Nepal attending office from Monday

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will attend office Monday.
He was recuperating from viral fever at his official Baluwatar residence for six days and even cancelled a scheduled visit of Italy to attend a FAO conference in Rome.
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Matrika Yadav Maoists call

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: A strike called by the Matrika Prasad Yadav’s Maoist faction has disrupted normal life in the terai Monday.
Six vehicles were damaged in arson attacks in Sunsari.
The strike has affected mainly districts in the east and central terai.
Nine Yadav activists pushing the strike were arrested in Biratnagar Monday.
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Home Minister Rawal’s India visit suddenly cancelled

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: Home Minister Bhim Rawal’s India visit that was scheduled to begin Tuesday has been suddenly cancelled, Rajdhani reports.
He was scheduled to visit India for three days with top security officials.
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PM Nepal, Nemwang discussions

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal held discussions with Chairman Subash Nemwang for nearly 45 minutes Monday.
They discussed prolonged obstruction of house proceedings by Maoists.
Three biggest ruling parties, Nepali Congress and LMJF leaders are also holding discussions at Baluwatar to find an outlet to the political deadlock. nnnn

India suggests wire fencing open Nepal-India border

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: India’s Seema Surakshya Bal (SSB) has proposed fencing the open 1,800 km Nepal-India border to the central government, Kantipur reports.
SSB has been deployed nine battalions every seven to 12 km along the border.
According to a senior Indian political source, the central government in May 2009 has proposed sealing the border and erecting security towers around sensitive areas.
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Former king visiting India

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: Former King Gyanendra and Queen Komal
are flying for New Delhi 6 December, Jana Bhawana reports.
During their two-day stay in the Indian capital, the former king is meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress I President Sonia Gandhi and some diplomats.
They then fly for Bhubaneshwor, Orissa, for the marriage of a relative.
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Severe petrol shortage

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: There’s a severe shortage of petrol in the Valley where it is being distributed through government pumps only.
For several days motorcyclists have been queuing up for hours at petrol pumps for oil.
The situation is expected to ease from Tuesday, officials said.
Petrol is being loaded in tankers across the border in Raxaul Monday after Nepali officials on strike since resumed work Sunday.
Officials in Bara and Parsa were protesting the excess of a woman minister from the terai.
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Dress code at president’s office

Kathmandu, 16 Nov: The President’s Office has made dress code mandatory for all its staff and security personnel, The Kathmandu Post reports.
“As desired by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, black Bhadgaule cap has become compulsory for all staff at the office on any occasion If there is any function or ceremony at the office, all staff should be dressed in daura-surwal and black Bhadagaule cap. For regular office wear, grey suit and blue shirt has been prescribed,” said Baman Prasad Neupane, Secretary at the President’s Office.
The government has provided a separate fund of Rs 14,000 a year to those who work at the President’s and Vice-President’s Office, No other government employee gets such an allowance.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Why shouldn’t they [officials] be beaten? They’ve been deputed in Birgung by the minister to earn money.”

(Matrika Prasad Yadav, Rajdhani, 16 Nov.)

“This government has failed. A new national government should be formed to draft a new constitution.

(MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav, Annapurna Post, 16 Nov.)

“The government has compulsion to approve the budget on time. But the ongoing political deadlock has forced the government to seek other alternatives to get the budget endorsed.”

(Government Spokesman Shanker Pokhrel, The Rising Nepal, 16 Nov.)

“The kind of queuing up to go to our neighbour [India] for blessings or sympathy has scarred our foreign policy conduct.)

(Dr Bhek Bahadur Thapa, The Kathmandu Post, 16 Nov.)

‘We made him a ceremonial president; but he [Dr Ram Baran Yadav] has become an executive president.”

(Maoist leader Ishwor Dahal, Jana Bhawana, 16 Nov.)

“We demanded the government and the UN representatives to give land on lease for apple farming or 4,000 cows to the disqualified combatants as rehabilitation package.”

(Maoist politburo member Janardhan Sharma, Republica, 16 Nov.)
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