TWO REINSTATED AIGs TO REPORT TO HOME MINISTRY

REINSTATED AIGs TO RPORT TO HOME MINISTRY
Kathmandu, 20 Feb. Without openings in Nepal Polices, reinstated
AIGs Madan Bahadur Khadka and Arjun Jung Shahi will report for work at the home ministry which oversees three police units.
The senior police officers were acquitted irregularity charges by a special court which convicted three IGPs—two retired and one serving—in a Rs.280 million Sudan scam
The court confirmed irregularities in purchase of logistics for Nepali Police peacekeepers serving with UN in Darfur, Sudan. endangering lives of peacekeepers in a difficult mission in the North African state.
nnnn
ADB OFFICIAL LEAVES; HOPES COMPLETION OF MELAMCHI
Kathmandu, 20 Feb.: Asian Development Bank(ADB) Vice-president Xiaoyu Zhao returned to Manila headquarters Sunday after three-day consultations.
The Bank is Nepal’s largest multilateral donor.
The top official supported constitution writing and economic reforms in meetings with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, ministers and
officials.
“ADB remains committed to providing necessary support to the government to ensure that the project [Malamchi water supply project] is completed despite long delays it has experiences,” “a statement said.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE
‘Ethnic king’s won’t survive in Nepal.”
(UML Leader KP Sharma Oli in Radio Nepal report, 20 Feb.)
nnnn

GOVT. IGNORES DEMOCRACY DAY
Kathmandu, 20 Feb.: In a surprise departure from time-honoured policy, the government on Sunday did not organise any official function to mark Democracy Day, raising the opposition parties' hackles, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The day has been marked by programmes attended by the head of state, government officials and various dignitaries every year.
The day marks the establishment of democracy in 1950 after the then Rana regime was overthrown.
PM's Political Advisor Devendra Poudel, however, said full-fledged democracy did not come on this day and that the 1950 struggle was only against the autocratic Rana rule. "The day has been remembered, as it was a public holiday," he said. He said "real democracy" was established only in 2008 after the monarchy was abolished. "As such, the government did not think it necessary to celebrate the occasion," he added.
Members of the Cabinet expressed displeasure on the matter.
"I am surprised that such an important day was not officially celebrated," said Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Dan Bahadur Chaudary. "I called up my secretary this morning to find out whether any card for the occasion had been sent. However, he said there was nothing," Chaudary said.
Minister for Law and Justice Brijesh Gupta said he was unaware of why the government failed to mark the day. "I have no idea as to why official events did not take place," he said. "There should have been a programme to celebrate the day".
Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hridayesh Tripathy also expressed ignorance on the matter.
Government officials said nothing was officially communicated to them. "Since there was no formal decision to hold a function, I believe it did not take place," Home Ministry spokesperson Shanker Koirala said.
However, the Cabinet had last Thursday decided to recommend to the president the release of 457 prisoners to mark the day. According to a press release issued by the Home Ministry on Sunday, the prisoners have been released.
Opposition parties have taken serious exception to the government's inaction. In a statement, the Nepali Congress said the government's decision to not celebrate the day clearly shows that it is "not committed to democracy and is authoritarian in nature".
"I am surprised and saddened to learn that PM Bhattarai failed to even remember the martyrs who scarified their lives for the sake of democracy," said NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula. "The government has made a mockery of the 70-year-long struggle for democracy. This also shows that the Maoist party does not believe in democracy."
CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal also slammed the government's "failure" to mark the day.
nnnn
MAHASHIVA RATRI BEING OBSERVED MONDAY

Kathmandu, 20 Feb. :
The one of biggest festival of the Hindus, Mahashivaratri, is being observed on Monday across the country paying homage to Lord Shiva. Of the four nights, Shivaratri is a night of fasting and prayer observed in the honour of Lord Shiva, The Rising Nepal reports.
On this auspicious day and night, the Shiva temples across the nation are filled with thousands of worshipers. The married women pray for the well being of their husbands and families and unmarried for getting ideally suitable husbands.
For the day, the famous Pashupati temple and its premises are well-decorated with light, and have given a fresh coat of paint. Several entrance gates have been made using electric light. The roads around the temple are filled with different people like holy men, beggars, Indian pilgrims, children and tourists.
The different kinds of sages and sadhus have already arrived to give a special look to the Mahashivaratri fair. Many sadhus are come from various parts of the country and abroad. The movement of sadhus and devotees has increased. There are several myths and legends are popular the significant about the Maha Shivatarti. It is also believed that Lord Shiva performed ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction on this auspicious night of Shivaratri.
According to another popular legend, described in Linga Purana, it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga for the first time. Since then, the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by the devotees of Shiva and they celebrate it as Maha Shivaratri - the grand night of Shiva.
Similarly, the movement of devotees increased at the Chittapol of Sanga of Bhaktapur where 143-feet tall Lord Shiva statue has been erected. The statue is regarded tallest Shiva statue in Nepal.
Outside the valley, the Shiva temples are crowded by devotees. A big fair is organized at Haleshi Mahadev of Khotang district, Risheshwor Mahadev of Dolakha and Arjundhara temple of Jhapa.
nnnn

NC URGES MAOISTS TO BE HONEST

Kathmandu, 20 Feb
Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala has urged the political parties to maintain unity to conclude peace and draft constitution, The Rising Nepal reports.
In a statement issued on the occasion of Democracy Day, Koirala said that national reconciliation was an essential and added that the parties should play creative role for peace and constitution.
He said that democracy and national unity are interlinked and added that the Democracy Day should help to unite the nation.
The NC chief said that the martyrs had made sacrifices to establish democratic norms and values in the nation and it is the duty of the people to mark Democracy Day to honor the martyrs and democratic fighters.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress has said that Democracy Day was a remarkable day for the Nepalese people and it will help to foster democratic cultures in the nation.
A press statement issued by Chief Secretary of NC Basanta Kumar Gautam on Sunday said that the government would mark the Democracy Day to honor the contributions made for democracy.
The NC statement said that the government’s decision was against the democratic system and was promoting anarchy in the country.
Meanwhile, NC general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula urged the Maoists to play honest and creative role to conclude peace and constitution drafting.
Speaking at a function in Jhapa, he said that the Maoists were creating obstruction in the peace process and delaying the constitution writing.
He said that if Maoists fail to work sincerely, the tasks of peace and constitution writing will not be finalized.
Sitaula said that the parties had to option to peace and democratic system.
He said that if Maoists fail to implement earlier peace deals, the new constitution would not be promulgated within 27 May.
Nnnn