PRACHANDA BEGINS INDIA VISIT 28 APRIL Kathmandu, 23 April: After completing a week-long China visit where he held discussions with new President Xi, Maoist Chief Prachanda embarks on a week-long visit of India 28 April for top level talks with Indian leader in India. The visit was finalized Monday Maoist boss announced he was visiting at a public programme in the far-West while party Spokesman Agni Sapkota announced the visit in the capital. Prachanda said he wants balanced relationship between the Himalayan state’s two biggest neighbours—China in the north and India in the south. He also said Nepal should be a bridge between the two Asian g9ants even though India and China have direct contacts. Details of the India haven’t been announced as yet. Prachanda visited India when he was prime minister for nine months. Nnnn GOVT. CHIEF ASSURES ARMY HELP FOR MODERNIZATION Kathmandu, Apr 22: Interim Election Council chairman Khil Raj Regmi Monday said that the government was committed to modernizing and strengthening of Nepalese Army (NA) with the available resources, The Rising Nepal reports.. Regmi and his cabinet members visited the NA Headquarters’ this afternoon and they were briefed by Chief of Army Staff Gen. Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana about NA’s overall infrastructure, functioning, and the mandate received from the government. "NA is the only permanent pillar of the nation to safeguard Nepal's sovereignty and national security," Regmi said. Praising the role of ongoing peacekeeping mission by NA troops in international war-ravaged countries, Regmi stressed on executing peace mission duty more effectively by abiding the international laws so that it would be able to spread the repute of NA all over the world. He also thanked CoAS Rana for introducing NA's future plan and efforts carried out to transform the NA as flexible, responsive and adaptive force of the nation. Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Gen. Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana while giving his presentation, asked for a long term planning and vision of the government about much talked restructuring, regrouping, redesigning and rebalancing of Nepalese Army (NA) to meet national security goals in the future. CoAS Rana and the heads of the directorates and division offices of the army officers jointly presented their NA’s introduction and working plan and procedures. "Well-equipped army can only meet the national goals and security demands in the time of need," said Chief Gen. Rana. Rana briefed cabinet ministers about role of NA, its responsibilities, present security situation and security management of the army. On the occasion, Finance Minister Shanker Koirala assured of releasing required budget as per the demand and necessity for the modernization of NA in the days ahead. Home Minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Cultural Minister Ram Kumar Shrestha, Chief Secretary Lila Mani Poudel, Defence Secretary Tilak Ram Sharma and other high level NA officers were present on the occasion. Nnnn MAOIST CHIEF BACKS LOKMAN SINGH KARKI FOR CIAA CHIEF Kathmandu, Apr 22: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Monday defended the recommendation of former chief secretary Lok Man Singh Karki as the chief of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). In his written reply to a writ petition lodged at the Supreme Court, Prachanda said that since his party was working with those who had ordered to cut off his head in the past, there was no reason that they could not work with Karki. Prachanda said this in a two-page reply-sheet presented at the Supreme Court through his advocate Mukunda Neupane. Advocate Om Prakash Aryal had filed a petition at the SC, demanding to annul the appointment Karki as the head of anti-graft constitutional body. The CIAA had implicated Karki in a corruption case. He was also accused of suppressing the Janaandolan –II. The UCPN-M chair said that it was known to all that his party had forged an alliance with those forces, which bade tender to bring the heads of his party’s leaders in a bag and take money in the same bag during the insurgency. He argued that the parties, which participated in the previous governments, had been enjoying state facilities without facing any action. Prachanda noted that the judicial council would take action against Karki if he was found guilty and demanded that the SC quash the writ, which he said, was based on doubts and presumptions. The SC has already issued a stay order, asking the concerned parties not to proceed with the works related to the appointment of Karki as the CIAA head. The SC hearing scheduled fot tomorrow [Tuesday] will decide case whether it will continue the hearing or issue a final verdict on it. nnnn UML WITH PEOPLE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AHEAD OF ASSEMBLY VOTE Kathmandu, 23 April:: CPN-UML Syangja has expedited its 'UML with people' campaign in Syangja villages with an objective of making its organization stronger and strengthening its election campaign, RSS reports from Syangjha.. The UML said it brought the door-to-door election campaign in all the 60 VDCs and two municipalities under the leadership of District Chairperson of the party, Padma Aryal, even before fixing of CA election date. All committees and sister wings are mobilized for making the campaign effective, said Aryal. The programme has been effective in the villages, said Chairman of the UML Syangja Constituency No. 2 Krishna Khand. It has encouraged leaders and cadres for winning the CA and local elections, he said. nnnn