MAOISTS NO IMMEDIATELYSENDING MORE REPS. TO GOVT.

PRACHANDA TELLS PM MAOISTS NOT JOINING GOVT. (UPDATE)

Kathmandu, 10 April: Demanding the home ministry portfolio, Maoist Chairman in a Prachanda in a one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal told
him Sunday morning Maoists won’t send additional members to the government—a move that means Khanal’s attempt to expand government formed 3 February
by UML won’t be expanded with Maoist representatives.
A Maoist standing committee Saturday to select remaining members of its
government was inconclusive as members demanded the home portfolio and authorized he Maoist strongman to hold a dialogue with Khanal whose are tied by his own party decision to award the security-related ministry to Maoists immediately.
Khanal, who is handling the ministry, had agreed to award it to Maoists in a secret 7-point agreement opposed by the UML standing committee which pressed for amendments in it.
Maoists and UML have so far only sent four representatives each to the government.
But the two communist parties in government formed an eight-member task force to draw up a code of conduct, a common minimum programme and processes to run the government within two days.
The team of four members each from the two parties is led by Maoist
Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance
Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari from UML.
Two parties agreed to discuss with other parties on the presentation of a budget which Maoists said UML decided to present 3 May.
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PETROL PUMPS NATION-WIDE SHUT DOWN

Kathmandu, 10 April: Petrol pumps were shut down nation-wide Sunday demanding security after a worker was shot dead at Ramnagar in Chitwan Thursday.
Petrol owners charged government of laxity in tracking down killers and
compensation for the family of the victim.
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BISKET JATRA BEGINS IN BHAKTAPUR

Kathmandu, 10 April: The eight-day Bisket jatra began in Bhaktapur
Sunday with the installation of the idols of Lord Bhairab in trantrik ritual on
two chariots Sunday.
Devotees clash traditionally when the chariots are pulled through the town famousfor the Nyatapola temple.
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PRESSURE ON TERAI COMMUNITIES TO REGISTER HINDI AS MOTHER TONGUE IN CENSUS

Kathmandu, 10 April: Various Madesh-based political parties have issued a
circular to the people living in the Tarai to register Hindi as their mother tongue
during the ongoing national census, Republica reports from Lahan.
The circular has not only left various ethnic communities speaking Maithali,
Bhojpuri, Awadi and Tharu languages worried about the survival of their mother
tongues but also prompted leaders of these communities to take initiative for safeguarding their mother tongues.
Shyam Sundar Yadav, secretary of Maithali Sahitya Parisshad Siraha said they
have started a campaign from Saptari to save the mother tongue.
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