PM BHATTARAI MEETING CHINESE AMBASSADOR

PM MEETING CHINESE AMBASSADOR

Kathmandu, 8 Sept.: Prime Minister Dr.Baburam Bhattarai is holding consultations with Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan Thursday.
Bhattarai was invited to pay an official visit at the earliest during his first official meeting with Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad Wednesday.
The premier is also holding consultations with representatives of civil society Wednesday.
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PRACHANDA SUB-COMMITTEE MEET RESCHEDULED

Kathmandu, 8 Sept.: A meeting of the sub-committee to resolve differences on themes for inclusion in a constitution will now meet only Friday morning, an announcement said.
Thursday’s meeting was rescheduled because of the busy schedule of opposition parties NC and UML that are attempting to draw up a common programme
The sub-committee with representatives of major parties is headed by Maoist Chairman Prachanda.
The Prachanda sub-committee couldn’t hold discussions Wednesday as well because of the buy schedule of party leaders.
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BUDGET TO BE APPROVED 18 SEPT.

Kathmandu, 8 Sept. The national budget of 2011/12 will be approved by parliament 18 September.
Parties in parliament agreed at a meet Wednesday sponsored by Speaker Subash Nemwang to a schedule to discuss ad approve the budget.
The new government decided to adopt a budget presented by the outgoing government of Jhalanath Khanal even as the Baburam Bhattarai administration wanted to amend the Khanal budget incorporating its priorities.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The government is in limbo as the ruling parties have not taken concrete steps other than handing over the keys of arms containers.”

(Communication Minister Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta and Chairman of MJFN (Ganatantrik), The Kathmandu Post, 8 Sept.)
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“Ride a tanga if you want to be popular. Will people get relief just talking superficially?”

(UML leader and former communications minister Shanker Pokhrel, Kantipur, 8 Sept.)
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MINISTER GUPTA ASKS MAOISTS TO IMPLEMENT PEACE COMMITMENT





Kathmandu, 8 Sept : Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta Wednesday said that UCPN-Maoist should implement its commitment to implement the peace process within a 45-day timeline, The Rising Nepal reports.
"It is not just the responsibility of one faction, but the Maoist party as a whole should stand to live up to its commitment," Minister Gupta said, interacting with a team of Reporters Club at his chamber.
He admitted that the internal rift within the Maoists slowed down the peace process.
"This has raised doubts over the completion of the peace process within one-and-a-half month that the Maoists committed prior to the formation of this government," he said.
Minister Gupta termed the handover of the keys of arms containers to the Special Committee as a symbolic move and said that more remained to be done.
He also expressed his dissatisfaction over the failure of the government for not bringing the relief package to the people.
"Relief to the people has become a sugar-coated slogan but it could not be given to the public as the cabinet failed to sit. In fact, the first meeting of the cabinet should have announced the relief to the people," he emphasized.
Gupta said that the government had to table the Inclusive Bill at the parliament within

15 days by revising it and recommend the names for the diplomatic and constitutional appointments as per the four-point agreement.
He also admitted that not giving a complete shape to the cabinet even after 10 days of its formation was the weakness of the government.
Gupta said that the government should work to forge consensus on the modality, number, standard, post adjustment and rehabilitation package for the combatants.
Minister Gupta stressed on devising the special law to curb criminal activities aimed at the media persons.
He expressed his concerns over the growing attacks on the journalists in the guise of political protection.
"The government is committed to creating congenial atmosphere for journalists so that they would work without fear and obstructions," he added.
He pledged to work with the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and instructed the ministry to provide Rs. 10 million to the FNJ to build its building.
On the occasion, he also made commitment not to appoint new chiefs in the public enterprises by removing the incumbent ones.
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CIAA DISAPPROVES WASTEFUL PERSONALSECRETARIES OF MINISTERS





Kathmandu, 8 Sept.: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has decided to instruct the Chief Secretary and other secretaries of the government to immediately formulate and implement directives on the management of the personal secretaries of the ministers, The Rising Nepal reports.
The CIAA has also sought the formulation of code of conduct for the personal secretaries and its immediate implementation.
According to a press statement issued by the CIAA Wednesday, the commission took a decision to this effect on September 5 with the view to check the irregularities regarding appointment of the personal secretaries and their activities.
An investigation carried out following media reports and public complaints filed at the commission found that the personal secretaries were putting undue pressure on concerned corporations and committees for availing vehicles, equipments, manpower and fuel for the personal secretariat.
The personal secretaries pressured the corporations and committees to bear tea and snacks expenses for them and appoint staffers on temporary, contract and daily wage basis, said the CIAA statement.
Likewise, the personal secretaries were found issuing orders and misusing the letter pads of the minister’s personal secretariats for taking donation and arranging foreign trips.
Some ministers were found to be employing dozens of people in the name of as personal secretaries.
Departments, offices, corporations and committees under the concerned ministries are made to bear the burden of these unproductive and wasteful expenses, according to the CIAA statement.
"The CIAA is seriously concerned about these irregularities," the statement said.

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