PM CONSULTATIONS ON GOVT. EXPANSION

PM STARTS CONSULTATIONS ON GOVT. EXPANSION

Kathmandu, 5 April: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Tueday started consultations with his own party leaders IN UML and MJFN – a terai party that decided to join the UML-Maoist government, an aide of the government chief said.
The party standing committee empowered Khanal to select additional members of the UML team in government.
Khanal hasn’t expanded his small cabinet even two months after his election with Maoist support 3 February.
Maoists are demanding the home ministry portfolio being held by Khanal.
Maoists are meeting Tuesday to select remaining members of their government team.
The standing committee has authorized party headquarters to select the remaining members,
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CHIEF JUSTICE URGES PM TO APPOINT HIS SUCCESSOR

Kathmandu, 5 April: Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha has asked Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal through a letter to convene a meeting of the constitutional council to designate his successor.
The chief justice is being superannuated in May and is staying on leave for one month prior to retirement.
Before retirement, Shrestha has chaired several meetings of a bench reviving cases dismissed by a special court on technicalities against top politicians and bureaucrats.
Khil Raj Regmi is the senior most judge in the apex court after Shrestha.
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INAUGURATION OF INDIAN DISRICT SOLDIER BOARD (DSB) IN LAMJUNG POSTPONED

Kathmandu, 5 April: Monday’s inauguration of Indian Army’s district soldier board (DSB) at Besisahar in Lamjung in the mid-West was without giving a reason, Indian embassy said in an announcement posted in newspapers Tuesday.
‘The embassy hopes that the DSB Besisahar can be inaugurated in the near future so as to benefit the pensioners [of Indian army], especially the old and inform and the widows,” the notice said.
Altogether 2,500 retired Indian Gurkhas, and their families have been inconvenienced, the embassy said.
The embassy said Indian embassy has supported 33 drinking projects in the district and a rural electrification extension progamme.
The embassy has finances a multipurpose campus and gifted two ambulances ‘on requests of the ex-servicemen’s community’, the embassy added.
The interruption of the inauguration comes after black flag demonstrations against Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood while inspecting embassy projects in districts.
Police for the first time this month cracked down on Maoists demonstrating against Sood in Tikapur in the far-West.
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BAIDYA, SHRESTHA FILE CANDIDACIES FOR LEADERSHIP OF FNCCI

Kathmandu, 5 April: Suraj Baidya and Ajad Shrestha filed their nominations for president of FNCCI Monday.
Election is being held later this month.
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