GOVT. IN FIX BY FINANCE SECRETARY WALKOUT

FINANCE SECRETARY WALKOUT EMBARASSES GOVT.

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 March: Wednesday’s walkout from his office at
Bagh Durbar by Finance Secretary Ramshwor Khanal has come
as a serious political embarrassment for the government of
Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.
He hasn’t assembled a complete government after his election
with Maoist support 3 February; only MJFN of Upendra Yadav
is getting onboard Khanal’s ship demanding not three but four ministerial berths.
As Khanal waits to complete government formation, other major
parties have decided to stay in the opposition and an embarrassment has broken out for Khanal’s UML and Maoists in government.
Main opposition NC Wednesday demanded a statement on Khanal’s abrupt walkout from his office and threatened to obstruct parliamentary
proceedings until a statement from the government chief.
Khanal has been described as a clean bureaucrat while new
Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari has been charged for
colluding with business houses to force Khanal’s resignation.
Parliament’s public accounts committee Wednesday summoned
Adhikari Thursday.
The new finance minister Wednesday denied any differences with Khanal and asked Khanal to return to work.
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FURTHER DETAILS ON CONSTIUTION DRAFTING SUB-COMMITTEE (UPDATE)

Kathmandu, 30 March: Maoist Chairman Prachanda, who heads a sub-committee under a main constitution drafting committee, said Wednesday he
can’t continue as chief of the sub-committee whose tenure was
extended Wednesday by another 15 days by main committee
chairman Nilambar Acharya.
Acharya said the tenure was extended because of the good work
of the sub-committee which has to resolve at least 30 more
differences in articles to be incorporated in a constitution that
has to be promulgated by 28 May.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shestha’s name was proposed to replace Prachanda in the sub-committee by another Maoist
leader Deb Gurung.
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