CA changes schedule the 10th time

Kathmandu, 10 March: The 601-member constituent assembly (CA) unanimously Tuesday changed its schedule to promulgate a constitution to institutionalize a republic by 28 May for the 10th time.
The timetable was changed after a main constitution drafting committee failed to submit its draft by 5 March for approval and promulgation by CA.
The main drafting committee will now prepare a draft of a basic law in 30 days on the basis of recommendations of 11 subject committees.
The committee has received only two reports from the thematic committees
The CA has completed discussions of the subject committees but hasn’t approved them for dispatch to the drafting committee.
Major political parties differ on basic and fundamental issues as Maoists push a communist state.
The CA Tuesday fixed another 50 days to draft a constitution, publish it in Nepal Gazette, collect people’s suggestions after which the assembly will revise the main committee’s draft.
A constitution bill will then be discussed and approved for proclamation by the deadline which remains unchanged.
Only six of 15 procedures have been completed so far.
The main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya which has received only suggestions of two subject committees met Wednesday after the CA Tuesday amended the schedule.
The committee discussed a suggestion for the state structure.
Only 79 days remain to promulgate a constitution.
Chairman Subash Nemwang a mechanism of 25 political parties in the CA will be formed to help force consensus to draft a constitution.
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Minister of state for home Ansari resigning

Kathmandu, 10 March: Minister of State for Home Rijwan Ansari said Wednesday he’ll resign charging Home Minister Bhim Rawal for irresponsibility.
Ansari publicly demanded Rawal’s resignation.
“I wan given responsibility but there was no environment to work. I couldn’t contribute anything amid worsening law and order situation,” Ansari told Kantipur FM.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday summoned Ansari to Baluwatar and demanded his resignation.
Demands were made at the UML for the resignations of Rawal and Ansari following the deteriorating law and order situation and murders of two media tycoons.
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UN official arrives Wednesday

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10March: UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe arrives for a three-day visit Wednesday for discussions with government and party leaders as the peace process and promulgation of a constitution have hit snags.
Pascoe arrives after consultations in New Delhi with Indian officials amid charges from government UNMIN hasn’t been impartial after Nepal’s parties invited the world body to help the transition to a republic after toppling monarchy.
The transition has lasted more than three years as the law and order situation worsens amid political instability.
Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar went to the extend of saying government won’t extend the mandate of the UNMIN when it ends 15 May.
In a fresh dispute, UNMIN refused to the give the government the latest headcount of PLA combatants in 28 cantonments and satellite camps under its watch.
The UNMIN verified 19,000 plus combatants three years ago.
But government fears most of them have deserted following the discovery of desertions by 40 percent of 4,008 desertions by disqualified combatants even as they were under UNMIN observation.
UNMIN says the number of combatants remaining in the camps are confidential and can be discussed at a meeting of a committee with representatives of the government, Maoists and the UN.
The government disagrees.
Government earlier charged UNMIN hadn’t controlled criminal activities of the free movement outside the camps of armed combatants.
UNMIN responded by saying they were not UNMIN’s mandate.
Despite government dissatisfaction with UNMIN’s functioning, main opposition Maoists said the work body’s presence in Nepal is required until the peace process is completed.
Maoist leaders have charged India is pressurizing Nepal government to push UN out of Nepal.
Western donors, mainly EU member states, are financing the UN operation in Nepal.
UN itself pushed a campaign to come to Nepal after a sustained international campaign to malign Nepali institutions and even the Nepal Army.
Foreign involvement in Nepal’s politics is real.
Pascoe’s stopover in New Delhi for discussions in humiliating for Nepalis and proof of foreign involvement in Nepali politics.
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One killed, nine injured in Janakpur clash

Kathmandu, 10 March: One person was killed and nine others were injured in Janakpur Tuesday as two groups clashed,.
Mehabub Raija died at Janakpur airport while being flown to the capital for treatment.
The groups clashed at a meeting of a school management committee.
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Girija serious; plans to fly him abroad.

Kathmandu, 10 March: Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala is on oxygen continuously, Kantipur reports.
Family sources said discussions were being held to fly him to New Delhi or elsewhere.
Girija, 86, is weak and suffering chronic obstructive pulmonary edema.
Plans are being made to fly Koirala to New Delhi for treatment at Apollo Hospital, Krishna Pasad Shitaula told Rajdhani.
The newspaper reported a team of doctors checked Koirala Tuesday and plans are afoot to fly him to Delhi Wednesday.
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Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar, Katawal in New Delhi

Kathmandu, 10 March: Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar arrived in New Delhi Tuesday, Kantipur reports from the Indian capital.
He will hold discussions with some leaders until Saturday.
Former Army Chief Gen.Rukmangud Katawal also arrived Sunday and left Monday to attend the Khumba mela.
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Kali Baba’s manayagya ends Wednesday

Kathmandu, 10 March: Kali Baba’s nine-day mahayagya for a Hindu state ends Wednesday.
Thousands of devotees attended the yagya.
Former King Gyanendra also attended.
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