Ram Chandra Paudel begins lobbying support

Kathmandu, 18 July: NC Vice-Chairman Sunday Ram Chandra Paudel began lobbying support for the election of prime minister on Wednesday in the 601-member parliament.
In a show of unity in the party, opposing candidates three-time Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and General Secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung supported Paudel’s candidacy.
Paudel Sunday first sought support of UML leader KP Oli who opposes the bid of party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal; Oli has big support in the politburo.
Paudel, who is leader of the parliamentary party as well, held lseparate meeting with Chairman Narayanman Bijukakchaya who said his party’s support will depend on Congress policy.
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Dozen injured in Kalaiya bombing

Kathmandu, 18 July: At least one dozen people were injured in an overnight bombing in Kalaiya, Bara.
Two are serious among the injured.
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Rising rivers cause havoc

Kathmandu, 18 July: Rising level of Sapta Kosi has started eroding banks threatening villages along the river as people prepare to evacuate settlements.
The rising level of Khiti river has threatened 110 houses ln Lahan.
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No ending MRP contract: MoFA
KATHMANDU, JUL 17 -
The contract for the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) project to France-based Oberthur company will stay, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

To ward off the controversy over the deal and complaints against Oberthur by two rival companies—Perum Peruri (Indonesia) and De La Rue (UK)—the ministry is all set to make things public on Sunday.

“Two companies have lodged complaints of fake documents against Oberthur. We started probing the matter through our diplomatic missions in Korea and France. We are also consulting experts on how to carry the deal forward,” Chief of Protocol, Mukti Nath Bhatta, told the Post.

MoFA is going to submit all dossiers of the MRP contract to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) on Sunday. MoFA officials said they hoped to get a clean chit from the PAC.

“If the probe determines that Oberthur submitted fake documents and sub-standard technical equipment, Perum Peruri will get the contract. But there will be no terminating the MRP tender,” another MoFA official said. “Moreover, we are not going to compromise with any security breach in passport copies,” the official said. India has expressed concern over the security features of the MRP copy. “Our concern is over the possibility of dilution of security features and not who gets the tender award. We have submitted a note to the MoFA,” an Indian embassy official said.
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