GOVT. A CARETAKER WITHOUT LEGITIMACY SAYS MOHAN BAIDYA Kathmandu, 28 May: Vice Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Mohan Baidya has said the incumbent government has been reduced to the status of a caretaker one as it has automatically lost its constitutional legitimacy following the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, RSS reports. The Maoist leader, through a statement, also termed the prime minister's announcement in his address to the nation on the midnight on May 27 to hold fresh election to the Constituent Assembly on November 22 as unconstitutional. He said the announcement of holding an election to the CA again was conspiratorial. "This decision has seriously hurt the patriotic and pro-change people, and this announcement has automatically been rendered unconstitutional as it has been made without taking the political parties into confidence and a constitutional provision for the same also not being in place," Baidya said. We strongly protest this step of the government, he said and demanded that the present government step down forthwith in the present circumstances. Baidya has also requested all the political parties to take immediate initiatives for finding a political way out including the election of the CA and to manage works related to the policy decisions on the same. nnnn CLOSURE OF FAR-WEST LIFTED Kathmandu, 28 May: Activists in the far-West Monday called off a 33-day closure demanding a Greater Far-West region incorporating nine districts. Markets in Dhangadi and other urban centers opened for business providing relief to people. nnnn GOVT. AWARDS LAND IN LALITPUR AS BURIAL SITE FOR CHRISTIANS Kathmandu, 27 May: The agitating Christian community struck a six-point agreement with the government on Saturday. The deal that includes formation of a Christian Commission was reached during talks at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction between representatives of the Christian community and the government, The Kathmandu Post reports. According to the pact, the government will take necessary steps to declare public holidays on Christian festivals other than Christmas as well. Christian leader CB Gahatraj said the government is likely to declare holidays on festivals such as Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The government will also take the responsibility of forming a body to manage and unify all the churches and their properties. “This will help bring the scattered Christian community under one umbrella,” said Gahatraj. Apart from this deal, the government will also form a task force comprised of Christian leaders to sort out issues related to the burial ground crisis in the Valley. According to Gahatraj, it has been agreed to form a task force to implement our proposal to hand over the 2,000 ropanis of land in Gotikhel of Lalitpur for burial purpose. “Everything on handing over the land has been managed. Even the locals, District Forest Office and District Administration Office, Lalitpur have agreed to give us the land,” said Gahatraj, adding that the only work remaining was the official process. Other agreements include expansion of job opportunities for Christian people by allocating specific reservation quotas and allotting a certain share of national budget to the community. “We consider this agreement as historic for the Christian community that has been struggling for a long time,” said Gahatraj. “We are hopeful that the state will implement all the agreements reached so far.” nnnn