The Finance Ministry has made the foreign loan statistics systematic with support from British assistance. Accordingly, the government’s foreign loan has touched Rs. 177.59 billion whereas domestic loan has reached Rs. 35 billion.
Though the multilateral agencies have provided Nepal with soft loan, the total volume of foreign debt has increased due to depreciation of the local currency.
(Gorkhapatra, Saturday, Oct. 9)
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, October 9: Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai congratulated Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the victory of his party in the recent parliamentary election in India.
Vajpayee’s Bharatiya Janta Party ( BJP or Indian People’s Party) led coalition won the comfortable majority in the recently held Indian parliamentary election.
In a message to Vajpayee, Prime Minister Bhattarai said, “ I and people of Nepal are extremely happy on the victory of BJP-led National Democratic Front led by Mr Vajpayee in the parliamentary election”.
“ For this, I, on behalf of myself, government and people of Nepal, congratulate you ( Vajpayee)”, Prime Minister Bhattarai said in the message. He also hoped that relations between Nepal and India would be further strengthened in the future”.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Oct 9: All political parties agreed that efforts should be made to bring about early solution to the present problem created by Maoist insurgency.
In an interaction programme organized by Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today, leaders of different political parties said that multi-pronged approach had to be taken to solve the more than 4 years-long problem created by Maoist insurgency.
Minister for Education Yog Prasad Upadhyay, who is also looking after the portfolios of Prime Minister, said that the Maoist problem is not as complicated and serious as media has portrayed it. However, he accepted that Maoist insurgency is growing in the country and said that it has to be controlled to protect the life and property of the people.
Upadhyay hinted that the problem was created because of the aberrations and distortion in our political system and among politicians. “ The activities of leaders are partly responsible of the Maoist problem,” he said.
“ Leaders speak sweet and popular things when they deliver speech but fail to accomplish what they say in public”, he said. “ This is the reason for the growing problems of the country,” said Minister Upadhyay.
He also urged Maoists to come into the political mainstream of the country.
Madhav Kumar Nepal of CPN-UML and Pashupati Sumsher Rana of RPP claimed that the problem was created because of the inaction of the government and said that multi-pronged approach had to be applied to solve the Maoist problem.
Narayan Man Bijukchhe of Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party, Lila Mani Pokhrel of United People’s Front, Pari Thapa of National People’s Front and Radha Krishna Mainali of CPN-ML described the Maoist insurgency as a political problem and asked the government to solve the issue politically.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Oct 8: Election Commission (EC) published election programmes in three constituencies of Jhapa-6, Morang-1 and Rautahat-4. By-elections are being held in these three constituencies on December 9, 1999 as Girija Prasad Koirala of Nepali Congress, Madhav Nepal of CPN-UML and K.P. Sharma Oli of CPN-UML quit the seats of House of Representatives from Morang-1, Rautahat-4 and Jhapa-6 constituencies respectively.
All three leaders had been elected to the House of Representatives from two constituencies and they had to quit one seat as per the constitutional provision.
According to the election programme, candidates have to file their nominations on November 3. Complaints against the candidacy of any one should be registered on the same day. Returning officers will then scrutinize the complaints and publish the names of candidates on 4th of November.
Candidates wishing to withdraw their candidacy can do so on 5th of November. Returning officers will publish the final names of candidates on 6th of November and provide the election symbols to the candidates on the same day. Election will be held on November 9, 1999.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Oct 8: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital amidst a function today. His Majesty’s Government, Cancer Relief Society and Bhaktapur Cancer Treatment Center jointly constructed the cancer hospital. The hospital has 20 beds and facilities like cameo therapy and surgical services. It also has the first cancer library in Nepal.
His Majesty the King also gave away best membership to Her Royal Highness Jayanti Shah for her special contribution to the Hospital. His Majesty gave away letters of commendation to 13 different Nepali nationals as well as foreigners, who provided support and made special contribution to construct the cancer hospital.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Oct 8: An 11-member Nepalese parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker of the House of Representatives Tara Nath Ranabhat left for Germany today to take part in the 102nd conference of Inter-Parliamentary Union from October 10 to October 16 this year.
Other members of the delegation are lawmakers Tek Bahadur Chokhal, Baldev Sharma Majgaiya, Romi Gauchan, Harka Man Tamang, Tham Maya Thapa, Buddhi Man Tamang, and Yagyajit Shah. The delegation also includes secretary of Parliament Surya Kiran Gurung, joint secretary of parliament secretariat Bishnu Dutta Upreti, and Shashi Kala Neupane of Parliament Secretariat.
Chairman of the National Assembly (Upper House of Parliament) Dr Mohammad Mohsin, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tarini Dutta Chataut and Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav accorded warm send off to the Speaker and Nepalese delegation in the Tribhuvan International Airport today.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, October 8: Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London today, Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. During the meeting, Prime Minister raised issue of pension and facilities of British Gurkha and asked the British Prime Minister to review the pension and other facilities of the Gurkha soldiers serving in British army, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair also assured Prime Minsiter Bhattarai that British government was positively thinking to review the facilities and pension of British Gurkha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
In the meeting, Prime Minister Bhattarai hailed British assistance for the development of Nepal and sought more investment in Nepal from British private sector.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ram Sharan Mahat had accompanied the Prime during the meeting of British Prime Minister. Prime Minister is currently in London on way to Nepal from New York after taking part in the 54th General Assembly of the United Nations.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, October 8: The government of Japan provided Rs 1, 33,07,00,000 (about 2,00,00,000 US dollars) as a grant to Nepal to implement two separate projects concerning civil aviation and education.
Of the total amount, Rs 80,64,00,000 would be spent for the modernization of Tribhuvan International Airport, while Rs 52,43,00,000 would be utilized for the construction of school buildings and resource centers in different districts under Basic and Primary Education project, according to Ministry of Finance.
Two separate agreements concerning the Japanese assistance for these two projects were signed today in the Ministry of Finance.
Subash Ghising, President of Gorkha Hill Council, which has been preparing to announce Free Gorkhaland in the northern area of the West Bengal state of India, has registered a request letter to His Majesty the King for giving recognition to the Free Gorkhaland. It was informed by Bharat Koirala, supporter of Ghising in Nepal, to Nepal Aawaj.
(Nepal Aawaj, Thursday, Oct. 7)
Immediately after the announcement of the by-elections for the vacant constituencies of Jhapa-6, Morang-1 and Rautahat-4 on December 9, the rush for ticket for Morang-1 constituency has increased in the Nepali Congress.
Shailaja Acharya, who was defeated by Badri Mandal in Morang-7 constituency in last general elections, is the first person to claim the ticket. On the other hand, Aamod Upadhaya, brother-in-law of Nona Koirala, is also eyeing the seat.
Meanwhile, a highly placed source in the Koirala family informed that the Koirala family has almost decided to contest Aamod Upadhaya from that constituency.
Previously, efforts were made to give NC ticket to Harsha Koirala, late B. P. Koirala’s youngest son, who is a computer engineer. This attempt was also made to corner Prakash Koirala, BP’s oldest son, from NC politics. But, Harsha denied accepting this offer by stating that he had no interest in politics.
Presently, under pressure of Nona (Girija’s sister-in-law), Girija is psychologically prepared to offer the ticket to Aamod. Girija Prasad Koirala may also be favouring Upadhyaya, as Upadhyaya had worked very hard for Girija’s victory in that constituency. But, local NC leaders are pressuring Girija not to choose Upadhaya.
In this race to get ticket, Sujata Jost has formulated a group to pressurize her father to give nominate her for the election. The group is arguing on behalf of Sujata saying that as Sujata, although a winning candidate, gave up the claim from the Sunsari constituency in the last general election, this time, Sujata has to get the ticket from the Morang-1 constituency. Sujata herself has funded the pressure group, brought from Biratnagar.
On the other hand, Prakash Koirala is also claiming that he is the only candidate to get the ticket. Prakash is even saying that if he will not get ticket this time, his political carrier will be finished. Sushil Koirala, NC general secretary, is likely to support Prakash in the ‘ticket-war’, although Prakash’s chances getting the nomination is very bleak.
The race is still more severe because the NC expects to win from that constituency only.
(Suryadaya weekly, Thursday, October 7)