CABINET DISCUSSES BHANDARI STATEMENT, EXPORESSES COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL UNITY

CABINET GIVES TS POSITION ON BHANDARI STATEMENT

Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: The cabinet decided Thursday to raise compensation to those killed during the 10-year 10-year Maoist people’s war the Madesh movement.
The same amount will be paid to will receive minimum compensation to families of disappeared persons.
Government spokesman Narayan Kazi Shrestha, who is also deputy prime minister and foreign minister said this while giving details of the cabinet decision.
Amid mounting pressure from a section of UCPN (Maoist) and other parties, the cabinet also expressed its commitment to national unity, integrity and sovereignty, he added.
Maoists are leading the government with five Madeshbadi parties.
The faction led by First Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya Wednesday demanded an official government position on the controversial statement of Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari threatening cessation of 22 of 23 terai districts.
Cessation was threatened if criticism of a four-point agreement between UCPN (Maoist) and Madeshbadi parties continued.
Bhandari has already issued a conciliatory statement saying he was committed to the country’s independence and territorial integrity.

Bhandari’s MJFL also attempted to calm the atmosphere created by the statement.
It defended Bhandari saying his statement wasn’t ill-intentioned while criticizing the language and presentation.
The party also censured the minister when MJFL said ti was saddened by the statement.
Bhandari deposed at the cabinet meet.
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UML CHAIRMAN KHANAL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE DISMISSALL OF DEFECE MINISTER

Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, who is also a former prime minister, Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari for his controversial statement.
He expressed surprise at the official silence over the controversial statement.
Khanal returned after a four-day India visit.
UML chief, who was heavily criticized for bringing Maoists into his government through a seven-point agreement, doubted Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai will meet his commitments when he assumed office.
“We were hopeful. Events are showing the prime minister’s commitments won’t be met,’ Khanal said.
UML, through a statement of Acting Chairman Bamdeb Gautam, has already demanded the resignations of Bhandari and Maoist Land Reforms Minister Prabhu Sah.
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