MAOISTS DECIDE TO JOIN GOVT. (BREAKING NEWS)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 Feb.: Maoists office bearers Tuesday morning decided to
join the government of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal immediately after propelling him to power 12 days in parliamentary elections.
The office bearers didn’t wait for an official position from the premier’s UML on a controversial seven-point secret agreement between the chairmen of the two communist parties.
The UCPN (Maoist) said last week it would decide whether to join the government or not after hearing from the party that’s leading the government.
Maoists were demanding the home ministry portfolio amid opposition from the ruling party and 14 other parties, including NC, security-related ministries shouldn’t be given to the country’s largest party.
Maoists, this time around, haven’t publicly asked for the defence ministry after Prime Minister Prachanda resigned 21 months ago following a showdown with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on the dismissal of Army Chief Gen. Rukmangud Katawal by the government chief after
dismissal.
The ceremonial president, at the request 18 political parties, retained the army chief even after dismissal by the Maoist-led government in a confrontation with the state army and an elected powerful prime minister.
The office bearers Tuesday also decided to conduct a dialogue with
Khanal.
The office bearers changed official party stance after the Maoist boss held discussions with his rival and Vce-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Monday night.
Maoists could join the government later Tuesday opening the doors for Khanal to finally expand his government.
A faction in the UML led by outgoing Prime Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli Monday night told the prime minister to amend the seven-point agreement opposed by the party standing committee and not to award the home ministry to Maoists.
NC Leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat told parliament Monday handing over control of the home ministry to Maoists would sent a bad signal and create uncertainty when the extreme communists last week seized 300 bighas of farmland of people in Baridiya.
Mahat also demanded a government whitepaper of assets lseized by the communists.
Meanwhile, NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel, who is visiting his constituency, said Tuesday a left polarization has
taken the country towards a state f uncertainty,
nnnn.


FIRST SPRING RAIN IN VALLEY

Kathmandu, 15 Feb.: The Valley recorded its first spring rainfall at four in the morning for nearly 30 minutes.
The light rain was accompanied by lightning.
Minimum temperature in the capital hovers at around seven degrees
Celsius.
City residents are slowly shedding off their winter clothes as the
mercury rises.
Flights to the western region were cancelled Tuesday afer heavy
snowfall in the hilly region.
nnnn