The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday barred both the establishment of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and its rival faction from using plough as their election symbols.
Following an extended debate at its head office –involving both the RPP establishment and the newly formed ‘RPP’ led by Home Minister Kamal Thapa– the commission announced the decision this evening, dismissing the claims of both sides over the election symbol.
The EC heard arguments from both sides after the Patan Appellate Court, deciding on a case filed by the RPP establishment under Pashupati Shumsher Rana, shifted the responsibility to decide the legality of the rival parties and as well as the row over the election symbol to it.
The EC, however, did not comment on legality issue concerning the RPP factions.
Talking to reporters immediately after the EC’s decision, RPP chairman Rana said the commission deprived his party of its election symbol despite sufficient legal grounds to support its claim.
“We are disappointed by the commission’s decision. To forbid us from using plough as our election symbol is sheer injustice,” he commented.
Chief Election Commissioner Keshab Rak Rajbhandari said the decision has to do with the EC’s plan to conduct the upcoming municipal elections in a free and fair manner.
Thapa-led RPP had appealed to the EC to recognise it as the authentic RPP and grant plough as the election symbol.
A special convention of the dissident faction had formed the rival RPP electing Home Minister Thapa as its chairman.
New Road Team (NRT) crushed Machhindra Football Club (MFC) 4-1, Rani Pokhari Corner Team (RCT) thrashed Mahabir Club (MC) 4-0 while Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) beat Brigade Boys Club (BBC) 4-2 in today’s matches in the ANFA Martyrs’ Memorial “A” Division League Football Tournament.
In the match played at Dashrath Stadium, Yougal Kishor Rai struck a hat trick for the New Road side while Ramesh Sinkeman scored a rare goal to ensure a deserved victory. Bikash Subba scored a face saving goal for the Bahal side. MFC managed to stay at third from the bottom despite the loss as another relegation threatened team Mahabir Club also went down against RCT.
In the RCT versus MC match at Halchowk Stadium, Rishi Rai netted twice while Sudip Limbu and Sajan Shrestha netted a goal each to ensure a big-margin win for RCT. The win saw RCT going above Sankata at seventh position with 30 points.
“The boys are playing a confident game and according to the game plan,” RCT coach Baiju Gopal told reporters. Mahabir coach Bishnu Poudel said, “Our boys lost the rhythm from the start.”
In the Lalitpur derby at Dashrath Stadium, speedster Doran Serchan struck twice while Nigerian recruit Abdul Gani and defender Sunil Raut netted a goal apiece to ensure a victory for JYC. Obagbemiro Junior of BUC labored hard and succeeded to pull back two goals to take his goal tally to 16, one short of Ramesh Budhathoki (17).
“It was an important match and the boys didn’t let it go,” JYC coach Megraj KC told reporters. BBC Coach Suman Yonzan said, “They could have played a far better game, but early goals dominated our boys.”
For all of you who want to leave Nepal, think before you make the move!
By Bhumika Ghimire
Like thousands of students in Kathmandu, America was my escape from all the tough realities of life in Nepal– pollution, social pressure, political turmoil and lack of opportunities. I never thought that living in a country where I don’t know anyone and where money stands over human relationships and emotions would be a bad idea. America had the charm and the appeal that never faded, no matter how many doubts I had they all seemed trivial in front of the tremendous opportunity America presented.
It has been two years since I arrived in the USA and all that American charm and glory seems far from the reality. I laugh at myself sometimes for believing that I had a reasonable chance to succeed here. I came with no money, no contacts, with just dreams and hope. I had a dream of becoming an IT consultant, earning decent amount of money so that I could bring my family here and yes, travel around the world. The dream is still alive but is far from being a reality.
For a year, I struggled to get my degree, working odd jobs, one of which was at an Indian restaurant. From 9:00 a. m. to 4:00 p. m. I used to attend college then from 5:00 p. m. to 10:00 p. m. I used to work. I don’t want to make it simple by saying that all this was hard. It was way beyond that, every day I used to remember my carefree days in Kathmandu. I had my parents taking care of everything. All I had to do was being nice and study hard.
Still I used to give them so much trouble, never listened to what they said. It was hard remembering those days during the long working hours, listening to all the remarks people at work made about my accent and my looks. Sometimes I used to question myself, why did I come here? To listen to all these remarks? I left my home, family, decent job and came here to work as a Server in a restaurant..? I used to comfort myself by saying that even if times now are tough, after I get my degree I will surely get a great job and things would be great.
I am laughing again at myself, because nearly a year after graduating top of my class, I am still struggling in between the odd jobs. The dream job I wished for is nowhere in sight, but my credit card bills are surely becoming mountain high. Now-a-days I have just stopped thinking about all the dreams I had when I came here, I just focus on getting by each day at a time. It seems much easier that way. Still you cannot run away from the reality or hide the facts. I consider myself as a failure, I do regret coming to America and not being able to accomplish anything.
But then now slowly I am learning to live with my failures. I volunteer at a local organization, work with people less fortunate than me and try to find a purpose among all the things that went wrong in my life. I am learning to believe this is a phase and it will pass.
For all of you who want to leave Nepal, think before you make the move. Grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.
(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to [email protected] and your comments/suggestions to [email protected])
The Appellate Court of Lalitpur on Monday has refused to issue interim order as demanded by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and has instead asked the Election Commission (EC) to settle the row.
A division bench– comprising Chief Judge at the Appellate Court, Rana Bahadur Bam, and Judge Durga Pasad Upreti– held that since the issue fell under the jurisdiction of the EC and the EC was yet to deliver its verdict, there was no need to issue interim order as demanded by the RPP.
In a writ petition filed at the Appellate Court, chairman Rana and 20 central committee members of the RPP had demanded that the court asks the EC not to issue the party’s election symbol ‘plough’ and flag to the dissident group led by Home Minister Kamal Thapa.
The dissident faction, in a ‘special general convention’ of the party organized in the capital early this month, announced that Rana had been deposed from the party’s top post and that Home Minister Thapa had been ‘elected’ its new chairman.
Rana, however, dismisses the entire exercise as a farce and against the statute of the party.
Both the Rana and Thapa factions have made their claims on the party’s flag and election symbol at the EC. The EC is expected to start hearings on the issue soon.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has condemned the killing of Bijay Lal Shrestha, Dhanusha district chairman of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP), by suspected Maoists on Sunday.
“OHCHR-Nepal condemns and calls on the leadership of the CPN (Maoist) to condemn the killing of Bijay Lal Das, chairman of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party in Dhanusha district and candidate for mayor of Janakpur in the municipal elections scheduled for 8 February, to state whether it was committed by cadres of its Party; and if so to hold accountable those responsible for the killing,” an OHCHR press statement issued on Monday said.
It quoted Ian Martin, head of the OHCHR-Nepal, as saying, “I urge the leadership of the CPN (Maoist) to state publicly and to all its cadres that it is against the policy of the Party for any unarmed civilian to be killed, including candidates and officials in the municipal elections.”
The UN rights agency also stated that it had been seeking further information about the killing of the NSP leader.
Suspected Maoist gunmen had shot him dead in front of his party office in Janakpur.
Boys Union Club (BUC) sprung a surprise 4-3 victory against Sankata Club (SC) while Armed Police Force (APF) blanked out tail ender Boudha Football Club (BFC) 3-0 in the on-going Martyrs’ Memorial “A” Division League Football Tournament today.
Usav KC struck twice while two Nigerians recruits, Abiodum G Lawal and Mark DA netted one each to ensure unmerited results for BUC while Nilendra Dewan, Raj Kumar Ghising and Rojit KC netted apiece for SC.
Mark DA put BUC ahead in the 22nd minute through an excellent right footed shot. Nilendra Dewan restored the parity for Sankata in the 31st minute capitalizing on the superb pass by Raj Kumar Ghising. BUC doubled the tally through another Nigerian recruit Abiodum G Lawal in the 38th minutes off the corner kick shot by Bhupen Lama.
The lemon break refreshed BUC and they struck another goal in the 50th minute through Utsav KC. Raj Kumar Ghishing then cut the deficit in the 58th minute through his solo effort but the hopes of SC was shattered when Utsav KC scored the fourth goal in the 76th minute. However, Rojit KC again cut the deficit to 4-3 when he netted an easy spot kick after EKE Albert handed the ball inside the box.
The win saw BUC going one step above Mahabir Club with superior goal difference and leapfrogged Boudha FC at the bottom.
In another match played at same venue, Armed Police Force (APF) blanked out tail ender Boudha FC 3-0 on goals by Mani Pundit, Ajaya KC and Ganesh Lawati.
Pundit scored the opener in the 16th minutes while Ajaya doubled the tally in the 35th minute. Ganesh Lawati put the issue beyond the doubt scoring third in the 82nd minute capitalizing the cross off Ajaya Silwal.
Local authorities in Kathmandu and Lalitpur on Monday withdrew the night curfew effective within the Ring Road and relaxed the ban on public gatherings and rallies.
Issuing separate public statements, the district administrations offices (DAO) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur announced the withdrawl of curfew orders with effect from today while the notice issued on January 16, prohibiting rallies inside Ring Road areas, has been withdrawn with effect from Tuesday.
The Kathmandu DAO, however, stated that the prohibitory orders effective in parts of Kathmandu before January 16 will remain in effect.
Citing possible Maoist infiltration in a planned mass meeting of the seven agitating political parties last Friday in Kathmandu, the local administrations had clamped night curfew from January 16 onwards.
Daylong curfew orders were imposed on Friday, effectively thwarting the parties’ mass gathering.
Local authorities in Kathmandu and Lalitpur on Monday withdrew the night curfew effective within the Ring Road and relaxed the ban on public gatherings and rallies.
Issuing separate public statements, the district administrations offices (DAO) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur announced the withdrawl of curfew orders with effect from today while the notice issued on January 16, prohibiting rallies inside Ring Road areas, has been withdrawn with effect from Tuesday.
The Kathmandu DAO, however, stated that the prohibitory orders effective in parts of Kathmandu before January 16 will remain in effect.
Citing possible Maoist infiltration in a planned mass meeting of the seven agitating political parties last Friday in Kathmandu, the local administrations had clamped night curfew from January 16 onwards.
Daylong curfew orders were imposed on Friday, effectively thwarting the parties’ mass gathering.
As India continued its freeze on defense supplies to Nepal, the royal government has started procuring military articles from other countries, including China and Pakistan, official Indian news agency, PTI, reported Sunday quoting Indian officials.
Late last year, Nepal purchased a substantial quantity of ammunition and grenades from China. As part of the purchase, a consignment of at least 18,000 grenades and 4,000 rounds of ammunition have already been delivered to the Royal Nepal Army, the news report said.
From Pakistan, the royal government purchased non-lethal military accessories recently, PTI quoted sources as saying.
Unconfirmed reports said Nepal has also procured defense equipment from
Israel, the news report said again quoting sources.
When contacted by Nepalnews on Monday, spokesman at the Defense Ministry Bhupendra Prasad Poudel said he did not have any information regarding reported purchase of arms from Pakistan or Israel.
Nepal has been traditionally dependent on India for its defense needs as it has been providing it in the form of aid. During the last few years before the royal coup, India has supplied military wares worth NRs 720 crores to Nepal.
Sources in the Indian Government said China and others were only selling the military ware to Nepal out of business considerations and were not giving aid as India has been doing all along till February 1 last year, the news report said.
India, US and UK – major arms suppliers to Nepal—have suspended their arms aid to Nepal since the royal takeover.
New Delhi believes that the King is using such tactics in an attempt to influence change in India’s approach, particularly on military supplies which were frozen last year, the news report claimed.
The Nepal Child Welfare Forum (NCWF) on Saturday brought 17 girls rescued from Haryana-based circuses in India to Hetauda.
The girls had been forced to work for the Great India Circus and the Empire Circus, reports quoted NCWF as saying.
The rescued girls have been lodged at the NCWF’s Circus Rehabilitation Project house.
Among those rescued, eight girls had been working for the Great Indian Circus and nine for the Empire Circus. The guardians of the girls had earlier forwarded an application to the NCWF asking it to take initiatives to rescue their daughters.
All rescued girls are between the ages of 5 and 14 years. The girls were out of contact with their families while in India.