GACHEDHAR LEAVING FOR INDIA

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER GACHEDHAR VISITING INDIA
LATER TUESDAY

Kathmandu, 17 Jan.: Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya
Kumar Gachedhar leaves for a six-day India visit later Tuesday following Saturday’s four-hour transit visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
Gachedhar is home minister and acting defence minister—the first
time the security-related ministries are under the command and control of a Madeshi
Wen visited Nepal amid speculation China wasn’t satisfied with
security arrangements for his first scheduled three-day visit that was
to have begun 20December.
Wen Saturday only drove to the Singha Durba from the airport for
talks with his Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and government.
From Singha Durbar Wen drove to Shital Niwas for a courtesy call on President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav amid tight security
China offered assistance to Nepal to upgrade the police during the short Wen drove to the airport from Shital Niwan to continue his flight to
three Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia
Wen didn’t visit the inner city.
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CABINET DISCUSSING ARMS PURCHASE

Kathmandu, 17 Jan.: Cabinet is meeting is underway to discuss
purchase Rs.1.7 billion arms and ammunition purchase for Nepal Police.
Thee purchase is being considered by the government led by Maoists which previously opposed supply of arms and ammunition to Nepal Army and police.
Maoists attempted to impose a communist regime in Nepal by fighting the Royal Nepal Army which wasn’t defeated by the insurgents.
India is Nepal’s biggest supplier of weapons and had starved the
army and police during the Maoist insurgency through an export ban
during the insurgency.
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