KATHMANDU: Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli has said that the secessionist and separatist mentality and movement has come to an end following the agreement reached between the government and the Alliance for Independent Madhesh.
PM Oli opined that the termination of the separatist activities in a smooth manner was an important and positive achievement towards the national peace and security.
The government and the Alliance led by CK Raut inked an 11-point political agreement on March 8. The Alliance had been waging a movement in the Madhesh putting forth various demands.
Stating that the agreement which encourages giving up secessionist activities and joining the mainstream politics is a big thing, he said adding that only those with personal dissatisfaction and vested interest are opposing the deal.
The Prime Minister made it clear that there could not be a referendum on issues of national sovereignty, indivisibility and independence. “There are some people who have become restless like the fish without water when the separatist activities were curbed. Holding a referendum on topics that undermine the national integrity and sovereignty is unthinkable,” he asserted.
Issue of national security should not be viewed from a singular or narrow mindset but should be understood as a wider dimension, Prime Minister Oli said.
Addressing the 18th anniversary program of the National Security Council Secretariat here today, Prime Minister said that the National Security Council had an important role in ending the separatist activities, the prime minister said, “The council will play a role to the extent of guaranteeing the national security.”
KATHMANDU: An unidentified gang murdered a cadre of Nepal Tarun Dal (NTD), youth organization of Nepali Congress, in Devdaha of Rupandehi district. According to police, 20-year-old Amis Puri of Devdaha Municiplity-5, was murdered by the gang.
Puri was assaulted by the gang when he was heading to Baluhi on a motorbike from Khaireni. “Puri was struck to death with an iron rod,” said Radheshyam Bista, a local journalist. Seriously injured Puri breathed his last while being rushed to Devdaha Medical College.
Police said they have launched a manhunt to nab the culprit and are investigating the case.
KATHMANDU: Central member of the main opposition, Nepali Congress, Shekhar Koirala has taken exception to the agreement signed between the government and CK Raut-led Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) saying that it is against the national sovereignty and independence.
Issuing a press statement on Monday, NC influential Koirala said, “Even though the move to bring the rebel group into the main steam politics is positive, the term ‘public opinion’ laid down in the second point of the agreement is against the integrity and the national independence of the country.
“Nepali people cannot accept it,” Koirala stated vehemently, adding, “The use of term ‘public opinion’ in the second point of the agreement indicates ill intention of both the sides.”
Meanwhile, the turn of events in Janakpur after CK Raut’s arrival has also been objectionable and a matter of serious concern.
KATHMANDU: A Nepali woman was killed in an Ethiopian airlines plane crash that occurred on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Ekata Adhikari of Gorkha district. Adhikari was working for the United Nations World Food Program based in Ethiopia.
UN World Food Program informed the Adhikari’s family about the accident yesterday evening. According to her family sources, Ekata had worked with UN WFP based in Kathmandu two years ago.
A total of 157 people were killed when an Ethiopian Airlines passengers Boeing, 737 Max 8, bound for Nairobi crashed minutes after take-off at Addis Ababa yesterday.
KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari left for the US this evening to attend a high-level event in New York. The event ‘Women in Power’ is to be hosted by the President of UN General Assembly (PGA) Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces on March 12.
President Bhandari is scheduled to deliver her speech on the theme “How Women Leaders Change the World.”
In the evening of March 11, the President will attend a welcome dinner to be hosted by the PGA Garces in honor of the women Heads of State/Government.
On the side-lines of the high level event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces will call on the President at the UN Secretariat.
The President will also hold bilateral meetings with the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid and the President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. On the same day, former Prime Minister of Ireland Mary Robinson will call on the President Bhandari.
On the 13th of March, the President will visit Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN. Ambassador of Nepal to the United States of America, Dr. Arjun Kumar Karki and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN Amrit Bahadur Rai will jointly host reception in the honor of the President.
The delegation comprises Tham Maya Thapa, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizen, Chairperson of the Women and Social Committee of the House of Representatives Niru Devi Pal, expert at the Office of the President, Laxmi Kumari Karki, Foreign Secretary, Shanker Das Bairagi, Secretary at the Office of the President Binod K.C., Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Yam Kumari Khatiwada and other senior officials from the Office of the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen of the Government of Nepal.
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli has said that international cooperation and investment were necessary for Nepal’s development.
He emphasized on support from its neighbors and development partners to accelerate Nepal’s development efforts.
Speaking on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Nepal-Japan Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN) in Kathmandu today, Prime Minister Oli said Nepal needs to move ahead with coordinated efforts with its development partners.
Maintaining that his government is set to organize an international investment summit in Kathmandu, PM Oli said international cooperation and investment were necessary for Nepal’s development.
The Prime Minister also appreciated Japan’s continued support to Nepal.
Likewise, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Masashi Ogawa, assured Japan’s continued support in Nepal’s development efforts.
JANAKPUR: Two days after signing an 11-point agreement with the government, CK Raut, coordinator of Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM), received a hero’s welcome in Janakpur.
Commando-attired guards wearing black glasses and bullet-proof look-alike jackets escorted Raut from the Janakpur Airport this afternoon.
Scores of his supporters carrying flags of AIM flanked him shouting slogans of ‘Independent Madhesh’ such as “Go down with Nepali colonization”, “Hail CK Raut”, among others.
Raut looked cheerful while he was escorted by his guards first time after he reached Janakpur after signing the agreement with the government.
KATHMANDU: Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa brushed aside claims that the government bowed down to ‘foreign pressure’ to make an agreement with CK Raut.
“Let me clarify that the agreement reached with CK Raut is purely our internal affair,” he said while responding to lawmakers’ queries in Sunday’s session of the House of Representatives (HoR).
Home Minister Thapa urged the lawmakers not to misinterpret the words and sentences used in the agreement. He refuted lawmakers’ claim that the 11-point agreement reached with CK Raut contained the word ‘referendum’. He termed the allegation as fake.
“The agreement, in fact, is a great achievement,” Thapa asserted while dismissing allegations that the government bowed down to a separatist force.
Home Minister Thapa said it is not the question of surrendering. “It is a matter of the country’s sovereignty and integrity, which we all should be proud of,” he maintained.
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister K P Oli has asserted that the signing of the 11-point agreement with secessionist leader C K Raut has brought all political pretensions to an end.
“Be assured, all political pretensions have come to an end now,” PM Oli said at a program in the capital today. “What can be more convivial than this,” PM Oli said referring to Raut’s commitment of joining the mainstream politics by forsaking his separatist movement.
Prime Minister Oli sniffed sarcasm on some people passing “negative comments” on the agreement while he ridiculed them of being suspicious on government’s every move.
Now that, he went on to say, the country is on the path of prosperity and good governance. “Let’s not run behind rumors,” he said adding that there remains no voice of separatists in the country. “Let’s all move ahead in unitedly,” he said.
“Until a couple days back, there was a secessionist group fighting for a separate country. There were voices of secession. Now that the group has expressed its commitment to respect the country’s sovereignty and integrity, and join the mainstream politics,” he said expressing bewilderment over the people’s “suspicious” attitude, “Is it wrong to abandon secessionist movement and make a commitment to the country’s constitution and sovereignty?”
Now that, he went on to say, the country is on the path of prosperity and good governance. “Let’s not run behind rumors,” he said adding that there remains no voice of separatists in the country. “Let’s all move ahead in unitedly,” he said.
Prime Minister Oli also reminisced these old days when all political parties, including the current main opposition Nepali Congress, fought for democracy together. “We currently have an opposition that has always remained together with us during the entire democratic struggle. We have paid a very high price for democracy. We were together in the rallies and prisons. Therefore, let’s walk together for the country’s prosperity,” he urged the opposition.
DHADING: At least three persons were arrested with 105 kilograms of hashish, this morning. A team of police seized the contraband from a bus (Na 5 Kha 2812) bound for Birgunj from Kathmandu at Gajuri along the Prithvi Highway. Those arrested are: bus driver, Lal Bahadur Saha, 45 of Birgunj sub-metropolis, Anil Chaudhary, 35 of Karmeyamai rural municipality-7 and Sriram Saha Kanu of Bindabasini rural municipality-3, according to Nawaraj Dhungel, Inspector of the Area Police Office, Gajuri. The arrest was made in terms of regular security check of vehicles.