KATHMANDU: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi has said Nepal and China will continue to work more closely in the days to come.

Speaking at a program organized by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu on the occasion of International Women’s Day, she said collaboration between the two countries dates back to long. She pledged to work to continue with the cordial ties.

Stating that women have been making contributions for economic development, Ambassador Hou informed that the Chinese government provided training to a total of 260 Nepali women last year.

She further said that Nepal and China have been working in tandem for the uplift of women while commending the role of President Bidya Devi Bhandari in securing women’s welfare.

On the occasion, she also joined a troupe of Chinese artists dancing to the tune of Nepali music.

Likewise, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Thammaya Thapa noted that Nepal’s constitution has guaranteed at least 33 per cent seat for the representation of women in all its state bodies.

Minister Thapa maintained that the government has been making efforts to implement its commitment.

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli today lauded CK Raut, previously a secessionist leader, for joining mainstream politics while labeling him as a “charismatic thinker, and extra-ordinarily talented personality”.

“Let’s forget what happened yesterday, let’s all think about the future now,” PM Oli said after the government signed an 11-point agreement with Raut at the Rastriya Sabhagriha Friday afternoon.

PM Oli appreciated Raut for choosing peace and non-violence. In a witty note, PM Oli said, “I was actually worried that this extra-ordinarily talented CK Raut might deviate from the path of righteousness,” adding, “Now that he has chosen the right way.”

Prime Minister Oli said there can no room for violence anymore now. “History has proved that violence can be overcome through peaceful means,” he said while calling all Nepalis to move ahead on the path of prosperity and national unity.

KATHMANDU: CK Raut, who joined the mainstream politics by abandoning his secessionist movement on Friday, said Nepalis — being the children of Gautam Buddha — peace and non-violence have been in their bloods.

He labeled the 11-point signing ceremony with the government as a “win-win” situation for all. “The government and the people are the winners now,” he told a crowd at the Rastriya Sabhagriha amid applauds.

Raut, in his speech, remembered Gautam Buddha’s and Gandhi’s principles of non-violence saying, “I went to the jail more than two dozen times, my leg got fractured in police action, and I was tortured but I never retaliated,” he said while expressing his commitment to non-violent politics.

He also reminisced the situation when he and his cadres gave away flowers to the police, who baton-charged them in the course of the agitation. “I should not forget the fact that the police never fired a single round of bullet in our demonstration. I thank the police and the government for this,” Raut said.

He emphasized on ending all social anomalies prevailing in various parts of the country while cautioning all sections of the society to refrain from doing politics of violence and hatred. “It is high time that all Nepalis lived in harmony irrespective of their caste and ethnicity,” he said adding, “Let’s not give space to those elements who try to take advantage of the communal politics.”

KATHMANDU: In an unprecedented turn of events, CK Raut, a secessionist, on Friday announced that he gave up his secessionist movement, to join mainstream politics.

Raut’s movement ended with Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on behalf of the government and Raut himself signing an 11-point agreement on Friday afternoon at Rastriya Sabhagriha.

Raut has agreed to abandon his secessionist movement and abide by the national integrity.

A PhD from Cambridge University and a computer scientist, Raut had been demanding a separate and independent Madhesh through his organization named Alliance for Independent Madhesh, which he announced its dissolution today.

Raut, as sources claimed, held one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister KP Oli at the latter’s official residence, Baluwatar, this morning. Raut was released on Thursday after the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Highly-placed party source told Khabarhub that party senior leaders Bamdev Gautam and Narayan Kaji Shrestha have serious objection over the use of language in the 10-point agreement. “The language has been used in such a way that the agreement has been made between two countries rather than a Nepali with the government,” a source said.

According to party insiders, Home Minister Thapa and Prime Minister K P Oli’s chief advisor Bishnu Rimal were involved in holding talks with Raut.

Who is CK Raut? 

CK Raut (Chandra Kant Raut), a PhD holder from Cambridge University, UK, is a formerly US-based computer scientist, author and political leader. He worked as a scientist in the USA, prior to resigning and returning to Nepal in 2011.

Raut had been demanding a separate Madhesh for the Madhesi people. Born in Mahadeva Village in the Saptari district of Nepal, he was often placed under house-arrest by the government.

He received secondary level education from a high school based in his village Katti before he went to study at Tribhuvan University and Tokyo University.

He is also the recipient of Young Nepalese Engineer Award, Mahendra Bidhya Bhusan, Kulratna Gold Medal among others.

Dr. Raut is the president and the founding member of Alliance for Independent Madhesh which was established in 2007.

On 13 September 2014, police arrested Raut for giving a speech to indigenous people, called Santhals, during their annual festival.

Similarly, on 3 January 2015, Raut was again arrested while he was giving a speech at Jutwa College. Scores of supporters and police personnel were injured in a clash that ensued following his arrest.

Unofficial translation of the 11-point agreement

1. Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a free, sovereign, independent and an indivisible country. It is the duty of every Nepali to protect Nepal’s independence, sovereignty, and its integrity.
2. We are committed and determined to move ahead through a peaceful and democratic means to achieve political, socio-economic objectives thus agreeing to fulfill the existing dissatisfaction of the people in the Terai on the basis of sovereign people’s participation through democratic means.
3. It is common to have differences in a democratic political system. The state, political parties and entire citizens should be tolerant on them and that they should be resolved through democratic processes.
4. Social justice, equality and good-will are our common goals. We are committed to empowering all the Nepali people with political, economic, social rights. Similarly, we are also committed to head the nation towards the path of equality and socialism through good governance in the country, including Madhesh, and embracing the rights of sovereignty, autonomy and self-governance guaranteed by the constitution.
5. All the political cases, including sedition filed against the cadres and leaders of Independent Madhesh Alliance will be withdrawn and those currently serving jail terms will be released unconditionally.
6. Leaders and cadres of Independent Madhesh Alliance will not be penalized based on the publicity materials such as books, flyers, manifesto, songs, map, party flags and online materials published earlier. Such materials will not be produced again in future.
7. The leaders and cadres of Independent Madhesh Alliance will not be deprived of residing in any parts of Nepal. They are allowed to run any kind of profession, establish institutes or political parties and join mainstream politics in line with the constitution of Nepal.
8. The government will provide due compensation and an employment to a member of the family of Ram Manohar Yadav, Banke district coordinator of Independent Madhesh Movement, who died in police custody on August 31, 2018.
9. The government will bear the treatment expenses to all those who sustained injuries during agitations organized by the Independent Madhesh Movement.
10. We have agreed to use the skills, knowledge and caliber of the cadres and leaders of the Independent Madhesh Alliance for the peaceful and democratic transformation of the country so as to take it to a new height. The government will treat the Independent Madhesh Alliance as a political force.
11. The agreement comes into force from today itself.

KATHMANDU, March 8: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has attended the main function of the 109th International Women’s Day.

KATHMANDU: CK Raut, a secessionist, has been speculated that he would join the mainstream politics by giving up his previous agenda of dividing the country.

Reports are rife that Prime Minister KP Oli and CK Raut are sharing the same platform at the Rastriya Sabha Griha today at 1 pm where they will be expressing their views.

According to sources, CK Raut is likely to join the Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

Raut was released on Thursday after the Supreme Court’s orders. As soon as his release, a meeting was held between CK Raut and some senior leaders of NCP, it is learned.

A meeting of the NCP secretariat is being held now. “The meeting will decide whether Raut will join the party or not,” an NCP leader told Khabarhub.

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has extended his best wishes to all the Nepali sisters living in and outside of the country on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. The 109th International Women’s Day is being observed today with various programmes. The theme for this year is: ‘Think Equal, Build Smart and Innovate for Change’.

In a message of best wishes, NC President Deuba lamented that the cases of violence against women (VAW), oppression, subjugation and exploitation were still rife in our society. The former Prime Minister however expressed his confidence that the Day would contribute to raising awareness against VAW.

KATHMANDU: The session of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Thursday approved the proposal seeking consideration on the ‘Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Bill, 2075’.

Matrika Prasad Yadav, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies tabled the bill in today’s parliament.

Earlier, Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker lawmaker Dev Gurung suggested the government to attract foreign investment into the country that will contribute to national capital formation as well as promotes national interests.

Gurung also suggested the government not to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in agriculture, cottage industries, security press as well as handicraft.

Similarly, NCP lawmaker Bhim Rawal suggested the government to become sensitive about the principles of the bill. “Protection of the national interest and security, indigenous production and skills have to be emphasized,” he said.

Likewise, Som Prasad Pandey said the government needs to work towards promoting the industries in the country. Pandey said domestic industries and products should not be sidelines at the cost of attracting foreign investment.

Meanwhile, Responding Industry Minister Yadav said the government would attract foreign investment and technology for the country’s prosperity. Minister Yadav also asserted that the government would consider the lawmakers’ concerns on foreign direct investment.