PM BHATTARAI ADAMANT ON CONTINUING IN OFFICE

MINISTER GUPTA CONFIRMS HIS CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT IN
LETTER TO PRESIDENT

Kathmandu, 16 Feb.: Communication Minister Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta, who is also chairman of MJFN Republican Thursday met President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and submitted a letter to the head of state.

Gupta confirmed in the letter he said links between terai and the capital could be severed
if southern regional demands are ignored.
The statement created an immediate impact amid controversy with calls for his resignation.
In effect, Gupta has put the controversy on official record by writing to the president.
The president raised the comments in separate talks with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and top of the Big Three
Premier Bhattarai himself has come into controversy for saying the country will be ‘merged’ and ‘submerged’ by the rapid economic growth in neighbouring India and China.
The government attempted to clarify his first statement after controversy brewed.
Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandary, a Pahadi top leader of MJFL, was forced to resign for comments similar to Gupta.
Following the meeting, Gupta told reporters the Big Three had ignored regional demands.
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TWO NEPALI MUSLIMS ARRESTED WITH HUGE CACHE OF FAKE INDIAN CURRENCY NOTES

Kathmandu, 16 Feb.: Two Nepali Muslims from Rautahat were arrested Thursday in the capital with counterfeit IRs 1.46 million counterfeit currency notes.
They were picked up from Kuleshor in the capital’s outskirt and were identified as.
Mohamad Jafir Alan and Shek Mohamad Sanulla
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CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL MEET INCONCLUSIVE UPDATE
Kathmandu, 16 Feb.: A constitutional council (CC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai was inconclusive Thursday
No appointments could be made to fill vacancies in constitutional bodies.
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PM BHATTARAI ADAMANT ON CONTINUING

Kathmandu, 16 Feb.: Amid calls in and outside his party leading the government for more than five months, Prime Minister Baburan Bhattarai said three times in three days he won’t resign.
“I’ll not quit until the peace process and constitution drafting processes are completed. If I quit, the problem will be compounded,”
Bhatattarai reiterated in Syangja Wednesday.
‘There’s hardly any time. Work has to be completed soon by
maintaining understanding between parties. Time is running out.” he added amid claims he had delivered results in the short span of time unmatched by his predecessors
‘There are many attempting to score suicidal goals instead of trying to score through cooperation,” Bhattarai said referring to attempts to dislodge him.
“A striker can’t score singly no now matter how good’s he is. A goal can be scored through a cooperative pass only, Tendency has increased in Nepali politics to score suicidal goals “
But main NC chief Sushil Koirala said Wednesday Bhattarai can’t continue in office by delaying completing the peace process.
“A government of national understanding can’t be formed until
the peace process is completed. The party’s priority is peace and constitution and not the leadership of government.
“NC can’t wait if it’s the prime minister’s wish to continue in office by delaying the implementation of the peace process,” NC President Koirala said Wednesday.
‘The prime minister should resign if f the peace process can’t be concluded.
But the NC chief said his party won’t join government until the peace process is completed.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, on the other hand, called for Bhattarai’s immediate resignation and his replacement by a NC leader.
‘There’s no controversy now on the leadership of government.
It won’t be improper ff NC claims leadership. CPN Maoist and UML have already led the government two times,: UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal told Nagarik.
“I have nothing to say of his name is pushed after
resignation. But his continuation isn’t possible now without his resignation,” Khanal added and reminded. a 7-point agreement
between envisaged a national government.
‘Following the agreement, the prime minister doesn’t have the
moral right to continue in government. There’s no alternative to his resignation if national understanding is to be implemented,” the UML Chief said.
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