PM KHANAL SAYS HE WON'T RESIGN

PM KHANAL REITERATES HE WON’T RESIGN

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 May: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal said Monday he won’t resign without ‘completion of preparations for an alternative government” and recalled his predecessor Madhav Kumar Nepal continued for seven months as caretaker government chief even after resigning.
Khanal without naming five Madeshbadi parties, revealed ‘some parties’ demanding his resignation threatened they would’ declare making Birgunj capital’.
“After preparations for an alternative national government, I will resign,” he said.
“It was not possible to save peace process and constitution drafting’ without the extension of the assembly tenure and said the country would would have ‘headed toward anarchy..
“This five-point agreement is important and it has saved the assembly and created hope,”Khanal said..”
The premier said three months aren’t “adequate’ to meet responsibilities but added parties should ‘move ahead with unity; for achievement to goals.
‘The next three months will be a dangerous testing time for all parties and Nepalis,” Chairman Prachanda said and a ‘serious accident’ could result if extended mandate to complete the peace process and constitution drafting aren’t met.
The Maoist boss called the extension a ‘big exercise’.
‘This is an agreement is to maintain a status quo,” Deb Gurung, Maoist leader affiliated with PLA said.
He revealed there was no discussion on the five-point agreement in the party implying thereby Chairman Prachanda signed it unilaterally Sunday morning with NC and UML top leaders.
RPP-Nepal doubted the implementation of a five-point agreement.
as Chairman Kamal Thapa said there ‘was no need of protests’ against the extension of the assembly because ‘internal contradictions’ that will be hurdles in its implementation. .
The party will act will act as the main opposition in parliament and constituent assembly, he said, as other small parties opposed the assembly tenure extension but voted for it in parliament at the last moment..
Four lawmakers of the party won’t collect allowances fro the assembly/parliament, the party announced.
Nnnn

MAOIST MINISTER AGNI SAPKOTA ASKED TO FURNISH WRITTEN REPLY

Kathmandu, 30 May: A one-judge bench of the supreme court Monday directed Communication Maoist Communication Minister Maoist Agni Sapkota to furnish in writing in the next 15 days why he shouldn’t be recalled for rights violations during the 10-year people’s war.
Such a demand was made by some rights workers in a writ filed at the court.
The apex court asked defendants—the prime minister, home minister and communication minister—to present themselves at the court Sunday.
Kavre court is investigating a complaint at the district court his involvement for abduction and murder of Arjun Lama during the insurgency.
Nnnn

NC, UML CENTRAL COMMITTEES MEETING

Kathmandu, 30 May: Main opposition NC central committee meets Wednesday.
Concluding the peace process, national government, implementation of a five-point agreement that helped to extend the constituent assembly tenure by three months Sunday will be discussed.
UML central committee also meets Tuesday; the party is leading the communist majority government headed Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, who is also party chairman of the third largest party.
The committee will review the current political situation.
nnnn


TOLA RAM DUGAD CREMATED

Kathmandu, 30 May: Industrialist Tola Ram Dugad was cremated at Pashupatinath Aryaghat Monday
He died Sunday of a heart attack.
His only son Mul Chan lit the funeral pyre.
Dugad was also chairman of Sunrise Bank which remained closed Monday.
Nnnn

JIMMY CARTER WELCOMES ASSEMBLY TENURE EXTENSION

Kathmandu, 30 May: Former US President Jimmy Carter welcomed Sundy morning’s three-month constituent assembly extension in a statement Monday.
Carter heads the Carter Center which maintains an office in Nepal.
The Carter Center normally oversees elections but in Nepalit has been encouraging it as well
He hoped peace process and constitution would be completed in the next three months.
Nnnn