PLA CELEBRATE DASAIN FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Former Maoist combatants have celebrated the Dashain festival after an interval of almost a decade, RSS reports from Ratnagar.. They have said in the past that the party did not have a policy of celebrating Dashain, and disregarded it terming it an old culture, but were happy to celebrate this year, after one decade. In the past, the situation was different, but now they have been freed and it was quite enjoyable to celebrate the Dashain in an independent way, said one former combatant of Padampur, Chitwan, Ramchandra Mainali. “In the past too, I was not against culture, but did not celebrate as there was no environment,” he said, adding "This time I have called my mother from Kavre to celebrate Dashain in a pleasant way." Mainali who started celebrating Dashain by sacrificing a black he-goat brought by his mother from Kavre, received tika in the auspicious hour. He said although his wife had just delivered a baby, she was purified in five days to celebrate the Dashain. Mother Chandrika said she was happy this time after ten years when she had no chance to give tika to son and daughter in law. She also wished that there be peace all over and no one be engaged in war in the country. Another former combatant in Padampur of Chitwan, Rhishiram Marhattha also said he celebrated Dashain quite joyfully. Retired in April, he said as the past policy was unsuccessful as the culture cannot be discarded. A village in Padampur is inhabited mostly by former combatants. There are 80 households settling in fallow land. They celebrated Dashain by exchanging greetings as per the tradition. The combatants who chose integration also celebrated Dashain with fervor, as they told over telephone. nnnn FOREST MINISTER RAPPED BY MINISTER Kathmandi, 25 Oct.: Minister for Forest Yadubansha Jha has abused chief of the District Forest Office, Mahottari, Bidyanath Jha by threatening with shoes,RSS reports from Gaushala. The minister verbally abused Chief Jha at his office at Jaleswor Wednesday morning and threatened to beat him up with his shoes on the charge of not providing a vehicle to carry goats for his relatives. Minister Jha had reached there along with his sons and grandsons and the chief had welcomed him with garlands, but as soon as Minister Jha entered the office, he told chief Jha "You are a scoundrel and an unworthy fellow and deserve beating with shoes". However, office chief Jha said the vehicle was not used even in official purpose and was not made available to the minister either, as per the directive not to use government vehicle during Dashain holidays. According to chief Jha, son of the Minister's brother in law had asked for the office vehicle on Tuesday. Minister Jha had misbehaved with chief Jha as soon as he reached office at 11:00 am Wednesday when Jha was waiting to welcome the minister by opening the office even though it was a Dashain holiday. nnnn