DONORS CONCERNED WITH KHANAL RESIGNATION

THREE DEAD, 12 INJURED IN ILAM JEEP ACCIDENT

Kathmandu, 31 March: Three persons were killed and a dozen
passengers were injured when a jeep hurled 100 meters off a road in Ilam Thursday.
The jeep was proceeding to district headquarter.
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BHUTANESE PM COMING

Kathmandu, 31 March: Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhoen
Jigme Y Thinley arrives 14 April.
Bhutan is current chairman of eight-nation SAARC regional organization.
Chairman traditionally visits member states during tenure.
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DONORS CONCERNED OVER FINANCE SECRETARY EPISODE;
RAISE MATTER WITH PM KHANAL

Kathmandu, 31 March: Donors have shown interest over the sudden resignation by Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal, Nagarik reports.
Chief of British DFID, World Bank, ADB and Dutch Development Agency Wednesday sent a letter to Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Wednesday and reminded him of Khanal’s commitment ‘to fight corruption and broaden the base for revenue collection’.
They asked the prime minister to show government’s commitment to the
fight against corruption.
Khanal revealed he had policy differences with government before resigning.
‘I resigned for personal reasons. I respect him
[the finance minister]. I want to live peacefully now.
“The greed that I saw in persons and society during 31 years of
service has really sapped by energy.
“I was in favour of a budget for capital formation. I had
Reservations over it [to bring distributive budget doling out
favours]. But government felt I wasn’t cooperative.
‘..I didn’t want to continue in office being an obstacle to government,” Khanal told Nagarik.
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PRESIDENT DRAGGED INTO CONTROVERSY

Kathmandu, 31 March: Ceremonial President Dr. Ram BaranYadav has been dragged into a controversy over his public comments and
regular meetings with leaders of political parties without
consulting the prime minister.
Most recently the president suggested promulgating a
constitution through consensus when a constitutional provision
stipulates differences on articles to be incorporated in a basic law will be settled by two-third majority in the legislature/parliament.
‘What will happen if some party shreds the constitution proved
by two-third majority?” the ceremonial president asked.
Criticism of the president, who earlier reinstated Army Chief Gen.Rukmangud Katawal sacked by Maoist Chief and Prime
Minister Prachanda, was swift.
Dr.Yadav acted at the request of 18 parties.
“If the president said what he reportedly said, it’s inappropriate. The custodian of the constitution, against constitutional provision, shouldn’t have delivered a political speech,” Maoist Vice-chairman Dr..
Baburam Bhattarai said.
“The constitution will be approved through a provision in the
constitution. He shouldn’t have what he said,’ UML
Vice-chairman Bamdeb Gautam said.
Prime Minister Jhalanatath Khanal, the executive prime minister, complained he comes to know of the president’s consultations with political party leaders through newspaper and television reports.
‘The president may be under an illusion that after the
constituent assembly it’s his turn.
“Unnecessary activism on his part won’t be acceptable to Congress,” lawmaker and central committee member Narahari Acharya warned.
“The president can’t act in anyway he desires. After the constituent assembly, not only the president, there are other agencies like the prime minister and government.
‘The president has attempted to show activism politically even while giving advice and suggestions.’ Acharya said.
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