Inspector General of Police Upendra Kanta Aryal left for a six-day official visit to India on Sunday.
Acting Chief of the Department of Crime Investigation Surendra Bahadur Shah, AIGP at the Training Directorate Ganesh Rai and Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Subedi of the Special Bureau are accompanying Aryal on the India visit.
During the visit, IGP Aryal is scheduled to call on the Indian Home Secretary and other high ranking officials including Delhi Police Chief, Chief of the CBI and Patna and Lucknow Police Chiefs and the Head of the Border Security Force, according to Nepal Police spokesperson Ganesh KC.
Aryal is set to discuss the matters related to curbing of cross-border crimes, terrorism and bilateral security cooperation with the Indian police officials.
In absence of IGP Aryal, Acting Chief of the Department of Administration Rajendra Singh Bhandari will be the officiating IGP.
2 Nepalis living in and outside the country have collected Rs 10 million as blood money to save the life of Anish Khaling Rai, a Nepali migrant worker who faces a death sentence in the UAE. The money was collected under 'Save Khaling Campaign'.
A lower court in Abu Dhabi in the UAE has sentenced 23-year-old Rai to death for his involvement in the murder of a Pakistani national. Rai, a permanent resident of Matshyapokhari in Sankhuwasabha district, was handed death sentence on July 5, 2013.
He was arrested on October 25, 2012 after a Pakistani national with whom he had a fight in a restaurant died later. He had gone to the UAE to work as a domestic helper two years earlier.
The UAE court has demanded Rs 8.6 million as blood money to save Khaling.
A committee of the Campaign informed about the collection of the money amidst a press conference organised here in Kathmandu today.
Also on the occasion, Narad Rai, coordinator of the campaign, urged the government to take diplomatic initiatives to send the collected amount to the UAE Court. Likewise, the remaining amount from the collected blood money will be handed over to the family of Khaling, informed the committee.
National anthem writer Byakul Maila handed over the blood money, collected from various parts of the world under the initiation of the Campaign, to Khaling's wife Rabita and mother Dik Maya Rai.
Sankhuwasabha Society Hong Kong had collected Rs 1.81 million, Kirat Religion and Literature Development Association Hong Kong Rs 1, 29,000 for the campaign.
Likewise, Kuwait, Australia and Belgium based Nepali people handed over Rs 1 million, Rs 5, 22,000 and Rs 1, 42,000 to save Khaling's life respectively.
3
Indian pop singer Mika Singh has arrived here in Kathmandu on Sunday for a musical concert.
The Indian pop sensation is due to entertain his fans at a concert being organised at at Sano Gaucharan ground in the Capital. The concert was due to kick off at 5 this afternoon. Singh is accompained by two other singers to back him up during the concert.
The event is being organised by Moonlight Records.
Nepali singers Ram Krishna Dhakal, Ananda Karki and Aastha Rawat will also entertain the crowd with their popular numbers before Singh's performance.
Executive Chairman of the Moonlight Records, Chandra Prakash Sharma, said that they expected a crowd of around 15,000 and that three tier tickets—Rs.1000, Rs.2000 and Rs.3000 were sold in the market.
Singh, 37, is one of the most sought-after Bollywood singers, and has enjoyed greater success during the past four years in particular.
4
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala left for Myanmar on Sunday, leading a 15-member delegation to attend the Third Summit of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Talking to media persons briefly at TIA before his departure this afternoon, Koirala said his visit to Myanmar and Nepal's participation in the BIMSTEC Summit would be important and fruitful.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the PM is scheduled to have bilateral meeting and discussions with the Heads of State/Governments of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, ASEAN member Thailand and BIMSTEC countries and such meetings are expected to be an opportunity for Nepal for economic development and presenting its views on the issues of mutual benefits and common interests.
5 Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-Nepal), Kamal Thapa, has expressed doubts over the present government fulfilling the aspirations of the people.
Speaking to party workers here, the RPP-Nepal leader said the coalition formed with power at the centre would not give an outlet.
Wishing all the success to the government, Thapa said his party would play the role of a strong opposition.
He criticised the UCPN (Maoist) for its hunger for power, saying the party fielded its candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker for power.
The RPP-Nepal president further expressed his doubts that the people's aspirations would be fulfilled as the parties were 'forgetting the commitments they had made in the past'.
He also directed the party members and cadres to gear up for the party's general convention and expansion of the party organisation. The RPP-Nepal is holding its general convention in May.
6 Four people died and seven others went missing when a boat capsized in the Mahona River of Kailali district near the Indo-Nepal border on Saturday night.
The ill-fated boat turned turtle at around 7.30 last night.
The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Chaudhary of Lalbojhi VDC-1, Fulmati Loniya of Lalbojhi VDC-3 and seven-month old child Salina Ali and Lajawoti Lohani.
Lajawoti died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in India.
According to police, Nandakali Chaudharu, Pushpa Devi Kathariya, Kaliya Loniya, Gungi Loniya, Chuna Devi and an elderly, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, are among the missing. They all are residents of Lalbojhi-3.
It has been learnt that there were 22 on board the boat that was heading for Kailali from Beluwa, Tinkuniya of India, Uttar Pradesh.
According to police, the over crowded boat might have capsized due to rise in water level following the rainfall.
5 The Sherpa people living in the mountainous region are celebrating the Ghyalpo Lhosar (New Year) in different places of the country on Sunday.
Although it is not known from when this festival actually began to be celebrated, etymologically Lhosar in the Sherpa language means the New Year. This time the Sherpas are welcoming in the Horse New Year and bidding goodbye to the Snake Year.
The Sherpa community celebrates this festival for three days with special reverence. On the New Year Day, the Sherpas put up festoons on hill tops. On the first day, the Sherpas get up early, perform worships at home, visit the monasteries, take blessings from the Lama priests there. The first day is called the Lama Lhosar.
On the second day, family gatherings are held, relatives see each other and enjoy delicacies. The day is therefore called the Priwar Lhosar or the Family Lhosar. The third day of the festival is dedicated to the worship of the different deities as Bhairav, Mahakal etc, which are believed to guard the settlements in different directions. These deities are called the Dharmapals or the guardians of the religion, hence the day is known as the Dharmapal Lhosar.
Sherpas live in Solukhumbu, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sankhuwasabha, Mugu and other Himalayan districts. Their population is about 500 thousand. RSS
7 President Ram Baran Yadav has expressed his belief that the Ghyalpo Lhosar would help spread the feelings of tolerance, understanding and fraternity among all the Nepalis.
President Yadav expressed this belief in a message of best wishes given on the occasion of the Ghyalpo Lhosar or the New Year 2141 of the Sherpa people.
Wishing for happiness, peace and prosperity of all the Sherpa sisters and brothers within the country and outside, President Yadav stated in the message that may this festival provide us additional encouragement to protect and promote all the festivals, languages, costumes, religions, cultures and traditions found in the country.
Similarly, in his message on the occasion, Vice President Parmananda Jha said that formulation of a democratic constitution from the Constituent Assembly as per the aspirations of the people alone is the national need.
He wished that may this occasion inspire all to move ahead on the path of peace and prosperity uniting all the Nepalis.
Similarly, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has wished all the Sherpa sisters and brothers happiness, peace and prosperity on the occasion of the Ghyalpo Lhosar, the New Year Day of the Sherpa community.
In a message given on then occasion, PM Koirala stated that Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious features. He added that unity in diversity and national pride are our collective identity.
Likewise, Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has wished for happiness, courage, enthusiasm, peace and progress of the entire Sherpa community at home and abroad on the occasion of the Ghyalpo Lhosar New Year.
The importance of festival has further increased as Nepal is the common heritage of all the castes and communities, leader Dahal said in a message of best wishes today.
Similarly, a Spokesperson for CPN (ML) Kumar Belbase has wished that the Ghyalpo Lhosar, the greatest festival of the Sherpa community, may bring happiness, peace, progress and prosperity among the Sherpa sisters and brothers at home and abroad on this auspicious occasion.
Festivals being celebrated in Nepal by the people belonging to different castes and communities since history have their own importance and cultural values, he stated.
The Prime Minister wished that may the Ghyalpo Lhosar bring new enthusiasm, inspiration and fervor among the entire Sherpa community and help promote fraternity and cordiality among the Nepalis of other ethnicities. RSS
8
Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nembang has urged Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to appoint 26 lawmakers as per the constitutional requirement of the Cabinet.
In a recent meeting with PM Koirala, Nembang urged him to give priority to experts and members from communities that have not been elected under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional representation (PR) categories in the nominations.
The CA comprises 601 members—240 directly elected, 335 picked under the PR system and 26 nominated by the Cabinet.
“The Assembly should have got a complete shape before the election of the PM and CA officials,” Nembang told the Post. He said there is no reason for the delay in appointing the 26 members.
During the meeting, Koirala assured Nembang that the government would soon fill the vacant positions. The PM has started consultations with other parties about the appointments.
Nembang also urged Koirala to provide business to parliament. The House has been without business for some time as the CA is incomplete.
The PM is said to be in talks with top leaders of the CPN-UML, the UCPN (Maoist) and other parties about the appointments. “We have started consultations. Appointments are likely after the PM returns from Myanmar,” said Minister Narayan Khadka.
The 26 seats are meant for the people who have made significant contributions to national development and have expertise in constitution-writing.
4
The ninth general convention of CPN-UML, the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly, scheduled for May 17 is likely to be deferred by a few months.
Presenting a report on preparations for the convention, party’s organisation department chief Yuvaraj Gyawali on Saturday said holding the summit by mid-May as proposed by the Standing Committee will be impossible owing to the time limit even if the entire party rank and file is mobilised immediately.
“It takes at least two months to renew membership of party associates residing within and outside the country,” said Gyawali. “An additional 45 days is necessary to update membership and send them back to local committees.”
The Standing Committee, which set a new date for the convention last month, had already postponed the convention twice. Party insiders say senior leaders, particularly chairman contenders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Parliamentary Party leader KP Sharma Oli, have their own interests about the date.
Incumbent Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is said to have grown interest of late in renewing his term. However, he has not staked his claim to the post publicly.
Oli and his supporters are pressing the party leadership to hold the convention on the scheduled date while Nepal and Khanal want to push the date further in order to tighten their grip on the party.
After Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam and General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel shifted to the Oli camp, Nepal and Khanal have been weakened in the party.
Guatam and Pokharel, seen as a decisive force for Khanal’s election as the party chief in the 2009 Butwal Convention, joined the Oli faction recently. Nepal, who had remained neutral in the previous convention, got close to Khanal after the Oli-Gautam alliance was forged to defeat the party chairman in the PP leader race.
Even after the election, Oli is trying to bring Khanal into his fold to weaken Nepal further. In its bid to woo Khanal, the Oli faction has assured of fielding him as the party’s presidential candidate for an election possible next year.
Given the division at the top, conflicting views on the convention were aired at the ongoing Central Committee meeting. “The convention must be held on the proposed date as the five-year term of the elected leadership has already expired,” Pradeep Gyawali, a leader considered close to Oli, said at the meeting on Saturday.
Leaders loyal to Nepal and Khanal advocate deferring the date. They justify longer preparation time arguing that the political report, the party’s future course and ideology should be discussed extensively.
“We need more time for debates on the party’s ideology across the country and complete the remaining tasks,” said Surendra Pandey, a close aide to Khanal.
Acting Chief of the Department of Crime Investigation Surendra Bahadur Shah, AIGP at the Training Directorate Ganesh Rai and Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Subedi of the Special Bureau are accompanying Aryal on the India visit.
During the visit, IGP Aryal is scheduled to call on the Indian Home Secretary and other high ranking officials including Delhi Police Chief, Chief of the CBI and Patna and Lucknow Police Chiefs and the Head of the Border Security Force, according to Nepal Police spokesperson Ganesh KC.
Aryal is set to discuss the matters related to curbing of cross-border crimes, terrorism and bilateral security cooperation with the Indian police officials.
In absence of IGP Aryal, Acting Chief of the Department of Administration Rajendra Singh Bhandari will be the officiating IGP.
2 Nepalis living in and outside the country have collected Rs 10 million as blood money to save the life of Anish Khaling Rai, a Nepali migrant worker who faces a death sentence in the UAE. The money was collected under 'Save Khaling Campaign'.
A lower court in Abu Dhabi in the UAE has sentenced 23-year-old Rai to death for his involvement in the murder of a Pakistani national. Rai, a permanent resident of Matshyapokhari in Sankhuwasabha district, was handed death sentence on July 5, 2013.
He was arrested on October 25, 2012 after a Pakistani national with whom he had a fight in a restaurant died later. He had gone to the UAE to work as a domestic helper two years earlier.
The UAE court has demanded Rs 8.6 million as blood money to save Khaling.
A committee of the Campaign informed about the collection of the money amidst a press conference organised here in Kathmandu today.
Also on the occasion, Narad Rai, coordinator of the campaign, urged the government to take diplomatic initiatives to send the collected amount to the UAE Court. Likewise, the remaining amount from the collected blood money will be handed over to the family of Khaling, informed the committee.
National anthem writer Byakul Maila handed over the blood money, collected from various parts of the world under the initiation of the Campaign, to Khaling's wife Rabita and mother Dik Maya Rai.
Sankhuwasabha Society Hong Kong had collected Rs 1.81 million, Kirat Religion and Literature Development Association Hong Kong Rs 1, 29,000 for the campaign.
Likewise, Kuwait, Australia and Belgium based Nepali people handed over Rs 1 million, Rs 5, 22,000 and Rs 1, 42,000 to save Khaling's life respectively.
3
Indian pop singer Mika Singh has arrived here in Kathmandu on Sunday for a musical concert.
The Indian pop sensation is due to entertain his fans at a concert being organised at at Sano Gaucharan ground in the Capital. The concert was due to kick off at 5 this afternoon. Singh is accompained by two other singers to back him up during the concert.
The event is being organised by Moonlight Records.
Nepali singers Ram Krishna Dhakal, Ananda Karki and Aastha Rawat will also entertain the crowd with their popular numbers before Singh's performance.
Executive Chairman of the Moonlight Records, Chandra Prakash Sharma, said that they expected a crowd of around 15,000 and that three tier tickets—Rs.1000, Rs.2000 and Rs.3000 were sold in the market.
Singh, 37, is one of the most sought-after Bollywood singers, and has enjoyed greater success during the past four years in particular.
4
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala left for Myanmar on Sunday, leading a 15-member delegation to attend the Third Summit of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Talking to media persons briefly at TIA before his departure this afternoon, Koirala said his visit to Myanmar and Nepal's participation in the BIMSTEC Summit would be important and fruitful.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the PM is scheduled to have bilateral meeting and discussions with the Heads of State/Governments of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, ASEAN member Thailand and BIMSTEC countries and such meetings are expected to be an opportunity for Nepal for economic development and presenting its views on the issues of mutual benefits and common interests.
5 Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-Nepal), Kamal Thapa, has expressed doubts over the present government fulfilling the aspirations of the people.
Speaking to party workers here, the RPP-Nepal leader said the coalition formed with power at the centre would not give an outlet.
Wishing all the success to the government, Thapa said his party would play the role of a strong opposition.
He criticised the UCPN (Maoist) for its hunger for power, saying the party fielded its candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker for power.
The RPP-Nepal president further expressed his doubts that the people's aspirations would be fulfilled as the parties were 'forgetting the commitments they had made in the past'.
He also directed the party members and cadres to gear up for the party's general convention and expansion of the party organisation. The RPP-Nepal is holding its general convention in May.
6 Four people died and seven others went missing when a boat capsized in the Mahona River of Kailali district near the Indo-Nepal border on Saturday night.
The ill-fated boat turned turtle at around 7.30 last night.
The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Chaudhary of Lalbojhi VDC-1, Fulmati Loniya of Lalbojhi VDC-3 and seven-month old child Salina Ali and Lajawoti Lohani.
Lajawoti died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in India.
According to police, Nandakali Chaudharu, Pushpa Devi Kathariya, Kaliya Loniya, Gungi Loniya, Chuna Devi and an elderly, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, are among the missing. They all are residents of Lalbojhi-3.
It has been learnt that there were 22 on board the boat that was heading for Kailali from Beluwa, Tinkuniya of India, Uttar Pradesh.
According to police, the over crowded boat might have capsized due to rise in water level following the rainfall.
5 The Sherpa people living in the mountainous region are celebrating the Ghyalpo Lhosar (New Year) in different places of the country on Sunday.
Although it is not known from when this festival actually began to be celebrated, etymologically Lhosar in the Sherpa language means the New Year. This time the Sherpas are welcoming in the Horse New Year and bidding goodbye to the Snake Year.
The Sherpa community celebrates this festival for three days with special reverence. On the New Year Day, the Sherpas put up festoons on hill tops. On the first day, the Sherpas get up early, perform worships at home, visit the monasteries, take blessings from the Lama priests there. The first day is called the Lama Lhosar.
On the second day, family gatherings are held, relatives see each other and enjoy delicacies. The day is therefore called the Priwar Lhosar or the Family Lhosar. The third day of the festival is dedicated to the worship of the different deities as Bhairav, Mahakal etc, which are believed to guard the settlements in different directions. These deities are called the Dharmapals or the guardians of the religion, hence the day is known as the Dharmapal Lhosar.
Sherpas live in Solukhumbu, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sankhuwasabha, Mugu and other Himalayan districts. Their population is about 500 thousand. RSS
7 President Ram Baran Yadav has expressed his belief that the Ghyalpo Lhosar would help spread the feelings of tolerance, understanding and fraternity among all the Nepalis.
President Yadav expressed this belief in a message of best wishes given on the occasion of the Ghyalpo Lhosar or the New Year 2141 of the Sherpa people.
Wishing for happiness, peace and prosperity of all the Sherpa sisters and brothers within the country and outside, President Yadav stated in the message that may this festival provide us additional encouragement to protect and promote all the festivals, languages, costumes, religions, cultures and traditions found in the country.
Similarly, in his message on the occasion, Vice President Parmananda Jha said that formulation of a democratic constitution from the Constituent Assembly as per the aspirations of the people alone is the national need.
He wished that may this occasion inspire all to move ahead on the path of peace and prosperity uniting all the Nepalis.
Similarly, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has wished all the Sherpa sisters and brothers happiness, peace and prosperity on the occasion of the Ghyalpo Lhosar, the New Year Day of the Sherpa community.
In a message given on then occasion, PM Koirala stated that Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious features. He added that unity in diversity and national pride are our collective identity.
Likewise, Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has wished for happiness, courage, enthusiasm, peace and progress of the entire Sherpa community at home and abroad on the occasion of the Ghyalpo Lhosar New Year.
The importance of festival has further increased as Nepal is the common heritage of all the castes and communities, leader Dahal said in a message of best wishes today.
Similarly, a Spokesperson for CPN (ML) Kumar Belbase has wished that the Ghyalpo Lhosar, the greatest festival of the Sherpa community, may bring happiness, peace, progress and prosperity among the Sherpa sisters and brothers at home and abroad on this auspicious occasion.
Festivals being celebrated in Nepal by the people belonging to different castes and communities since history have their own importance and cultural values, he stated.
The Prime Minister wished that may the Ghyalpo Lhosar bring new enthusiasm, inspiration and fervor among the entire Sherpa community and help promote fraternity and cordiality among the Nepalis of other ethnicities. RSS
8
Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nembang has urged Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to appoint 26 lawmakers as per the constitutional requirement of the Cabinet.
In a recent meeting with PM Koirala, Nembang urged him to give priority to experts and members from communities that have not been elected under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional representation (PR) categories in the nominations.
The CA comprises 601 members—240 directly elected, 335 picked under the PR system and 26 nominated by the Cabinet.
“The Assembly should have got a complete shape before the election of the PM and CA officials,” Nembang told the Post. He said there is no reason for the delay in appointing the 26 members.
During the meeting, Koirala assured Nembang that the government would soon fill the vacant positions. The PM has started consultations with other parties about the appointments.
Nembang also urged Koirala to provide business to parliament. The House has been without business for some time as the CA is incomplete.
The PM is said to be in talks with top leaders of the CPN-UML, the UCPN (Maoist) and other parties about the appointments. “We have started consultations. Appointments are likely after the PM returns from Myanmar,” said Minister Narayan Khadka.
The 26 seats are meant for the people who have made significant contributions to national development and have expertise in constitution-writing.
4
The ninth general convention of CPN-UML, the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly, scheduled for May 17 is likely to be deferred by a few months.
Presenting a report on preparations for the convention, party’s organisation department chief Yuvaraj Gyawali on Saturday said holding the summit by mid-May as proposed by the Standing Committee will be impossible owing to the time limit even if the entire party rank and file is mobilised immediately.
“It takes at least two months to renew membership of party associates residing within and outside the country,” said Gyawali. “An additional 45 days is necessary to update membership and send them back to local committees.”
The Standing Committee, which set a new date for the convention last month, had already postponed the convention twice. Party insiders say senior leaders, particularly chairman contenders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Parliamentary Party leader KP Sharma Oli, have their own interests about the date.
Incumbent Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is said to have grown interest of late in renewing his term. However, he has not staked his claim to the post publicly.
Oli and his supporters are pressing the party leadership to hold the convention on the scheduled date while Nepal and Khanal want to push the date further in order to tighten their grip on the party.
After Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam and General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel shifted to the Oli camp, Nepal and Khanal have been weakened in the party.
Guatam and Pokharel, seen as a decisive force for Khanal’s election as the party chief in the 2009 Butwal Convention, joined the Oli faction recently. Nepal, who had remained neutral in the previous convention, got close to Khanal after the Oli-Gautam alliance was forged to defeat the party chairman in the PP leader race.
Even after the election, Oli is trying to bring Khanal into his fold to weaken Nepal further. In its bid to woo Khanal, the Oli faction has assured of fielding him as the party’s presidential candidate for an election possible next year.
Given the division at the top, conflicting views on the convention were aired at the ongoing Central Committee meeting. “The convention must be held on the proposed date as the five-year term of the elected leadership has already expired,” Pradeep Gyawali, a leader considered close to Oli, said at the meeting on Saturday.
Leaders loyal to Nepal and Khanal advocate deferring the date. They justify longer preparation time arguing that the political report, the party’s future course and ideology should be discussed extensively.
“We need more time for debates on the party’s ideology across the country and complete the remaining tasks,” said Surendra Pandey, a close aide to Khanal.