Supreme court final decision Tuesday

Kathmandu, 13 April: A two-man bench of the supreme court Tuesday will give its verdict on a writ petition filed at the apex court challenging the decision of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav saying he acted unconstitutionally to retain Army Chief Gen. Rukmangud Katawal sacked by a Maoist-led Prachanda government.
The president acted more than 11 months..
Advocate Sri Krishna Subedi challenged the presidential action.
calling it unconstitutional.
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Maoists pledge to bring down govt.

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 13 April: Concluding government has failed, Maoist standing committee Monday decided to intensify protests while holding talks with other parties to form a government of national unity under it.
Maoists have decided intensify street and parliamentary protests and even hold discussions with other parties as the incumbent government was a barrier to peace and the constitution drafting process.
But response from other parties to Maoist attempts to bring down the government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal hasn’t borne results.
Maoists have even threatened to topple the Nepal government through no-confidence vote.
A strong section in the UML of PM Nepal is demanding the government chief’s resignation to form a successor government with Maoists.
The party concluded an atmosphere favourable for it has been created.
Protest programme will be finalized Wednesday by the politburo.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesman and Communication Minister Shanlhrel Pokhrel said Monday government won’t change as it still has the support of 22 parties.
The government will change naturally when such support is withdrawn.
|”There’s no possibility of the prime minister resigning without the democratization of Maoists.
“It’s the feeling of UML, Nepali Congress and the prime minister, it won’t be proper for the prime minister to resign through encirclement and without understanding,” Pokhrel said
Political parties aren’t ready to discuss major differences, he said.
Nepal won’t resign under pressure and a promulgation of a constitution by 28 May is unlikely, he added.
Pokhrel said additional crisis won’t be created by resigning.
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UNMIN’s mandate won’t be extended: Gachedhar

Kathmandu, 13 April: Deputy Prime Minister and MJFL Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachadhar said UMNIN’s mandate that ends 15 May won’t be extended.
He charged it wasn’t impartial and had failed to complete its mandate evening three years..
Gachedhar said this in Rajbiraj Monday.
The government has come under heavy international especially from western countries to extend the mandate.
The Gachedhar charge comes amid continuing criticism of UNMIN by government ministers.
Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari even said UMNIN was a Maoist ;’tail’.
Following the charges, it’ll be difficult for UMNMIN to work in Nepal event
if the mandate in extended.
UN in Nepal is a front for western donors.
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UML student injured; other details

Kathmandu, 13 April: UNL student activist Samik Badal was severely injured in an attack by a rival group Monday at Tri Chandra Baral.
He was attacked by a group of Nepali Congress student activists.
Badal’s three fingers were chopped off and suffered facial bruises.
At least 15 persons were injured in clashes at Rukum, Rasuwa and
Nuwakot Tuesday in clashes between UML. YCL and Nepali Congress activists.
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MRP discussion at supreme court Tuesday.

Kathmandu, 13 April: Hearings begin Tuesday at the supreme court on an interim order it issued to the government not to execute a cabinet decision to award a contract to an Indian government security printing press to issue machine readable passports (MRPs).
Discussion couldn’t begin Monday as scheduled.
The interim order was issued by the apex court 7 April.
Two advocated had registered a writ at the apex court challenging the legality of a cabinet decision that was withdrawn by government under heavy protest and objections.
Government rescinded its earlier decision to award the contract to India under heavy pressure.
‘It [decision to award the contract to India] was a bilateral and governmentpt0-government deal signed in good faith. The sudden cabinet decision has put the credibility of my office and officials at stake. What will happen to their morale,” The Kathmandu Post quoted Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala ass saying angrily
She even accused Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal of ‘flip-flopping’.
The Kantipur Monday published a letter of Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood to Koirala 4 December lobbying for the passport printing deal.
Sood in the letter argued India, which has an open border with Nepal, should get the deal for ‘security reasons’.
India hasn’t reacted yet to the setback even as New Delhi was informed of the rescinded government decision.
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Fires continue to rage

Kathmandu, 13 April: Man Bahadur Tamang’s child and his nephew were killed Monday morning in a fire Baneshwor-7 VDC in Shankhuwasabha in the east.
Nobody was at home when the fire started.
Fires continue to rage nation-wide in the peak summer season.
One thousand hectares of forest cover was destroyed in a fire at Parbat.
A fire at a packaging factory at Mangalpurt-4 Mohanpura in Chitwan Monday destroyed assets worth Rs 50 million.
An electric short circuit started the fire.
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Cautious Hillary Clinton new year greeting

Kathmandu, 13 April: In a cautious new year 2067 greeting to Nepal, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for la promulgation of a constitution to consolidate democracy.
The new year begins Wednesday.
“As Nepal’s friend and partner, the US hopes that the coming year will see continued consolidation of democracy, including promulgation of the new constitution that will keep Nepal on the path of progress and prosperity.
“We look forward to strengthening the partnership between our governments and friendship between out people,” she said in a message.
Clinton called for the constitution’s promulgation amid fears it won;t be promulgated by the 28 May deadline.
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Soldier killed in Haiti

Kathmandu, 13 April A peacekeeper of the Nepal Army was killed Saturday in Haiti when his gun went off.
Lance Corporal Rewat Bahadur Darai on Nawalparasi was killed when he was returning to base after a routine patrol.
A court of inquiry has been instituted.
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YCL chief arrested

Kathmandu, 13 April: Maoist politburo member and YCL In-charge Kul Prasad KC KC was arrested during checking Monday night with weapons confirmed by UN.
He was arrested with his bodyguard at 10.30 at night in Chabahil.
They are being held at a police station in Hanuman dhoka.
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UML heading towards split?

Kathmandu, 13 April: Five years after ML and UML merged, UML is again heading for another split, Tarun reports.
Former ML activists are forming another party charging Bamdeb Gautam, Ashok Rai and Sahana Pradhan are being cornered.
A UML standing committee member said they are quitting the party saying assurances by Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal and KP Sharma Oli’s assurances after the Butwal convention to nominate them to the standing committee weren’t implemented.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Parties of Madesh are hatching conspiracies to again destroy Madesh.. They aligned with pahadi rulers in the past to finish Madesh.”

(Commerce Minister Rajendra Mahato, Annapurna Post, 13 April)