PM RETURNS FROM DHULIKHEL Kathmandu, 3 June: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai returned to the capital from Dhulikhel Sunday when offices reopned after a weekend. The prime minister had gone there and was staying at a resort following his automatic dissolution of the constituent assembly after ordering fresh elections for the assembly 22 November. nnnn ADD FURTHER DETAILS OF MAOIST MEET WITH PARTY LEADERS Kathmandu, 3 June:: UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has discussed with leaders of different levels of party in a bid to resolve the widening intra-party rift, RSS reports. Dahal is learnt to have discussed with leaders to keep the party united and search for a common ground to move ahead. Dahal's aide Shiva Khakurel said party politburo members, district in-charges and central advisors were consulted at Dahal's residence, Lazimpat. Party politburo member Lokendra Bistamagar who was present at the consultation meeting said, "Party Chairman has held discussions honestly to keep the party united as party leadership is expected to take special efforts for unity." During the meeting, most of the leaders stressed that the dissident faction led by senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya has no option but to go ahead by being united by accepting the proposal floated by party chairman Dahal. Emphasising the need of party unity, the leaders said that the party should remain firm to institutionalise the achievements of 10-year People's War and People's Movement-II including republic, federalism, secularism, equality among others. During the meeting, discussions were held regarding disciplinary action to those leaders who breach the party discipline and norms by misinterpreting chairman Dahal's statement that he was ready to quit the post if the party remains undivided. Similarly, another politburo member Haribol Gajurel said that issues relating to the party unity were discussed accusing the Baidya faction of being effortful for a party split for post and power instead of ideological deviation in the party as they have claimed. He said, "Chairman is ready to put-in all sorts of strategies for party unity. People's expectations and country's needs is party unity, not party split. Initiative for party unity should be done on the same basis." Gajurel, a close lieutenant of party chairman Dahal, ruled out the possibility of party split as the party chairman was ready to address the genuine demands of the disgruntled faction and bring the Baidya faction for party unity. Similarly, a separate taskforce of party Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha and standing committee member Krishna Bahadur Mahara is also doing its best to find the bases for party unity that could settle the issues in win-win situation to both the factions--establishment and dissident. Meanwhile, the Baidya faction has asked the establishment faction to prepare a convincing basis for party unity. Baidya faction's remark was made public after party chairman Dahal opined that he was even ready to quit the post to keep the party united. Party standing committee member and leader of Baidya faction Netra Bikram Chand said party chairman should quit the post by accepting the failure of his line taken for peace and constitution. nnnn FURTHER DETAILS OF SATURDAY’S BAJHANG MASS MURDER Kathmandu, 3 June: : Preparation has been made to take the bodies of seven people who died in a gruesome murder between brothers of a same family over a household dispute on Saturday, to District Hospital in Bajhang, RSS reports from Bajhang.. The seven people had died when two brothers fought a deadly fight Saturday evening in the Dalit settlement in Syadi -9, a remote Bajhang VDC. Taking them to district headquarters was delayed as no vehicle was found, said Bajhang DSP Surya KC. Dispute turned deadly on land related debate between families of two brothers Gagan BK and Birjit BK, police said. Five people died on Birjit BK side and two of Gagan BK, police said. Those who died were wife of Birjit, Mrs. Jhankridevi BK, 35, his sons Rajendra BK, 8, Karan BK, 3, Keshav BK, 4, and two-year-old daughter Laxmi BK. In Gagan's side his three-year-old son Pawan BK and two-year-old daughter Pabitra BK died. Household weapons including knife, axe and khunda were used in the incident. Five infants under five years of age have been killed in the attack. The site of incident is one day's trek from district headquarters Chainpur adjoining Baitadi district. The whole village is terror stricken from the murder. Nnnn PRACHANDA REITERATES READY TO SACRIFICE FOR PARTY UNITY Kathmandu, 3 June: : Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reiterated that he was ready to sacrifice everything for the cause of party Unity, RSS reports. Chairman Dahal made this statement this morning after meeting with ailing leader Nanda Kishore Pun at Kathmandu Medical College, Jorpati, this morning. Party politburo member and former commander of People's Liberation Army (PLA) is being treated for problems in both of his kidneys. Dahal said he was ready to move ahead by taking party's disgruntled faction into confidence and take any step on his disposal, Chairman's aide Shiva Khakurel quoted Dahal as saying. Leader Pun has refused to go to India for further treatment though the government and the Maoist party were planning to this end. During the meeting, leader Pun urged party Chairman Dahal not to be worry about his health condition but to pay more attention for keeping party united. Nnnn TMLP CHIEF THAKUR SAYS ELECTION HAD TO BE HELD Kathmandu, 3 June: Chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Mahantha Thakur has said that as there was no alternative to elections, the government declared fresh elections as per the democratic process, RSS reports from Parsa. At a press meet organized by the Reporters' Club, Parsa, today, Thakur claimed that the government had taken the constitutional way by declaring fresh elections. He said that it was very sad to dissolve the Constituent Assembly (CA) at the last hour due to only one reason though consensus was forged among political parties on many issues of constitution writing. Thakur blamed that the CA was dissolved due to the stance and interests of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML at a time when consensus was forged among political parties on other disputed issues except for the state restructuring. He further said that the new constitution could not be promulgated as the NC and CPN-UML did not want to go for federalism. Thakur argued that the fresh elections were indispensable to promulgate the new constitution, and also clarified that the present government would not resign only because of street agitations. Various leaders including General Secretary of the party, Sarbendranath Shukla were also present on the occasion. nnnn GOLD, SILVR PRICES INCREASE Kathmandu, 3 June: Price of gold reached record high in the Nepali market on Sunday, RSS reports. According to Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association (NEGOSIDA) the price of hallmark gold reached Rs 56,800 per tola on Sunday. NEGOSIDA said that the price of gold in the international market increased by 70 U.S. dollars. Earlier, on May 4 the gold price was sold at Rs 56,000. Similarly, silver was traded at Rs 1055 on Sunday by increasing Rs 20 per tola than Saturday. Nnnn