The government of India has decided to refund Rs.1.20 billion excise duty to Nepal, which was imposed on various export goods manufactured in India.

“The GoI has issued an order for the release of a total of Rs.1.21 billion (Irs.760 million) in lieu of excise duty which the GoI had collected on goods manufactured in India and exported to Nepal,” a source at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu told Nepalnews Tuesday.

The source added, “The duty refund procedure was under process for some time now and the GoI put the process on fast track last week.”

The Indian government has also asked the New Delhi-based Punjab National Bank to transfer the amount to Nepal Rastra Bank, according to the source.

India, which has welcomed the recent political developments in Nepal after the royal proclamation restoring the dissolved parliament, assured to provide financial assistance to the Nepal government.

According to media reports, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in a telephonic conversation two days earlier expressed willingness to work together with the new government and pledged economic cooperation to Nepal.

Newly appointed finance minister Dr Ram Saran Mahat has said the new government will strictly “scrutinize” the budget allocated to the Royal Palace and will allot only the “essential and justified amount” to the palace.

“The government will strictly scrutinize the budget allocated to the Royal Palace and will allot only the essential and justified amount to the palace and all other unnecessary expenditures will be reduced,” Mahat told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed ministers at the National Planning Commission hall in Singha Durbar.

The government, he said, will not make any unnecessary expenditure. “We will curtail the unnecessary expenditure and will spend whatever is necessary only,” he added.

“Nepal in real financial crisis now. The economy was already in bad shape and the nearly one-month long strike had paralyzed everything.”

The financial crisis will have to be managed, Mahat said, adding, “We will have to correct the past mistakes – both political and economic.

Many regressive actions have been taken [by the previous royal government]. We have to make correction to that including in the financial sector.”

He said the government would give high priority to relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work (RRR). “Peace has returned in the country and we expect it to be stable.”

The finance minister was of the view that financial sector had shown positive indications immediately after the success of the people’s movement and the restoration of the House of Representatives. “The NEPSE index has gone up significantly that show the confidence of people in the new government,” he pointed out.

Dr Mahat was appointed as finance minister by Prime Minister Koirala today.

Dr Mahat also urged the tourists including the Indian tourists “to visit Nepal to beat the summer in their cities”. Kathmandu has the best sopping centers in South Asia so the South Asian tourists could visit Kathmandu right now, he said.

As per as the grassroots policy of All Nepal Football Asociation (ANFA), the Nepal Bank Junior U-14 League Football is going to be held at ANFA Complex, Satdobato from May 6-18.

Defending Champion Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and other eleven teams, except two relegated teams and the Army- are competing in the tournament vying for the winning purse of 100,000. Nabil Three star Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Brigade Boys Club, Friends Club, Boys Union club, NRT, Sankata Club, Machhindra FC, MPC and APF are the other teams.

ANFA will divide the teams in two groups where they must play in league-cum-knock-out basis. ANFA will provide Rs 10,000 each to participant teams and will provide five-academy player to each club. The winning team will walk away with the prize money, medals and trophy while runners-up will get 50,000 and the other semi-finalists 25,000 each. The best player in each department will get attractive prizes from ANFA.

In the meantime, ANFA has revealed that the best newcomer from this tournament will get a chance to encamp themselves in the ANFA Academy. The total estimated budget of the tournament is 0.8 million Rupees where Nepal Bank has provided 0.3 million Rupees.

“We are working very hard in the grassroots area and I think, this kind of league game would provide rookies with club-knowledge-football,” ANFA President Ganesh Thapa said, adding,”Our kids must know about our league football so that they can learn where to play in the near future”.

Meanwhile, ANFA bade farewell to Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), the Nepalese team participating in the prestigious AFC President’s Cup, amidst a function on Tuesday here at ANFA Complex Satdobato.

ANFA President Ganesh Thapa bade farewell the 21-member team that will spend a week in Bangkok and then fly to Kuching to take part in the 2nd edition of AFC President’s Cup.

Meanwhile Coach Chhering Lobsang is worried about his forward line where he has still been unable to chalk out the best combination due to the lack of practice. “We have not played a single match after the arrival of the new players,” lamented Lobsang.

The Nigerians had played an instrumental role in MMC’s title triumph. MMC opted not to field any foreign players despite meeting all transfer procedures. “We had earlier confirmed Nurudeen Olawale and Brigade Boys’ Obagbemiro Junior’s place but later when we came to know about their intention to leave the club and go abroad after the tournament, we decided to drop them,” Lobsang said.

MMC is in Group ‘B’ along with defending champion Dordoi Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan, FC Vakhsh of Tajikistan and Ratnam Sports Club of Sri Lanka.

The squad is as follows: Coach Chiring Lobsang, Managers Kamal Gurung and Kumar Bhattarai and players Tashi Tschering (Capt), Basanta Gauchan, Umesh Upreti, Nabin Neupane, Ritesh Khadka, Sandip Rai, Anil Gurung, Nirajan Khadka, Prasanta Giri, Sagar Thapa, Pankaj Lama, Sanjaya Gurung, Raj Kumar Ghising, Prabesh Katuwal, Khum Gurung, Tilak Gurung, Sachin Shrestha (GK) and Sangeet Rajak (GK).

The first meeting of the Council of Ministers has decided to take immediate measures to hold talks with the Maoists.

Talking to reporters after over an hour long meeting of the Council of Ministers, newly appointed Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said a cabinet meeting on Thursday will take a decision to hold talks with the Maoists.

He indicated that the government could lift the terrorist tag and withdraw red corner notice from the Maoists to create conducive environment for talks with the rebels.

The cabinet meeting also welcomed the Maoists’ unilateral ceasefire for three months.

The Council of Ministers has also decided to move ahead in the direction of peace and prosperity as per the roadmap of seven political parties and 12-point pact between Maoists and the political parties, he added.

The seven political parties and Maoists reached to an 12-point agreement to resolve Maoist insurgency through peaceful means and bring Maoists into the mainstream of politics.

The Council of Ministers has also decided to scrap all the ordinances and appointments made by the previous royal government.

The Council of Ministers expressed sincere thanks to the Nepalese people for their active participation in the pro-democracy movement of the country and also thanked the friendly countries, international communities and Non Resident Nepalese for their support to the people’s movement.

The Council of Ministers also paid tributes to the Martyrs. Situatla futher said that the government will make provision for full treatment to the injured people.

Sitaula said that the government will take initiative to probe in excessive use of force against the pro-democracy movement of the country and to take necessary action against people involved in it.

His Majesty the King reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives on last Monday as demanded by the seven party alliance following the 19-day long general strike of the seven opposition political parties.

Chandi Raj Dhakal

Chandi Raj Dhakal (File Photo)
The Revenue Investigation Department (RID) has issued arrest warrant against Chandi Raj Dhakal, president of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

According to Kantipur daily, RID has written a letter to the police to arrest Dhakal for not presenting himself for interrogations regarding case of revenue evasion through forged documentation. Dhakal’s Memento Apparels – the largest garment manufacturing company in the country – has come under the investigation for evasion of revenue amounting to Rs 8.6 million by forging bank guarantee documents.

“Arrest warrant has come. I have written concerned agency to arrest,” said Dhak Bahadur Karki, metropolitan police chief of Kathmandu.

The RID had asked Dhakal to come for interrogation a month ago but he declined to do so saying his health was unwell. He had been saying that he has not done anything wrong intentionally. He has said that his employees might have committed some mistake which he doesn’t know about.

Last week, the department once again called him for interrogation. Dhakal was then in informal talks with officials of Finance Ministry.

The RID has quasi-judicial authority of recording statements for investigations and imposing fines. The Memento has been asked to deposit fine of Rs 25.5 million.

On Monday, the RID had pasted another letter at Memento’s office in Baneshwore asking Dhakal to produce himself by 3 pm – failing which it issued arrest warrant. It has also issued similar warrant against another director of the garment company Tika Raj Dhakal.

Prime Ministers of South Asian countries have extended congratulations to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for assuming the top post of the country and expressed willingness to work with him for mutual benefit.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the assumption of Koirala to the high office of the Prime Minister of Nepal was a triumph of democracy and a tribute to the people of Nepal, who have displayed exemplary courage and resilience.

In a congratulatory message sent to Prime Minister Koirala, Indian Prime Minister Singh has expressed the confidence that at this historic juncture, Nepal would benefit from Koirala’s experience, wisdom and leadership.

“Relations between India and Nepal have endured the test of time, based as they are on close geographical, historical and cultural ties,” Singh said, adding, “I look forward to working with you to open a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation and friendship between our two countries.”

In the message, the Indian Prime Minister has also extended Prime Minister Koirala an invitation to visit India at his early convenience.

India stalled military assistance to Nepal following the February 1 royal takeover of the last year, terming the move as setback to democracy.

Meanwhile Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz extended his heartiest congratulations to newly appointed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala stating that he was looking forward to promote the cordial ties existing between the two countries.

Referring to the new political development in Nepal, Aziz in a statement has said that Koirala’s appointment as Prime Minister reflected the trust and confidence shown by the people of Nepal on him to lead the nation towards durable peace and stability.

“I remain confident that your understanding qualities as a statesman will guide Nepal on the course of economic and social development,” Aziz has stated.

“Our bilateral relations marked by warmth and friendship have considerably grown over the years. I am confident that the ties which happily exist between our two countries will be further strengthened during your terms of office as Prime Minister.”

Likewise, Prime Minister of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia felicitated Girja Prasad Koirala for his appointment as Prime Minister of Nepal, a press statement issued by Embassy of Bangladesh said Sunday.

In her felicitation message, Bangladesh Prime Minister expressed hope that the dynamic leadership of Koirala along with strong popular support of the people of Nepal, would enable the Prime Minister of Nepal to successfully guide the people of Nepal towards peace, stable democracy and economic prosperity.

The Bangladeshi Prime Minister assured that it would continue to work in close cooperation with Nepal towards further consolidation of the common aspiration of strengthening democracy and addressing poverty, the press statement said.

Koirala was appointed Prime Minister following the success of the pro-democracy movement of the country.

Terming the House reinstatement as a “partial victory” of the people’s movement, professionals from different walks of life stressed the need to continue the movement for taking the country to constituent assembly elections, as demanded by people on the street.

Speaking at a function organized by the Confederation of Nepalese Professionals (CONEP) to mark the 117th May Day, they also argued that constituent assembly election was a must even for ensuring trade union rights and total democracy.

Speaking at the programme, general secretary of CONEP Premal Khanal said the movement had just passed through the first stage and said that people should caution leaders to move ahead with the agenda.

“Instead of celebrating victory, we need to caution leaders to address the desire expressed by people on the streets,” he added.

“This is not the time to celebrate victory on the streets,” said Anil Regmi, general secretary of Nepal Rangers’ Association. Referring to House revival, Regmi added, “It is high time that we, from the streets, cautioned leaders to go for constituent assembly election.”

Hari Mishra of Nepal Ex-civil Servants Association asked all professionals to exert pressure to go for the election of the constituent assembly.

On the occasion, CONEP president Shushil Chandra Amatya thanked all professionals for their support in making the people’s movement a success. He also asked all professionals to dedicate themselves to service of the nation and its people.

The seven-party alliance, at the request of municipality employees, debarred elected representatives of local bodies to the office on Sunday afternoon and burnt the nameplates of the representatives.

The move of the cadres of the seven-party alliance came after the municipality employees told them that the elected representatives held several official and unofficial meetings post-haste after the reinstatement of the House to pass decisions that would give them financial benefits.

The government held the municipal elections in February 2006 without participation of major political parties.

The seven political parties said they will not recognize the election and is mulling over to reinstate the representatives who were elected from previous elections.

A report from Janakpur said nameplates of mayor Prem Prasad Shrestha and deputy mayor Nawal Kishor Mali were torched and their offices padlocked.

Sarlahi’s 17 area members including DDC chairman Surya Narayan Yadav and vice-chairman Arun Kumar Singh were also prevented from entering the DDC office.

Stating that only essential work related to the general public would be handled by the office, president of the Nepal Civil Servants’ Association of Sarlahi, Azim Mansur said, “We have taken this step to stop financial irregularities by those concocting fake bills.”

The CPN-UML has condemned the Maoists for abducting five UML cadres in Ramechhap’s Those VDC on April 14.

A press release issued by UML said the Maoists kidnapped five UML cadres, including former vice-chairman of Thoase VDC and UML area members Mahesh Lal Pradhan and Bhim Bahadur Tamang.

Member of Parliament affiliated to Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Mandal) Yagyaji Shah has called on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to find out the whereabouts of party leader Badri Prasad Mandal.

Participating in a discussion on the constituent assembly motion, he asked, “I want to request the Right Honorable Prime Minister to search and disclose the whereabouts of my parliamentary party leader Mandal who has been out of contact for the past few days.”

Mandal, a minister in the royal government, who enjoys the support of two of the five MPs including himself from NSP, was a strong opponent of constituent assembly election.

Shah also urged the House to go for the election of the constituent assembly, which will in turn draft a new constitution.

Another lawmaker from the party, Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, who was appointed regional administrator by the king after he seized absolute power on February 1st last year, also supported the motion.