Controversial Indian communist leader begins political consultations

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 March.: Controversial Indian communist politician and politburo member of CPI (Marxist) Sitaram Yechuri began high-level political consultations Monday by meeting ceremonial President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Monday amid fears a constitution to institutionalize a republic won’t be promulgated by the 28 May deadline.
A republic declared by a self-appointed and unelected parliament has to be sustainable as well as the country faces deep economic and political troubles created after a republic was declared a republic with by parties with foreign help and conspiracy.
Significantly, Yechuri began discussions by meeting the president instead of government and political leaders amid Maoist fears a presidential rule may be announced is a constitution isn;t declared before the deadline.
The president, against the spirit of the Janaandolan Three, intervened at the request of 18 political parties to retain Army Chief Gen. Rukmangud Katawal sacked by the nine-government Maoist-led government of Prachanda last year.
Yechuri is scheduled to meet other political party leaders as well.
He is controversial because of his meddling in Nepal’s internal politics after government and system change five years ago with Indian intervention when communists were in power in New Delhi.
Yechuri comes to Nepal when Indian communists are not in the federal government.
He arrived after widespread consultations with senior Indian government officials, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh possibly with a mission to narrow differences between parliamentary parties and Maoists who want to impose a communist state on Nepal.
Foreign mission failed when Maoists swept constituent assembly elections in 2008; they were expecting Maoists would be defeated by Nepali Congress and UML who would promulgate a multi-party democratic parliamentary system.
Twenty-four million Nepali people are the suffers of the foreign intervention; UN has already been invited by political parties to direct internal politics for the first time.
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Maoists shut down Surkhet

Kathmandu, 1 March: Maoists Monday shut down Surkhet in the far-West forcibly protesting the killings of a YCL cadre overnight; three others were injured as well.
They were killed and injured in clashes with activists of the Youth Force affiliated with the UML leading a 21-member coalition.
Maoists shave demanded compensation of the dead activist as a martyr.
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54th meeting of CA called

Kathmandu, 1 March.: The 54th meeting of the constituent assembly (CA) has been called Wednesday by Chairman Subash Nemwang.
The assembly meeting has been prorogued without an agenda.
The assembly will set a new schedule for the 10th time to draft a constitution by the 28 May deadline.
The constitution drafting committee meeting has also been adjourned without an agenda.
It hasn’t received suggestions from 10 on 11 subject committees to draft a basis slaw for submission to the CA.
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NMKP withdrawn support for govt.

Kathmandu, 1 March: Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party (NMKP) Sunday withdrew support for government.
The party’s central committee meeting withdrew the support.
The party charged government failed to control price rise, control corruption and properly manage waste on the streets.
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Holi observed in 21 terai districts

Kathmandu, 1 March: Holi is being observed Monday in 21 terai districts where a public holiday has been declared by the government.
Holi was observed in the Valley and hills Sunday.
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Prachanda imparts training

Kathmandu, 1 March: Maoist Chairman Prachanda Monday imparted
political training camp to PLA combatants in Chitwan.
This is the first time combatants are being imparted political training after nearly 40 percent of 4,000 plus disqualified combatants were officially discharged.
There was widespread dissatisfaction in the PLA with the discharge, Government, Maoists and UNMIN came under heavy fire from PLA.
Combatants from all seven divisions are participating.
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Seto Machindra chariot festival

Kathmandu, 1 March: Seto Machindra chariot festival will begin 23 March, an official announcement said.
Government has formed a committee to observe the festival.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Govt. announcing supplementary budget

Kathmandu, 1 March: Government is announcing a supplementary budget after over-spending in the current fiscal year, Annapurna Post reports.
Finance Minister Surendra Pandey has made it clear that money set aside in this year’s budget is inadequate can’t meet the expenditure target.
Government had set aside Rs 60.63 billion for the current expenditure.
Government need an additional Rs 8 billion after over-spending.
The budget is presented in the new year.
The additional expense will be met through revenue that has been collected beyond the target.
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Business resumes at Nepal Stock Exchange

Kathmandu, 1 March.: Trading resumed at Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse), the country’s only stock exchange Monday .
The price index gained three points.
Investors boycotted the exchange last week for five days demanding government intervention to stop a bearish trend.
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CHATTER

“On person in government has amassed so much money, that person [gender and name withheld] can’t count it because of time constraint; instead, it is weighed in sacks.”

(A former secretary to the minister)

MEDIA GOOGLE

“We are like lazy students who aren’t studying because examinations are being postpones. Nothing will happen in the next 90 days in such a situation.”

(TMLP leader Hridesh Tripathi, Gorkhapatra, 1 March)

“I don’t think the constitution making process can be completed in the next thee two to three months, although we will do everything possible to complete the process on time. But given the divergent positions of main political parties on a number of crucial constitutional issues, the constitution making is unlikely to be completed on time.”

(Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, The Kathmandu Post, 1 March)
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