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23/09/2021:
Deuba
faces censure from own party over Cabinet expansion :
The ruling coalition, despite a series of meetings,
has failed to provide names for ministerial posts,
earning bad repute for the government, by Anil
Giri (kp), Welcome
home : The government should appoint a larger number
of career diplomats to our diplomatic missions abroad
(kp) [There should be no
political nominations at all!], New
rule may prevent conflicts of interest in user groups
: Elected officials, office-bearers of political
parties and government staff, among others, may be
denied seats on user committees for public projects,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
22/09/2021:
UML’s
partisan politics enters upper house, as members
demand Speaker’s resignation : Observers say Nepali
parties have failed to comprehend the spirit of the
National Assembly and made it a platform to squabble
over petty interests, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Perhaps it is not necessarily the
parties, but rather the old, long-since failed and
anti-democratic so-called party leaders who should be
sent packing if Nepal is finally to come to its senses
politically!], The
birth and life of Nepal’s most iconic revolutionary
song : Once anathema to the regime, ‘Gaun Gaun Bata
Utha’ has become go-to anthem for change, by Ankit
Khadgi (kp) [Time to sing this
song again!], Deuba
recalls 12 envoys appointed by Oli : Twenty-three
missions are now set to go headless, and some are in
key countries—India, China, US, UK and Qatar, by
Anil Giri (kp), Fix
Term Age Limits For Politicians, by Namrata Sharma
(rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/09/2021:
Deuba’s
plan for Cabinet expansion constrained by coalition
partners : Janata Samajbadi Party wants ordinance to
ease party splits withdrawn while CPN (Unified
Socialist) wants the prime minister to wait until
court order on Oli’s petitions, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), Getting
there, slowly : The government should discourage
people from gathering in big crowds as markets reopen
(kp), Resilient
Nepalis : Crises seem to spur Nepalis to achieve the
impossible, as we witnessed in the months after the
earthquake, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), Maoist
Center to select all level leadership via election
(kh), Insult
to the titles : The govt must honour only those who
have made contributions to the nation from outside
public office (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/09/2021:
Just
another day : Even as we celebrate the constitution,
we must remember that large sections still feel
neglected (kp) [This is
a constitution of the ruling male highcaste elite who
have thus secured their privileges. The
representatives of the people were only allowed to nod
off in 2015!], Civic
group marches in Kathmandu to demand amendments to
constitution : Activists call for unity among the
marginalised, as they call for efforts to ensure wider
acceptance of the charter, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Ordinary
people vent their frustrations on Constitution Day,
by Anup Ojha (kp), No
regard for rule of law as Nepali state runs on ad
hocism : Ordinances are allowed by constitution but
governments are issuing them as per their wish, not
paying attention to their timely approval,
leading to legal vacuum, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Both Oli and Deuba are guilty of
this, but ultimately so is the president, whose main
task is to prevent this!], Yangma
residents deprived of even basic services : The remote
village in Taplejung does not have health, education
and communication services, by Ananda Gautam (kp),
Lower
house endorses budget amid UML protest : The bill now
will be sent to the upper house. The government
shutdown would be lifted once the bill gets through
(kp), To
MCC or not to MCC : The MCC debate, explained, by
Pranaya SJB Rana (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/09/2021: Six
years since promulgation, problems remain with the
constitution : Madhesis, Tharus, Muslims, and women
are still unable to take ownership of the statute due
to the document’s failure to encompass their
aspirations, by Prasansha Rimal (rec) [This
was the intention of the high-caste male party leaders
who had given this constitution to their MPs for an
unopposed vote in blatant violation of the interim
constitution!], At
six, constitution’s fragility has only grown,
observers say : Those who promulgated the charter have
remained non-committal on its implementation and those
who once objected to it lack the heft to push for
amendments, by Binod Ghimire (kp), We
promulgated the Constitution despite threats and
intimidation: UML leader Nemwang (kh) [But
you did it in grave violation of the 2013 interim
constitution: not socially inclusive elected
representatives of the people, but the traditional
male highcaste elite of the parties decided on the
constitution, securing their privileges in the
process! Already in the nomination process for the
FPTP system, the inclusion required by Article 63 (4)
was grossly disregarded!], Tharu
community to observe Constitution Day as a black day
(kh), Constitution
needs to be rewritten: Prabhu Sah (CPN-UML) (kh) Media
persons reject govt-conferred medals and honors on
Constitution Day (kh), Constitution
Day award ceremony draws widespread criticism
(rep), Pro-monarchy
groups holding demonstration restoration of 1991
Constitution (kh), Talks
on to clear Parliament impasse, but no deal in sight :
There is a rumour in the political circle that Prime
Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman
KP Sharma Oli are aiming for early elections. Oli
wants the House dissolved to see himself
vindicated, Nepali Congress spokesperson says, by
Anil Giri (kp) [Early
elections will not solve the many problems as long as
there is no alternative to failed and anti-democratic
politicians like Oli, Deuba, Dahal etc.! There is no
justification for Oli's coup and his repeated breaches
of the constitution anyway!], NC
leader Sharma proposes term-limits for executive posts
in government (kh) [A
very good suggestion! Moreover, persons who have
plotted against the state and parliamentary democracy
should never again be allowed to hold political office
and be admitted to elections!], Selection
of undeserving projects is one of the main causes of
slow capital expenditure: Finmin Sharma (rep), Govt
spent Rs 207.20 million from state coffers in two days
after budget holiday (rep), Controversial
amendment to Income Tax Act: Manipulation to legalize
illegal property, by Dilip Ppudel (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/09/2021:
Adoption
of official languages recommended for provinces
challenging, experts say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Indo-Pacific
Strategy and its possible impact on Nepalese Economy,
by Sagar Jung Karki (kh), Will
Kalapani residents fit into ‘my census, my
participation’ motto? Central Bureau of Statistics,
the agency conducting the national census, is
not sure whether it could count households and number
of people in the region physically., by Prithvi
Man Shrestha and Anil Giri (kp), Big
confusion as top body responding to Covid-19 becomes
defunct : At a time when the government is facing a
financial gridlock, the Covid-19 Crisis Management
Centre getting invalid could spell a catastrophe,
experts warn, by Tike R Pradhan a nd Sangam
Prasain (kp), Why
is Nepal facing a government shutdown? (kp), Need
for clear action plan to abolish untouchability from
country stressed (ht), Breaking
The Sluggish Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/09/2021:
Land
to landless is more political than a socioeconomic
issue : Yet another commission formed, 14th since
1990, but the landless people’s problems
persist, as governments have failed to find a
permanent solution, by Binod Ghimire (kp), COVID-19
control work hit over failure to endorse budget
(kh), Coalition
leaders divided over power-sharing deal; task-force
assigned to resolve (kh), Malnutrition
cases up several fold amid Covid-19 pandemic :
Severity and deaths will increase if malnourished
children are infected with the coronavirus, doctors
say, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Hard
times for kids : Failure to address the present crisis
of the children is bound to be reflected in the future
(kp), An
urban horror story : Nepal’s cities are a disaster
waiting to happen. What can we do about it?, by
Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), UML
attacking state organs to dissolve parliament and push
country to mid-term polls: Rastriya Janamorcha
(kh), ‘Some
elements using MCC as weapon in bid to dismantle
ruling coalition’ (kh), Make
it systematic : It is imperative to ensure banking
services in all the local levels to make the social
security scheme more systematic (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/09/2021:
Country’s
three key state organs are in disarray : The executive
is hobbling, legislature is facing an impasse, and the
judiciary is caught in tangles, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), UML
looks set for a showdown amid spending halt : Ruling
alliance may steamroller the budget through lower
house, but its passage from upper house looks
difficult without a deal with main opposition, by
Anil Giri and Binod Ghimire (kp), Prime
Minister Deuba’s Cabinet expansion woes (kp), Local
bodies want to exercise constitutional rights freely:
Mayor Shrestha (kh), Deuba
Cabinet expansion faces ordinance hurdle (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
15/09/2021:
Six
years of ethnonational upsurge : Khas-Arya
supremacists consider the Divya Upadesh to be the
manual of nationalism, by CK Lal (kp), Government
faces financial deadlock as budget fails to get
through Parliament : A shutdown situation as no
spending allowed and further delay could lead to
a crisis, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Child
marriage cases up by 31.25pc (ht), Bedlam
in parliament: Speaker's political bias to blame,
by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Which
Socialism They Mean, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), MCC
For Electricity Infrastructure, by Namrata Sharma
(rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/09/2021:
The
perils of toxic rhetoric : Politicians are crossing
ethical lines by employing toxic language to demean
and attack their opponents, and it seems that the
public approves, by Jagadish Paudel (rec), Replacement
bill stuck in the parliament, govt expenditure to be
affected for few days (kh), House
of ruckus : Unruly behaviour reflects poorly not just
on the representatives but on the people too (kp),
House
obstructions, if continue, can lead to financial
deadlock : As Speaker fails to resolve the crisis,
there are concerns the government may have its hands
tied when it comes to spending, with just two days to
get the budget endorsed, by Tika R Pradhan and
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Behind
the anti-MCC protests : Will Nepal remain in the
world’s democratic club or be a decoy agent for
strategic powers?, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Journo
Dixit files FIR against defamation circulated via fake
‘MCC’ document (kh), SC
issues interim order allowing lawmakers Pandey and
Sharda Devi to join Unified Socialist (kh), SC
paves way for UML lawmakers Pandey and Bhatta to join
(Unified Socialist) party (rep), UML
obstructs parliament meeting today as well : Next
meeting on September 20 (kh), Budget
plans low-cost meals, monetary aid for the poor, but
experts smell electoral motives . Government has yet
to identify the prospective beneficiaries, by Anup
Ojha (kp), Building
back stronger with nature ; Investments in forestry,
ecotourism and organic agriculture could help in
resilient recovery from the pandemic, by Lily
Shrestha and Nabin Bhattarai (rep), Retired
SC justice moves apex court : The constitution does
not prevent retired judges from filing a case in the
court, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/09/2021:
‘Example
of compulsory and free education act is enough to know
status of law implementation’ (kh), Court
puts brakes on arbitrary hirings at public entities,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), UML
Chair Oli’s writ assigned to Deepak Kumar Karki and
Mira Khadka’s bench : UML Chair Oli's writ assigned to
Deepak Kumar Karki and Mira Khadka's bench (kh) [By the way, when will Oli actually
pay for all the damage he has caused with his repeated
breaches of the constitution, contempt of court and
completely pointless initiations of electoral
processes?], UML
demands resignation of Speaker; not to attend
all-party meet (kh), MCC
officials wrap up visit hoping the US programme’s
ratification : A message, however, is clear to Nepali
leadership—it has already been too late and further
delay could impact economic recovery at a time
of the pandemic, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), What
MCC is and what it is not, by Jagadish Paudel
(rep), Govt's
new budget : Many social programmes proposed by the
government are likely to remain only on paper due to
lack of funds and its capacity (ht), Rs
750 million allocated for free repatriation of
stranded migrant workers, only Rs 13.5 million used,
by Rudra Khadka (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
12/09/2021:
Cabinet
expansion to be delayed as ruling coalition meet
strikes no chords (kh), Coalition
partners fail to agree on Cabinet expansion : While
CPN (Unified Socialist) wants Deuba to wait until
Monday, Janata Samajbadi says it won’t join the
government unless the party split provisions are
changed (kp), MCC
ratification delay slows down transmission project
implementation : Four years into signing, the
agreement is languishing in Parliament, as US
officials are in town to make a final push, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), A
teacher’s tale : Leaders squabble over the age of the
members, but not about their status as students,
by Abhi Subedi (kp), Speaker
calls all-party meeting for tomorrow (kh), Corruption
continues to plague local levels (ht), Let
Parliament Run Smoothly, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn),
Entrepreneurs
warn to picket Singha Durbar if tourism business is
not allowed to open soon (rep), Govt
claims to achieve inflated economic growth rate
without introducing concrete programs (rep) [??], Dreaming
of a Government of Technocrats, by Simone
Galimberti (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/09/2021:
Deuba
tells US delegation he is hopeful of MCC ratification
soon : Millennium Challenge Corporation officials
continue meetings as the fate of the US
programme hangs in the balance, with the Maoist Centre
not making a clear position, by Anil Giri (kp) [Such a desperate struggle to
finally give Nepal 500 million US dollars completely
selflessly? Sounds strange somehow!], Congress
may have avoided risk of invalidation but challenges
remain : The party has written to the poll body,
informing about the start of its convention at the
ward level. The party’s 13th general convention was
held on March 3-6, 2016, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), Deuba
tells coalition leaders can’t wait too long for
Cabinet expansion : The government is facing criticism
for failing to give full shape to his Cabinet even
after nearly two months, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Onus
on Speaker Sapkota to fix broken House of
Representatives, observers say : As the presiding
officer of the legislative body, they say the Speaker
should take the initiative to diffuse the situation,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Replacement
Bill passed amidst mayhem, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht)
[What a shame! This behaviour
in parliament is unworthy of representatives of the
people and damages Nepal's reputation in the world!],
Democracy
Needs Enlightened Citizens, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
Flood
Victims Of Banke Living In Forests For 30 Years,
by Siraj Khan (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/09/2021:
Political
parties are holding Parliament hostage : The
government, the opposition and the Speaker are only
concerned about petty party interests, a former
Speaker says, by Binod Ghimire (kp), US
officials get down to business with a series of
meetings, starting with Oli : MCC delegation is in
Kathmandu for what appears to be one last push to get
the American programme through Nepal Parliament, as
the aid project hangs in the balance, by Anil Giri
(kp), PM
calls National Security Council meeting amid sporadic
protests against MCC (rep), Major
highlights of substitution budget introduced by
Finance Minister Sharma (rep), Govt
to provide Rs 10,000 in grant to about 500,000 poor
and needy families (kh), Nepal
less and less able to feed itself : Growing
population, rising income and stagnant domestic
production mean more dependence on food imports to
meet growing demand, by Ramesh Kumar (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
09/09/2021:
Security
tightened in Valley targeting MCC Vice Chair Fatema’s
Nepal visit (kh), 15
arrested while trying to show black flag to MCC
delegation in Koteshwor (kh), Fringe
parties stage protest against MCC (ht), MCC
delegation calls on Unified Socialist Chair Nepal
(kh), MCC
responds to Nepal’s concerns ahead of its top
officials’ arrival : The response comes as House
session starts in Kathmandu amid differences among
ruling partners over the US programme’s
parliamentary ratification, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha and Anil Giri (kp), Deuba’s
diplomacy of expedience, by Biswas Baral (ae), MCC
compact : Decide now : If the US does not revise the
compact and if there is no broad political consensus,
it is better to reject the compact than risk further
instability, by Pragya Ghimire (ae), Crime
and turpitude : A series of murders points to
lawlessness and the degeneration of society (kp),
Give
Momentum To TRC, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Solving
Landless People Problem in Nepal, by Keshav
Bhattarai (rep)l
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/09/2021:
Dozens
of people registered as disappeared during Maoist
insurgency found alive : In the last six years, the
Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared
Persons has received 3,223 complaints of enforced
disappearances implicating either security forces or
the rebel Maoists.Commission has found 2,494 cases
that fall under its jurisdiction for investigation,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Large
number of children deprived of virtual learning,
UNICEF survey shows : For 63 percent of children,
textbooks are the only source of information. The
survey was carried out among 6,643 children and
guardians across the seven provinces, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), SC
receives writ petition against Home Ministry’s
statement (kh), Parliament
meeting adjourned; to meet again on Sept 10 (kh) [Preventing parliamentary work or
even dissolving it is an anti-democratic speciality of
Oli and his CPN-UM! Nepal does not have a party
democracy but a parliamentary democracy with MPs who
should only be accountable to the sovereign people and
their conscience!!], MCC
has no hidden agenda: Vice President Fatema (kh) [Yes, just like the Chinese BRI!],
Nepal:
Bridge or ‘Burden’ to China’s South Asia Ambitions?,
by Gaurav Bhattarai (rep), Respect
Women’s Dignity, by Namrata Sharma (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/09/2021:
Take
it easy : Dissent and debate are quintessential
elements of democracy (kp), Why
parliamentary transparency matters : Parliamentary
record-keeping in our case has been somewhat
superficial, by Shraddha Pokharel (kp), Govt
set to conduct National Census-2021 from Nov 11 to 25
(kh), After
over a month, and much criticism, Nepal writes to
India on Darchula incident : The disappearance of a
man in Mahakali river, in which Indian security
personnel are said to be involved, has become a
diplomatic headache for Prime Minister Deuba, by
Anil Giri (kp), Moment
of truth for Nepal on MCC, by Dai Yonghong (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/09/2021:
Government
attempts to curb protests, public debates : Home
Ministry’s two statements in three days warning of
actions over activities against ‘friendly nations’
amount to curtailing of fundamental rights, analysts
and leaders say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), HM
warns not to protest against neighbouring countries
(ht) [A government that
suppresses freedom of opinion is not democratic!],
Six
arrested from outside U.S. Embassy in Maharajgunj
(kh), Pouring
destruction Floods will be recurring tragedies if we
do not act on them immediately (kp), Government
prepares to endorse MCC agreement through parliament,
security vigilance upped across the country, by
Tapendra Karki (rep), Enhancing
women’s access to finance : As a first step, we need
to identify the actual needs and study international
practices, by Shreya Subedi (kp), Political
Party Act odinance : Ruckus expected from UML in HoR
(ht), Cases
of witchcraft allegation rise by 79.41pc in 2020-21
(ht), Language
Commission recommends province-wise official languages
before government (kh), NC
leader Thapa accuses govt of making series of wrong
decisions (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/09/2021:
President
summons Federal Parliament meetings (kh), CJ
Rana hearing writ filed against EC, Speaker today
(kh), As
MCC becomes a lightning rod for controversy, Deuba is
in a tight spot : The prime minister appears to have
fallen into a trap with coalition partners’ strong
reservations about the American programme, as US
officials are due to arrive this week, by Tika R
Pradhan and Anil Giri (kp), Why
Gagan Thapa’s candidacy can be good gesture for
Congress—and other parties : Amid growing leadership
handover debate, Thapa is set to contest for party
general secretary, five years after an unsuccessful
attempt for the same post, by Anil Giri (kp), Hearing
on cases related to constitutional appointments in
limboThe Supreme Court has issued an interim order to
first settle whether the Constitutional Bench can sit
without the chief justice, who has recused himself
from the hearing, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Lamenting
The Party Split, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), Government
on statement spree over protests, debates : After
warning of action against those making statements on
foreign-funded development projects, ministry objects
to protests against Indian prime minister (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/09/2021:
Court
observation on public debate on sub judice cases
raises questions : Restricting public discourse could
be tantamount to gag order, which is a detriment to
democracy, analysts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Govt
starts preparation for new session of parliament
(kh) [Thanks to the
prorogation of the House of Representatives and the
immediate subsequent amendment of the Political Party
Act, the parties were able to split to secure the
Deuba government. Now the legislature of the elected
representatives of the people can get back to work!],
Cabinet
requests Prez to summon house session on September 8
(rep), Overcoming
Crisis Of Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Tackle
Human Trafficking, by Aashish Mishra (rn), Earthquake
Victims Of Barpak Dalit Settlement Await
Reconstruction, by Narendra Dhakal (rn), Nepal
writes to the US to clarify ‘controversial’ provisions
of MCC agreement (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/09/2021:
Govt
to mark 7th Constitution Day for three days (kh) [The celebration of a constitution
that the male leaders refuse to implement and some of
them already want to revise? Ex-Prime Minister
Oli even wanted to destroy it!],
Trivialising
the apex court : When the executive flouts the
judiciary’s decisions, it raises questions on the
constitution’s legitimacy, by Bijesh Joshi and
Laabhesh Thapa (kp), Lack
of political culture has bred mistrust among
parties, observers say : Unable to trust the
Maoists, Deuba has started approaching the main
opposition, CPN-UML, mainly for the endorsement of
the bill on the MCC grant. The level of distrust
among the state organs too is deepening, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal’s
PM, too, hasn’t assertively said they have
accepted EPG report, interview with SD Muni
(kh), Border
issue with China exposes Nepal’s unstable foreign
policy : When it comes to relations with
neighbours, a studied approach that is above
partisan interests is required, and both Oli and
Deuba have bungled, analysts say, by Anil Giri
(kp), No
official communication on Darchula issue from
Nepal yet, India says, by Rajesh Misdhra (kp),
Supreme
Court stays hearing on appointments in
constitutional bodies, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht), After
Supreme Court’s interim order on Constitutional
Bench, NBA calls Advisory Council meet (kh), 10
arrested from anti-MCC demonstration in front of
US Embassy (rep), Madhav
Nepal’s CPN (Unified Center)’s student union burns
effigy of Indian PM Modi (rep), Federalism:
Is It a White Elephant?, by Rajendra Koirala
(rep) [The problem is not
federalism as such, but its opposition by the
self-centred, anti-democratic male highcaste
politicians. It sounds like 1960 when King
Mahendra claimed that Nepal was not made for
democracy!], The
systemic silencing of stories of harassment :
Stories of abuse and harassment at educational
institutions continue to emerge but there are few
consequences for the perpetrators, by Kabita
Bahing (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/09/2021: Families
of persons disappeared during insurgency start filing
criminal cases with police : Victim families say they
have lost faith in the transitional justice
commissions, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Understanding
the Tharu perspective on the 2015 Tikapur incident,
by Prasansha Rimal (rec), Cycle
of ineptitude : We should not expect much from a
government by the least suitable people (kp), Nepal’s
‘socialist’ parties : Ordinary people rarely care
about complicated political philosophies, say
analysts, stressing that politicians should focus on
delivery, not jargon, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Communists,
socialists or whatever : The real test for Madhav
Kumar Nepal’s outfit will come during the elections in
a year’s time, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Darchula incident
makes a diplomatic test case with India for Deuba :
Government has yet to make any position on Jaya Singh
Dhami’s disappearance in Mahakali river, despite a
probe committee submitting its report, by Anil
Giri (kp), Curate
Politics Thru Election System, by Mukti Rijal
(rn), No
citizenship, no job : Young Madhesis have been
deprived of numerous opportunities as they can’t apply
for citizenship. They can’t even go abroad for work,
by Jitendra Narayan Thakur (ae), Young
menace : Revival of militant youth groups is bad news
for upcoming elections (ae), Prachanda-path
2.0 : If Prachanda and his Maoist Center intend to
govern, they must return to their roots and empower
individuals and local communities, by Bishal Thapa
(ae), What
fuels political instability in Nepal?, by Pratik
Ghimire (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/09/2021:
A
case of political déjà vu : Unfortunately, for the
people of Nepal, we are entrapped in a maze of
instability, by Sambridh Ghimire (kp), Let
courts try cases : The issue of rights violations
committed during the conflict will remain unsettled
unless the TRC Act is amended (ht), Young
Nepalis are waking up to the climate crisis, but
officials aren’t listening, by Shuvam Rizal (rec),
Living
on the margins : Dhami’s story is the story of a
democratic state failing to fulfil its responsibility
(kp), Deuba struggles to expand Cabinet as
coalition partners squabbleWhile Janata Samajbadi
demands withdrawal of ordinance that eases party
splits, CPN (Unified Socialiast) eyes plum
ministries. Maoist Centre has its own demands, by
Anil Giri (kp) [As always,
it's all about posts and access to funds! This
generation of politicians will never change. They must
be replaced urgently!], Shakya
and Acharya may lose chief minister posts if they
remain in UML : With some UML assembly members
defecting to CPN (Unified Socialist), Oli supporters
could slip into minority, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Hearing
on murder case against Speaker Sapkota deferred again
(rep), Recent
UML political phenomena: Merger, forced termination,
division, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
31/08/2021:
'Allow
regular courts to try conflict era cases' (ht), Nepal
caught in virus geopolitical games as US and China
spar over origin : Kathmandu should maintain a neutral
position, as Covid-19 crisis is not over yet and
it cannot afford to antagonise any friendly
nations, analysts say, by Anil Giri (kp), Anti-MCC
people have nexus with China, interview with
foreign affairs expert Arun Subedi (kh) [Nepal
can desperately use this US aid. The problem is that
everything the US initiates in South Asia is always
part of its rivalry with China. They are not
interested in the possible impact on Nepal's
relationship with China!], Coalition
partners ask Deuba to release report on Dhami
disappearance case : Prime Minister Deuba seems to be
trying to dismiss the incident in order not to offend
India, analysts say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Unsavoury
soup of cooked books : The disgraceful picture
portrayed by the auditor general’s report reflects
lack of accountability, by Achyut Wagle (kp), BSP
divided over issues of federalism and secularism :
Party Chair Mishra, Coordinator Pandey call separate
meetings (kh) [Rabindra
Mishra is about to dump his once hopeful party
and himself in the dustbin of oblivion!], Bibeksheel
Sajha on the verge of split, again : Party chair
Rabindra Mishra and convener Milan Pandey have called
separate meetings of the Central Committee on Thursday
(kp) [Each and every member of
the Bibeksheel Sajha Party should distance him/herself
from the backward-looking chairman!], Reducing
Multidimensional Poverty, by Uttam Maharjan (rn),
PM
Deuba’s defining moment, by Narayan Manandhar
(rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
30/08/2021:
Status
of those disappeared during insurgency continues
to elude families : Conflict victims are not hopeful
of the government’s latest plan to conclude the
transitional justice process, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Where
are they? The failure to address insurgency-era
grievances inhibits our ability to build a peaceful
future (kp), Ensure
justice for Nepal’s “Disappeared”: ICJ (kh), Nepal:
ensure justice for Nepal’s “Disappeared” (ICJ), Nepal
govt urged not to stop stalling enforced disappearance
inquiries (rep), International
rights bodies call on Nepal to stop stalling enforced
disappearance inquiries : Three global rights
organisations say that international partners should
strongly back victims’ needs and credible legal
process (kp), Judicial
announcement of death made 21 years after
disappearance, by Dinesh Subedi (rep), Right
to reject: To vote or not to vote?, by Anoushka
Pant (ht), Poll
prospects of new parties depend on how alliances
evolve : Formation of CPN (Unified Socialist) and
Loktantrik Samajbadi could lead to vote splitting, and
for them to gain, they will have to rely on others,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Journo
Tripathi demands end of federalism and secularism, and
restoration of monarchy (kh) [Another
completely superfluous party. Why not turn back the
wheel of history to the time before the Gorkhali
conquests: no Shah monarchy, no Hindu state, no
Bahunbad, just a garden of ethnic flowers, which
Prithvi Narayan then abolished to establish his state
of exclusion and social statification?], Gyanendra
was dethroned, Oli was overthrown but the game for
power continues: Bhattarai (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
29/08/2021:
In
Nepal’s politics and governance, old faces rule the
roost : Top leaders’ penchant for power and young
generation’s failure to challenge the seniors have
made leadership handover a distant dream, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [And they are
overwhelmingly male Tagadharis, especially Bahuns,
although the latter represent only a very small
minority of six percent of the population! Is this the
socially equal and inclusive Nepal that the same
politicians promised in 2006 and again in 2008?],
PM
Deuba prepares to deactivate ordinance on party split
before cabinet expansion (kh) [Deuba
manipulates parliament and laws to enforce his
political power interests. Where is the difference to
Oli?], Will
defy media laws enacted unilaterally: FNJ. The
incumbent government has endorsed the same bill
drafted by Oli’s government (ht) [Once
again: Where is the difference to Oli?], Nepal’s
budget allocations to repay foreign, domestic loans
tripled in five years : Experts say it’s high time
governments were more selective in borrowing with the
debt to GDP ratio crossing 40 percent, by Prithvi
Man Shrestha (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/08/2021:
Six
years after Tikapur incident, Tharus still wait for
justice : Those who were tortured and sent to jails
but acquitted say the state has failed them and
their entire community, with no political party
willing to take up their cause, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Rana
not to sit on Constitutional Bench to hear case of
controversial appointments : Questions were raised
whether Rana should preside over the bench to hear the
cases where he has conflict of interest, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), CJ
Rana recuses self, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Divisive
Politics Breeds Instability, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), Nepal
now has six national political parties (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/08/2021:
‘Stability’,
Nepal’s political parties said. And then they ruined
the idea : Three and a half years after vote under new
charter, the country is back to square one, and as
polls are just around the corner, the spectre of the
old vicious cycle looms large, by Anil Giri (kp),
CPN
(Unified Socialist) party in a dilemma to choose
ministers : Too many aspirants make it difficult for
Madhav Kumar Nepal to choose leaders from his party
for ministerial berths in the Deuba-led government
(rep) [Ministerial posts and
other functions are all that top politicians have in
mind!], Hearing
on Constitutional council postponed after lawyers
raise ethical questions against CJ Rana : CJ Rana
likely to quit Bench (kh), CJ
Rana not to be part of Constitutional Bench hearing
case related to appointments to constitutional bodies
(rep), Hearing
postponed on mass murder case against NC lawmaker Alam
(rep), Youth
activists demand dismissal of rape-accused Karnali
minister within 24 hours (rep), Hridayesh
Tripathi to form a new party (rep) [Put
an end to the moronic factionalism within all the
major parties! Every party leader needs his own party!
This will provide much needed political stability?!],
Nepal’s
unequal marriages : Men cheat and get away with it,
while women are blamed for shaming the family, by
Arjana Rajbhandary (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/08/2021:
Court’s
intervention natural when leaders don’t follow
charter, ex-chief justices say : Parties have the
tendency of criticising the court whenever
rulings do not go their way, observers say, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal’s
communist movement takes yet another turn : CPN-UML,
the country’s largest party, splits. Madhav Nepal now
leads the CPN (Unified Socialist), by Anil Giri
(kp), A
late start, perhaps We will have to wait to see
whether Madhav Nepal bounces back or fades into
obsolescence (kp), Madhav
Nepal’s CPN (Unified Socialist) to join Deuba-led
cabinet (rep), Government
mulls options to ease growing burden of social
security allowances : Observers call for alternatives
even as safety net for the elderly, poor, vulnerable
and needy is state’s responsibility, by Prithvi
Man Shrestha (kp), Disaster
preparedness sorely lacking in Karnali Province :
Floods and landslides take lives and ravage properties
in the province every year. Many people say the
severity can be mitigated by prioritising preparedness,
by Chandan Kathayat (kp), Nepal’s
archaic land acquisition laws : Projects have failed
to acquire land because of compensation disputes with
locals, by Prem Khanal (kp), Political
Cases Swamp Supreme Court, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Born
unequal, treated unequally : The world treats people
differently based on sex and it starts as soon as the
gender of the fetus can be identified, by
Balmukunda Regmi (ae), Nepal
as a self-confident, educated, skilled and prosperous
democracy, by Bipin Adhikari (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
25/08/2021:
Identifying
the vulnerable: Key to reducing poverty, by Simone
Galimberti (ht), Critique
Of Non-Political Activism, by Bhupa P. Dhamala
(rn), Migrant
Workers Prone To Human Trafficking, by Namrata
Sharma (rn), UML
Chair Oli signals to move forward with proposal of a
powerful chairman (kh) [The
party leaders of CPN-UML and NC already have an
undemocratically large amount of power. The autocrat
Oli in particular, but also Deuba, have abused this
time and again. Since Nepal does not practise
democracy but party rule, this is particularly
worrying. As part of an urgently needed revision of
the Political Party Act, the power of party leaders
should therefore also be significantly restricted.]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/08/2021:
OAG
report paints bleak picture of country’s fiscal
governance (kh), Leader
Nepal backs Ashta Lakshmi Shakya in Bagmati Province
(kh), Bureaucratic
inertia delays report on Darchula missing youth probe
: Almost a month since Dhami fell into Mahakali trying
to cross the river on a cable, the government is yet
to share what exactly happened and its position on the
incident, by Anil Giri (kp), Deuba’s
fifth term: Six weeks go by with 17 ministries still
under him : The prime minister has not been able to
expand his Cabinet even in more than 40 days, and
observers say a lack of dedicated ministers hugely
affects governance, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Impose
inheritance tax to change politics : Family feuds
generally revolve around ancestral assets in the form
of land and property, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), Six
years on, Tikapur carnage victims still worried about
justice (ht), Severe
food crisis looms large in Bajura district (ht), Arrested
journo freed, two constables suspended (ht), Congress
In Driving Seat, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), The
real ‘Gaijatra’: Sheer stupidity on display, by
Kunga Hyolmo (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/08/2021:
In
UML split, Maoist Centre sees chance at regaining its
relevance : As Madhav Nepal moves to register new
party, the former rebel party, under threat of being
wiped out of political scene, appears to be major
beneficiary besides Congress, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), How
splits in parties may affect provincial politics,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Socialist
centre in Nepal : A realistic vision or an ambitious
idea? Some politicians, including Baburam Bhattarai, a
former Maoist leader, have been making a pitch for
bringing like-minded forces to build a new model of
socialism, by Anil Giri (kp), Government
yet to pay Nepal Airlines for last year’s Omni
chartered flights : Payment remains stalled while the
carrier faces acute financial problems due to flight
suspensions, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Shambolic
management : Official ineptitude cost too many lives
during the second wave. We cannot let a repeat show
happen (kp), Saptari
flood victims crying for relief (kh), She
wrestled for the nation, but is deprived of
citizenship card : There is no provision for issuing a
citizenship in the name of mother (ht) [Nepal's high-caste patriarchal
machos at the top of the state consider the land their
property; women are only tolerated!], Piling
arrears : Unless there is a change in the attitude of
those in power, it would be futile to expect good
governance (ht), Rein
In Arrears (rn), UML
Is What It Is Not, by Mukunda Raj Kattel (rn), Ruling
alliance expresses serious concern over ‘threats’
issued by UML lawmakers against Speaker Sapkota
(rep), Ruling
coalition objects to UML’s ‘threat’ to House Speaker :
Issuing a statement, Congress, Maoist Centre, Janata
Samajbadi, Rastriya Janamorcha and Madhav Nepal group
urge all to respect constitutional decorum (kp), 142
Cases Of Human Rights Violation Reported In A Month
(rn) [see INSEC
report)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/08/2021:
How
Hindu state idea is trying to gain ground in Nepal :
Analysts say it is not easy to undo the
achievements guaranteed by the constitution, but
threats remain, by Anil Giri (kp), Unity
among good communists a must: Maoist Center leader Pun
(kh) [And who are the good
communists? Those who admit to being responsible for
the deaths of 5,000 people during the Maoist
insurgency but continue to deny any justice for the
victims?], Auditor
General’s report points out anomalies in pandemic
management and procurements : The report also pointed
out a substantial differences in the prices of
medical goods procured by the government agencies to
combat Covid-19 in the fiscal year 2019-20, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), State
treasury misused on pretext of peace, security, OAG
report says (ht), Nepal’s
bureaucracy seriously lacks accountability: 58th
annual report of OAG (rep), Confrontation
between UML and Speaker continues UML chair Oli has
accused Speaker Sapkota of disregarding the party’s
recommendation to dismiss 14 lawmakers, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Can
Nepal Lead Socialist Movement?, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/08/2021:
Will
Deuba set a legacy different from his predecessor?,
by Abhaya R. Joshi (kh), Thakur-Mahato
group to participate in govt if newly proposed DSP
gets EC’s go-ahead (kh), Alliance
politics set to make a comeback as two parties split :
Stability, a common refrain of Nepali politicians,
goes up in the smoke as they squabble over power,
partisan interests, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Pandemic
rages on but money in Covid-19 fund remains
unspent for past six months : Not a single rupee has
been released from the Coronavirus Prevention, Control
and Treatment Fund since January 27 (kp) [Cheers
to the incompetence and ignorance of the former Prime
Minister Oli!], There
are only nine banking outlets serving every 100,000
people in Province 2: NRB (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/08/2021:
Implementation
of basic humanitarian standards stressed (kh), An
ordinance nation, and rule of law : How President,
despite having constitutional roles, can be
instrumental in keeping political processes on track,
by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The
question is whether now, unlike during the Oli
government, the President actually waited a day to
sign the bill to thoroughly review the ordinance. Or
did she simply want to give Oli's CPN-UML enough time
to expel the dissidents from the party so that they
lost their MP status before the amended law took
effect and MK Nepal's party could easily split.],
UML
mounts pressure on Speaker to initiate action against
its 14 lawmakers : Speaker to forward action as per
law (kh) [According to
article 35 of the Political Party Act, the speaker has
15 days time to do so!], With
ordinance challenged in court, doubts over Nepal and
Thakur’s new parties : Six advocates have petitioned
against Deuba government’s ordinance to ease party
splits, demanding its annulment and actions based on
it, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Apex
court moved against ordinance amending PPA, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht), UML
cannot take action against 14 lawmakers: Lawmaker
Devkota (kh) [In view of
the Supreme Court ruling of 12 July, this is
absolutely correct! The judgement is binding law also
for Mr. Oli!], Karnali
CM sees need of strengthening federalism for respect
to martyrs (kh) [The
implementation of federalism and secularism is not
only important for the martyrs, but also for those who
live today and in the future!], Nepal
faction proposes new name for party–CPN (Ekikrit
Samajbadi) (kp), Split
in UML, JSP-N : What is true is that none of the
political outfits that have broken away from the
establishment have been able to expand their base
(ht), People’s
representative from Dalit community tied to a pole and
beaten : Police nab 8 on assault allegation (kh),
The
Plights Of Rape Survivors And Criminal Investigation,
by Govind Prasad Thapa (sp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/08/2021:
Pandemic
may leave Nepal’s poor more deprived, report says,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), 17.4%
people under poverty line in Nepal: Govt data :
Highest in Karnali (39.5%); lowest in Bagmati (7%)
(kh) [see Multidomensional
Poverty Index by NPC et al. (report as PDF)],
Most
parties fare poorly on internal democracy : Parties
have been postponing their conventions under various
pretexts. Observers say this must end, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Aided
by Deuba ordinance, dissidents split two parties :
Madhav Nepal applies for CPN UML (Samajbadi) and
Mahantha Thakur for Janata Samajbadi Party
(Loktantrik), by Anil Giri (kp), The
pot and the kettle : Deuba’s selfish act will go down
in history as yet another beginning of the undoing of
democracy (kp), PM
Deuba, can you handle it?, by Ishwar Dev Khanal
(kh) [No, Deuba has already
proven four times before that he is not up to the
tasks of a PM. Now he has also shown that he acts just
as reprehensibly and anti-democratically as Oli. This
whole non-inclusive generation of failed politicians
at the top of the parties should finally disappear!],
Deuba
on Oli’s footsteps (ae), Shakya
becomes first woman chief minister, by Subas
Bidari (kp), Angling
for the sympathy of conservatives : Rabindra
Mishra’s ‘alternative’ thoughts seem to have been
fossilised in the bygone decades of the Panchayat era,
by Deepak Thapa (kp), UML
piles pressure on Speaker to dismiss 14 lawmakers
(kh), Five
writs filed at SC against ordinance on party split
(kh), Petitions
registered at Supreme Court against ordinance to amend
Political Parties Act (kp), Distributive
Justice in a Plot of Land, by Rajaram Bartaula
(rep), Violence
against women, by Nitesh Raj Joshi (ht), Afghan
lessons for Nepal (ae), Rabindra
Mishra: Nepal’s Trump. Like Trump, Mishra seeks to
harness the grievances of Nepal’s privileged class
whose traditional sources of authority are being
challenged by the new republican, federal,
decentralized, and secular structure, by Bishal
Thapa (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/08/2021:
18
years on, justice still a far cry for people killed by
Nepali Army in Doramba (ht), It’s
wrong to bring ordinance bypassing parliament, says NC
leader Thapa (kh), An
ordinance that makes it more evident Deuba no
different from Oli : The Congress-led government has
done exactly the same for which the party criticised
Oli government last year. It’s the UML that is
launching an attack on Deuba now, by Anil Giri
(kp), Ordinance
lowers threshold for splitting parties (ht), House
prorogued : The govt has deliberately undermined the
role of the parliament by putting it under the shadow
of the executive (ht) [This
is an unchanged continuation of Oli's anti-democratic
and unconstitutional policy! Deuba has already failed
mercilessly even in his fifth attempt as prime
minister!], Govt
money meant for the poor being spent on treatment of
politicians (rep), Prez
Bhandari issues ‘party-split’ ordinance (rep), Tharu
Morcha in protest, pressuring government to implement
past agreements : Brihat Nagarik Aandolan, an alliance
of civil society members and people from various walks
of life, supports the protest, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), People
forced to buy drug used to treat severe Covid-19
patients in black market : Patients paying up to 17
times the government approved price for Tocilizumab, a
drug that is in short supply; Malpractice also common
in private hospitals treating Covid-19 patients,
by Arjun Poudel (kp), Ghising
outlines poor performance of power utility under
previous leadership : While his appointment is
challenged at the Supreme Court, Ghising has announced
plans to increase domestic consumption and export
electricity, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Antics
of MCC critics : Given Nepal’s current situation, MCC
or no MCC is not going to make any difference. The sky
is not going to fall without the MCC, nor will we be
having a heavenly ride with the MCC. Yet, the
political forces in the opposition have found it to be
a rallying cry, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), UML
Samajwadi Party registered with Election Commission :
Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, senior leader Jhala Nath
Khanal (kh), Mahantha
Thakur registers JSP Nepal (Democratic) at EC :
"Bicycle" as election symbol (kh), Nepal’s
poverty was reduced to 17.4 percent before pandemic
hit the country: NPC (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/08/2021:
164
Nepalis return home from Afghanistan; 134 register
their details : Foreign Ministry: 1,500 Nepalis in
Afghanistan, NAFEA: 15,000 (kh), 118
Nepalis arrive from Afghanistan via Kuwait : Officials
say they were working inside the US embassy in Kabul
and evacuated by the Americans (kp), Nepalis
in Kabul appeal for immediate rescue, by Yogendra
Yogi (kh), Nepal
scrambles to evacuate Nepalis from Afghanistan :
Easier said than done, officials say, as the country
lacks diplomatic links and mechanisms, including
dedicated ministers. Government relying on employing
countries, by Anil Giri, Sangam Prasain and
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Govt
bringing ordinance to amend Political Parties Act 2017
: Province and local level representatives will be
able to choose the party (kh) [Many
amendments to the Political Parties Act would be
necessary. The current amendment is mainly to
facilitate a split of CPN-UML and JSPN. But why is the
amendment again made through an Ordinance and not
through Parliament, whose session was therefore ended
the day before?], Govt's
move to prorogue Parliament condemned, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht), Opposition
lashes out at the government for proroguing Parliament
: After failing to give business to the House, the
Deuba administration, which is unsure of its strength
to pass bills, has ended the session that started a
month ago, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The
criticism is well-founded, but the tradition of ruling
without parliament and democratic rules was introduced
by KP Oli! That Deuba continues this is shocking!],
Oli
expels 14 members of the Nepal faction as lawmakers :
Decision comes amid an ordinance to ease laws for
party split (kp), UML
on the verge of split : UML dismisses 14 of its
lawmakers, including Madhav Kumar Nepal (rep), Deuba-led
govt, too, introduces ‘party-split’ ordinance
(rep), SP
leaders meet PM Deuba to discuss Madhesh agenda
(kh),
Do not take the economy for granted : The government
seems to be in no hurry to address the common man’s
quest for survival, by Achyut Wagle (kp),
Reimagining and owning politics : Why is politics—a
value-neutral word–a taboo in Nepal?, by Sushav
Niraula (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/08/2021:
Migrant
workers’ contribution: Where is the Government?,
by Nitish Lal Shrestha (kh), Half
of the population already exposed to the virus, new
study says : Experts caution against interpreting the
number as achieving herd immunity and call for taking
precautionary measures and scaling up vaccination,
by Arjun Poudel (kp), Nepal
plans to start road to economic recovery as third wave
looms : Even though the Cabinet chaired by Prime
Minister Deuba on July 13 had decided to introduce a
special package to revive the economy within a month,
it's yet to announce any package, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Snarling
global geopolitics : How does Nepal sense it?,
by Madhav Shrestha (ht), Government
to prorogue parliament session (kh) [The
way the Deuba government deals with the legislature
seems to be little different from the Oli period.
Democracy looks different. There should be so many
laws passed!], President
prorogues parliament : Minister defends prorogation
saying government needed time to build consensus on
pending (kp), Nepali
citizens in Afghanistan plead for their immediate
rescue after Taliban insurgents storm Kabul (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
15/08/2021:
Just
as virus cases surge, non-Covid-19 patient numbers are
rising too : Demand for oxygen doubled in Kathmandu in
the past week. But authorities are still not focussing
on preventive measures like tests, experts say,
by Arjun Poudel and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp ), Protesters
demand justice for Krisala Chaudhary (rep), With
major shifts in party organizations, Maoist Center’s
CC meet concludes (kh) [But
standing Committee not affected? The provision of the
constitution applies to all party levels!], SC
orders full ban on plastics (thinner than 40μ) within
21 days (kh), What
the UN’s ‘Code Red’ climate report means for Nepal :
With rising temperatures all but certain, Nepal must
focus on a more realistic and comprehensive emissions
reduction strategy, strong regional cooperation, and
effective global diplomacy, by Shuvam Rizal (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/08/2021:
Women
still face witchcraft charges in Sunsari : Rights
activists say most of the victims of such allegations
are women from marginalised communities, by Sumnim
a Chamling (kp), Deuba
has struggled to form the Cabinet. He lacks team of
advisers as well : In the absence of ministers, role
of persons with expertise can be crucial in
governance, but Congress leaders say the prime
minister is waiting to give government full shape,
by Anil Giri (kp), Nepal-Khanal
faction mulling to form new party : Accuses Oli of
moving ahead unilaterally (kh), Shift
in political dynamics may lead to oversized
governments in provinces, experts warn : With UML no
longer in power at the centre, provincial governments
are also undergoing shake-ups. But there is a risk of
the new power-sharing deal leading to bloated cabinets,
by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Under
Article 168 (9), the number of members of a provincial
council of ministers is limited to a maximum of 20 per
cent of the number of MPs in the province, for
example, 8 in Karnali Province and 22 in Bagmati
Province.], Monetary
policy prioritises relief and recovery for the
pandemic-hit : Extension of repayment deadline,
availability of cheaper interest loans, refinance
among the measures announced by the new policy, by
Prtithvi Man Shrestha and Krishana Prasain (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/08/2021:
SC
order on reservations draws flak, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht), 'Court
prejudiced against reservation' (ht), They
fail, we fall : Not even the rise of the Hindu right,
monarchists, or the call to scrap federalism and
secularism has united Nepal’s politicians (nt), With
government unsure of its own strength, House deprived
of business : Deuba cannot risk rejection of bills
without ensuring the support of Nepal faction of UML
and Thakur camp of Janata Samajbadi that gave him
trust vote, observers say, by Binod Ghimire (kp),
After
the Melamchi disaster : Planners need to realise and
accept that the era of megaprojects in Nepal is over,
by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), Nepal’s
Endless Democratic Transition, by Chandra D Bhatta
(rn), SC’s
division bench refuses to hear Aftab’s pleading citing
conflict of interest (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
12/08/2021:
What
new global climate report that paints a bleak picture
means for Nepal : While poor nations should press rich
countries to scale up aid, they should also try to be
part of solution, experts say, by Chandan Kumar
Mandal (kp), After
authorities failed to ramp up antigen tests, kits are
close to expiry : Health Ministry in May planned
25,000 antigen tests a day, but numbers hover around
5,000. Experts say no one is paying attention to
testing, first step in fighting the virus, by
Arjun Poudel (kp), Unions
set up roadblock against long stalled aviation bills :
The trade unions say they fear the government will
gradually privatise the airports, causing them to lose
their perks and pay, by Sangam Prasain (kp), A
voice from nowhere: Battling for rights away from
Kathmandu : Manoj Ram, a Parsa-based Dalit rights
activist, believes it’s his moral duty to struggle
against all odds for his community, by Srizu
Bajracharya (kp), Poor
economic health : Fiscal deficit cannot be reduced to
the desired level unless the government takes measures
to increase the production base (ht), Nepal’s
rightwing fallacy: The question is, which part of the
current political system is unique to Nepal? (ae)
[fUnique to the multiethnic
and multicultural society of Nepal or unique to the
small elite of male Bahuns and Chhetris?]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/08/2021:
The
fishing village and the stolen boat : They stole our
ghats. They stole our boats. They stole our rivers and
our fish. Crushers in our rivers, they even stole the
lands of our ancestors, by Raju Syangtan (rec), Deuba
government to revise ordinance budget presented in
May-end : Experts say revision to the budget and its
size necessary, but the white paper came just to
discredit Oli government, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), National
coffers running a deficit of Rs 143 billion (ht),
Nepal’s
public borrowing increasing at an alarming rate:
Govt’s whitepaper (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/08/2021:
Indigenous
people are victims of conservation 'success story'
(ht), Indigenous
people’s role to consolidate nationality: Province
Chief Gurung (kh) [The male
Bahuns and other male Tagadharis must finally stop
identifying nationality with their own culture and way
of thinking! Male Bahuns make up only six percent of
the population but control almost all posts and
functions of the state!], Indigenous
Peoples Suffer Under Conservation Policies: Report
(rn) [see report
by Amnesty International], Once
power-starved, Nepal now aims to export electricity :
The country now is energy surplus after an increase in
total installed capacity, and the realisation of the
plan to sell power to India would mark a milestone,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), SEE
results once again show effect of centralised
education system : Federal authorities say local units
lack competency to oversee school education as
prescribed by the constitution, but experts argue that
has to be tested first, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Public
messaging : The government must review its Covid-19
communication strategy (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
09/08/2021:
Indigenous
people worry hard-won gains may be lost : Achievements
made since 1990 are at risk as secularism and
federalism are yet to be institutionalised and recent
court ruling is another challenge, activists say,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The
traditional elite, especially male Bahuns, continue to
control the country, prevent social inclusion and the
development of federalism and secularism, and
constantly demand that the wheel of time be turned
back instead, e.g. Ganga Thapa, Rabindra Mishra, KP
Oli, Shashanka Koirala, etc.], Deuba’s
double trouble: timely party convention and managing
coalition : Pressure building on Nepali Congress
president to keep house in order and expand the
Cabinet, by Anil Giri (kp), Supreme
Court orders government not to implement its decision
to scrap land commission : The bench has called the
government and petitioners for discussion on August 17
to discuss the matter further (kp), Cabinet
meeting to discuss on formation of new land commission
(kh) [Contempt of court also
on the part of the Deuba government! Your legitimacy
is based on the fact that the unconstitutional
machinations of Oli had to be stopped, not for you to
similarly misbehave, Mr. Deuba!], Chief
Justice Rana justifies appointments to constitutional
bodies, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [?????],
BSP
Chair’s Dangerous Proposal, by Mukunda Raj Kattel
(rn) [Rabindra Mishra has been
preaching Bibeksheel Sajha Party for years as an
innovative and alternative political force. Now he is
showing his true Hindu fundamentalist face. If there
is anything Nepal truly does not need, it is a return
to the Hindu state, monarchy, centralism and Panchayat
glorification. If the BSP is to have a future, it must
part company with its chairperson immediately! There
is no sign of a rethink among the established parties.
This could be an opportunity for the BSP!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/08/2021:
Government’s
talk of expediting transitional justice process fails
to convince conflict victims : Conflict victims doubt
the Deuba government is committed to amending the
transitional justice laws as per the 2015 Supreme
Court ruling, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Deuba
and Dahal have both had a great responsibility for the
escalation of the conflict and should therefore have
no interest in justice for the victims!], Man
dies in Police custody in Sindhupalchok (kh), People
with disabilities left out of Covid-19 vaccination
drive : Although the government has decided to
inoculate people with disabilities, vaccines are
not accessible to all in the target group, by
Biplab Maharjan (kp),
Exiles at home : Migrant workers are heroes of the
nation, but the government treats them as lesser
humans, by Deepak Thapa (kp), The
networking of politics: families, funds, and
favoritism, by Rajib Neupane (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/08/2021:
Consensus
foreign policy: Desirable, but can parties have
it? A task force of the ruling alliance has
called for a foreign policy based on consensus. It is
possible if national interest is kept above
petty party interests, experts say, by Anil Giri
(kp), Changing
officials too often may hit plans to jab all in next
eight months : Technical manpower in health
departments continues to get transferred. As new
appointees take time to learn, fight against the
pandemic will be affected, former officials say,
by Arjun Poudel (kp) [This
is also a consequence of frequent changes of government,
when all leading positions in the administration are
re-staffed in a pathological manner according to party
allegiance!], Children
in Jajarkot villages deprived of nutrition pay : Local
officials say around Rs 4.7 million meant for
nutrition allowance was frozen, as NIC Asia bank could
not release the amount on time, by Bhim Bahadur
Singh (kp), Fostering
Representative Links Of Citizens, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), Politics
and Business, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Cases
of violence against women on the rise (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/08/2021:
Going
backwards : The idea that reservation must be based on
need, and not caste, is flawed (kp) [The
judges also bear the characteristics of being male and
high-caste. They obviously cannot escape their
acquired view. As long as adequate participation in
society is not guaranteed by a restrictive quota
system also in the judiciary, a correct assessment of
the situation of the traditionally excluded is
unlikely to be realised!], In
defence of secularism : A forgotten incident from the
Panchayat era tells us why we must protect minority
religions, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Ruling,
opposition parties on collision course after land
commission scrapped : More of the Oli government’s
decisions will be scrapped, Congress leaders say.
Analysts argue that all decisions need not be
overturned but there is no system in place, by
Anil Giri (kp), School
textbooks yet to reach remote Karnali districts : High
airfare and disruption of road networks have delayed
the transportation of textbooks, by Chhapal Lama
(kp), The
business of politics in Nepal L To uproot cronyism,
the next election must stop votes being bought with
notes, by Shekhar Kharel (nt), RPP
Chair Thapa objects plan to ‘bring local levels under
Province govts’ (kh) [Thapa's
idol Mahendra once called it "Back to the Village
National Campaign" with various facilities to control
and spy on the people! This sounds like a return to
panchayat times.. Nevertheless, the local level must
not be brought under the control of the provincial
level!], Unstable
All The Time, by Keshab Poudel (sp), Nepal’s
Unsteady Progress Towards Fiscal Federalism, by
Bishnu Adhikari, Parshuram Upadhyaya, Amol Acharya and
Abhas Ghimire (sp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/08/2021:
One
step forward, two steps back : Recent court ruling to
revisit reservation and affirmative actions for those
discriminated against by the state is regressive and
defeats the purpose, observers say, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Sorry
state of affairs : Challenges of implementation of the
reservation policy for women in Nepal persist, by
Roshee Lamichhane (kp), Ignored
for three years, EPG report is losing its
relevanceEminent Persons’ Group, formed to review
various aspects of Nepal-India ties, including the
1950 Treaty, finalised the report in July 2018,
but it continues to gather dust, by Anil Giri (kp)
[Who was in political charge
again in the last three years?], 'Indecision'
of Madhav Kumar Nepal-led faction over whether to join
govt delays Deuba's plan to expand cabinet (rep),
Referendum
on secularism? 10 public intellectuals weigh in,
by Pratik Ghimire (ae) [It is
shocking to read how many intellectual Nepali Hindus
define Nepal exclusively as a state of their own.
Nepal is a multi-religious and multi-cultural state.
Such a state should not identify itself with one
culture and religion. This creates discontent among
those who cannot identify with a Hindu state and fuels
conflict, as one can learn from Nepali history. It is
not about using a referendum to prove that there are
more Hindus living in Nepal than members of other
cultures. The state must give all inhabitants a
possibility of identification, and this only works in
a secular state. Linking state identification with a
particular religion is poison! Overcoming this
grievance has been one of the greatest achievements of
recent years. The fact that the ruling elite, all
high-caste male Hindus by the way, have not developed
this ideal further, probably quite deliberately, is no
reason to return to the failed state identification of
the male Hindu elite.]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/08/2021:
The
broken drum of meritocracy : Loyalists of the old
order seem to be trying to sabotage the agenda of the
2008 pronouncement, by CK Lal (kp), Instances
of VAW far from declining yet, by Sabina Karki
(kh), Nepal
helped Deuba return to power. Now he’s hobbling
Cabinet expansion : Even three weeks after assuming
office, prime minister is unable to expand the
Cabinet. Allotment of ministries delayed as UML
dissidents who voted for Deuba vacillate, by Anil
Giri (kp), Bureaucratic
run-around : The government can at least ensure
hassle-free access to testing, jabs and vaccine
passports (kp), Commission
to mark land for landless dissolved, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht), Twenty-six
lives lost in risky river crossings in Darchula in
last 27 years (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/08/2021:
The
woes of migrant workers to get vaccines and
certification : After waiting for weeks to get jabbed,
youths planning to head for foreign countries
for work have to struggle again for paperwork showing
proof of vaccination, by Chandan Kumar Mandal
(kp), Target
groups left out from Covid-19 vaccination campaign in
Bhimdatta Municipality : Locals accuse health workers
deployed at vaccination sites, people’s
representatives and municipal employees of stealing
vaccines for family, friends, by Bhawani Bhatta
(kp), School
scholarship funds go unspent while students drop out
due to poverty : Hardly Rs150 million was distributed
to the target student groups in the previous fiscal
year leaving around Rs700 million unspent, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Tame
the beast : Recent controversies in the stock market
have raised doubts among investors (kp), Central
planning versus federalism : The National Planning
Commission is a relic of the centralised planning era
of Panchayat, by Achyut Wagle (kp), SC
orders halt in excavation of riverine substances
(rep), EC
cancels registration of 41 political parties (kh),
PM
Deuba instructs Minister Bhusal to appoint Kulman as
NEA Executive Director (kh), Bibeksheel
leaders unveil alternative proposal (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/08/2021:
Prevention
is cure : The Deuba administration has to rope in top
experts in the field to assess our latest situation
(kp), Ideals
of the rule of law : The laws of the nation must bear
the fundamental ideals of justice, by Sambridh
Ghimire (kp), Sugarcane
farmers resort to agitation again after government
breaks promise : Farmers say sugar mills still owe
them Rs250 million that includes the subsidy amount
given to them by the government, by Krishana
Prasain (kp), SC
validates UML’s action against 4 Karnali lawmakers
(kh), Four
UML Province Assembly members breaching party whip
lose their positions (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/08/2021:
With
hospitalisations on the rise, lockdown is inevitable,
experts say : Restrictions are not being enforced and
those vaccinated are growing complacent even though
the risk of Delta variant, predominant in Nepal, is
higher, by Arjun Poudel and Anup Ojha (kp), CCMC
proposes smart lockdown to stem COVID spread (ht),
Foster
Intraparty Unity, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn) [This
will not be possible without democratising the
internal party structures and processes, criminalising
the authoritarian machinations at the party
leaderships and finally making the parties socially
inclusive, as prescribed by the constitution and the
Political Parties Act!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
31/07/2021:
Prospect
Of Democratic Stability, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), UML
unity only possible after current leadership quits:
Leader Jhakri (kh) [This
is absolutely correct. If political conditions in
Nepal are to improve and democracy is to be saved, the
leaders of all the major parties must resign in unison
and make way for a younger and more socially and
culturally inclusive generation!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
30/07/2021:
Rights
commission tells global body ‘court will test legality
of key appointments’ : Global Alliance of National
Human Rights Institutions is set to revisit the ‘A’
status of National Human Rights Commission, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Standing
with Nepal’s survivors of trafficking in persons
: Ultimately, to eliminate trafficking in Nepal, we
must address the underlying issues, by Randy Berry
and Nicola Pollitt (kp), Cabinet
reshuffle likely to be delayed, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht), Political
trilogy, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Nepalis
queueing up all night for proof of jab : Vaccine
certificates are just another in a long checklist of
permits and authorisations for Nepali workers headed
overseas, by Upasana Khadka (nt),, 2AM
is too late : The lines at Teku this week showed
appalling indifference towards those at the mercy of
the state (nt), Coping
with patriarchy : Tracking the struggle of women in a
Nepali clan across four generations, by Bhumi
Ghimiré (nt), Treaty,
agreement should be in national interest: Dr Rawal
(kh)
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
29/07/2021:
Whose
backing Deuba has anyway—parties or individual
lawmakers, or both? Analysts say the Congress leader
has mixed support, but confusion persists as there is
a lack of clear constitutional explanation, which may
emerge in case differences arise, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), US
interest, Nepal foreign policy under Beijing’s watch
with changes in Kathmandu : China would want to make a
push for implementation of BRI projects, just as Deuba
government prepares to move the American MCC programme
forward, observers say, by Anil Giri (kp), Patients
deprived of free essential medicines at Mugu
government health institutions : The District Hospital
in Gamgadhi sends patients to private medical stores
due to a shortage of medicines at the hospital,
by Raj Bahadur Shahi (kp), Keep
the third wave away : Our centralised and
inaccessible health system definitely needs a complete
makeover, by Bimala Joshi (kp), Sugarcane
farmers in capital once again to protest as sugar
factories fail to clear their dues (rep), Rabindra
Mishra: Wrong right turn : He has betrayed the idea of
alternative politics and hence lost the moral
authority to lead the movement, by Dinkar Nepal
(ae), Why
should women accept patriarchal norms?, by Cilla
Khatry (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/07/2021:
Our
history offers grim hope : Government after
government has failed to address the grievances of the
insurgency period, by Mohna Ansari (kp), Alternative
politics continues to be a chimera in Nepal : Analysts
say conservatism and regressive ideas still prevail
with no parties or leaders, despite promises, able to
inject hopes in a society that yearns for a change,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Keep
your fingers crossed : Alternative politics has
remained an excellent idea on the drawing board only
(kp), Lawmakers
press for passage of citizenship bill (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/07/2021:
Back
to the future: Dream of a utopian Nepal, by Ashok
Kumar Khand (ht), Government
must up its efforts to prevent human trafficking,
stakeholders sayChanging forms of human trafficking
and gap in existing laws have made things worse for
the victims as well as authorities working to prevent
them, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), Trafficking
laws incompatible with Palermo Protocol (ht), Govt
preparing to remove chiefs of three provinces
(kh), Challenges
Before PM Deuba, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Deuba
govt won’t get excuse for erring as Oli govt: Gagan
Thapa : Says previous govt reached Balkot from
Baluwatar for its misdeeds (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/07/2021:
As
Nepal is getting jabs, vaccine administration presents
new challenges : Experts warn that crowded
immunisation centres could turn into virus
hotspots. Authorities urge the public to
register for vaccination but the response has
been lukewarm, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Heritage
activists welcome anti-corruption body probing
Pashupati jalahari installation : In February, the
Pashupati Area Development Trust had replaced the
receptacle at the base of the Shiva Linga with a
golden 96-kg one inside the temple defying a court
order (kp), Too
quick a fall : The exit of a ‘communist’ government
has left the critics of Nepali communism
vindicated, by Jiwan Kshetry (kp), Justice
eludes victims of heinous crimes: NHRC (ht), The
Social Enigma behind Untouchability, by Rajaram
Bartaula (rep), Changing
Course : Nation Above Notion. Abolition of Federalism
by Restructuring and Strengthening Local Bodies :
Referendum on Secularism, by Rabindra Mishra
(paper on personal website)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
25/07/2021:
With
Congress leading government, its general convention
becomes uncertain : Dispute over party membership,
focus on governance, pandemic, natural calamities and
Deuba’s desire to lead party for another term could
mean it will be postponed, by Anil Giri (kp) [After the CPN-UML, the NC is also
showing its major democratic flaws and losing its
legitimacy!], Government
promotes police officer involved in extrajudicial
killings : Sub-inspector Dipendra Chand is promoted
despite the national rights body recommending action
against him, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Dalit
woman, son thrashed in Siraha (ht), Nirmala
murder case remains a mystery even after three years
(rep), One
arrested for misusing photo of President, PM (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/07/2021:
Communists’
inability to unite results in power loss, Deuba’s test
ahead (kh), From
vaccines to a balancing act, Deuba faces tough foreign
policy challenges : It is not just about India and
China anymore. With the changes in international
rivalries, Nepal needs to tread carefully while
safeguarding its interests, observers say, by Anil
Giri (kp), Controversial
issues might be raised to break the alliance:
Prachanda (kh) [Nepal's
political future is still at stake, Mr Dahal! This is
no time for power games. The old generation of top
politicians of all parties should take their leave by
the elections at the end of next year at the latest!],
UML
claims Deuba doesn’t have popular mandate. Experts
disagree : Political and constitutional experts say
UML leaders are undermining the people’s mandate and
promoting negativity against the judiciary by
questioning Deuba’s appointment as prime minister,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nearly
half a million Nepalis rescued from abroad since the
start of pandemic : According to the Covid-19 Crisis
Management Centre, most of those rescued are from
places including the Persian Gulf, Malaysia and India,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Nepal’s
Search For Political Stability, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/07/2021:
Round
and round goes the wheel : Why is Nepal stuck in a
loop of musical chairs between the same old men?,
by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Teachers
Service Commission out of work with vacant leadership
positions : The commission is unable to announce
vacancies for at least 12,000 schoolteachers and
decide on promotions of over 2,500 teachers in the
absence of chair and members, by Binod Ghimire
(kp) [Thank you Mr Oli, you
were the most incompetent PM Nepal has ever seen!],
Nepali
‘Kabuliwalas’ : Repatriating Nepalis in Afghanistan
needs to be a high priority for Deuba (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/07/2021:
The
House got a new lease of life. Now it should get
deputy Speaker : Experts say parties in power must not
undermine the fact that constitutional obligations are
attached with the post, which the previous government
failed to pay heed to, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Will
Deuba be a changed man in his fifth outing? There
seems to be little hope that Deuba would be any better
than Oli in terms of governance, by Deepak Thapa
(kp), Denial
of citizenship due to lack of relevant law affects
thousands (ht), The
Accidental Prime Minister, by Narayan Manandhar
(rep), जति
नेता त्यति गुट : जुन समुदायमा आफ्नै सरकारसँग लड्ने
शक्ति हुन्छ, त्यसले चिरकालसम्म उसलाई पराजित
मनोविज्ञानमा रहन दिन्न । [The more leaders, the
more factions : A community that has the power to fight
its own government should not be allowed to live in a
defeatist mentality forever], by Chandra Kishor (ka), Discredited
parliament : We blame politicians and political
parties, but in one form or another, we end up
concluding that this system is hopeless, by Bishal
Thapa (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/07/2021:
Teach
cadres manners instead of making them ruffians:
Raghuji Pant (kh), Outraged
Oli supporters continue spitting venom at Dahal, Nepal
(ht 21/07/2021), Deuba
struggles to expand Cabinet, more so by issues in his
own party : The prime minister has to satisfy the
rival faction of his party. The Maoist Centre and the
Janata Samjabadi are his key partners and he can’t
ignore the Nepal group either, by Anil Giri (kp) [After only a few days, the usual
power-seeking and factionalism seems to be back in
Deuba's government as well!], Deuba
as the new PM: Opportunity to enhance tarnished image,
by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Janata
Samajbadi’s birth was accidental and it may meet with
an accident of split : Factions led by Upendra Yadav
and Mahantha Thakur have drifted apart and
reconciliation between them is unlikely in the current
circumstances, observers say, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), Towards
safer births : Superstitions and discriminatory
customs continue to deny women their basic rights
(kp), The
curse of tinpot heroes : Our self-important politicos
falsely believe they have made huge sacrifices for the
country, by CK Lal (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/07/2021:
The
show’s over : Nepali politics has finally returned to
a semblance of stability (kp), After
Deuba’s trust vote, UML seems to be unravelling : As
differences between Oli and Nepal have reached the
point of no return, the only question is how many will
side with the latter as he appears set to quit the
party, insiders say, by Anil Giri (kp) [It
is unbelievable how an authoritarian and power-hungry
politician like Oli destroys his party, which has
played such an important role in the last 30 years!],
Women
in remote Baglung village are sent to animal sheds to
give birth : Many women die for want of treatment and
maternity care in Dhiri since they do not go to
hospitals for delivery, by Prakash Baral (kp), The
economic challenges facing Deuba : The new prime
minister has appointed somebody with unknown
credentials as finance minister, by Achyut Wagle
(kp), Work
for stability : Hopefully, with the new mandate, PM
Deuba will provide the much-desired political
stability that has remained elusive for the last seven
months (ht), PM
Deuba and Maoist Center Chair agree to overturn
‘unconstitutional appointments’ (kh), The
Politics of Quotas, by Sanjit Shrestha (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/07/2021:
In
Kalikot, gender discrimination begins at birth :
Despite efforts from social organisations and local
authorities to raise awareness on gender
discrimination, prejudices against girls are still
prevalent, by Tularam Pandey (kp), Deuba
set to govern for a year and a half as he wins House
confidence : As many as 165 lawmakers vote in favour
of Deuba’s trust motion while 83 vote against and one
remains neutral, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Deuba
wins trust vote, moots national govt : 165 lawmakers,
including 23 from UML, vote in his favour • 83 UML MPs
vote against him, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Embracing
The Essence Of Democracy, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/07/2021:
Deuba
likely to take vote of confidence today : Speaker
calls meeting of Business Advisory Committee (kh),
PM
Deuba confident about getting a vote of confidence
(kh), We
will vote for Deuba for parliament’s sake: UML leader
Jhankri (kh), UML
senior leader Khanal urges lawmakers to vote for PM
Deuba (kh), Amid
mixed signals, Nepal faction’s support for Deuba is
not a certainty : UML leaders continue unity bid even
if it means rethinking the roles of Oli and Nepal.
Meanwhile, more Samajbadi Party lawmakers switch sides
to support the government, by Anil Giri (kp), Congress
has opportunity to restore parliamentary supremacy,
experts say : Besides over a dozen ordinances of
previous government, there are scores of bills
awaiting endorsement. Some related to federalism have
been pending since 2018, by Binod Ghimire (kp), In
criticising court, Oli defies rule of law, experts say
: UML Standing Committee decides to ‘expose’ Supreme
Court’s verdict ordering Deuba’s appointment as prime
minister, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Court
Steps In To Save Parliament, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(rn) [Oli no longer even had
the mandate of the people after the HoR withdrew its
confidence in him. This is also one of the many
untruths spread by Oli!], Legacy
of KP Oli: Dismantling rule of law, by Sumit
Pathak (rep), Prez
Bhandari annuls ordinance amending Constitutional
Council procedure (rep), Govt
tables ordinance-based budget presented by Oli led
govt at parliament (rep), Deuba
wins vote of confidence in the reinstated House :
The win ensures Congress leader’s tenure as prime
minister for a year and a half–until the next
elections are held (kp), Deuba
wins vote of confidence in parliament with 165 votes
(rep), PM
Sher Bahadur Deuba wins trust vote in House of
Representatives, secures 165 votes (ht), PM
Deuba secures vote of confidence in Parliament : Out
of 249 votes: Yes 165; No 83; 1 Neutral (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/07/2021:
In
new fiscal year, hopes for economic revival hinge on
jabs : Nepal’s economy lost two years to pandemic.
Economic activities were picking up but then the
second wave hit in April. Except for tourism,
prognosis is good, experts say, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Provinces
following Oli’s example of governing through
ordinances : Karnali governed by Maoist
Centre-Congress alliance and Lumbini by UML prorogue
provincial assemblies and introduce new fiscal budgets
through ordinances, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This
is due to the fact that Nepal has party rule rather
than people's rule, particracy instead of democracy!],
The
Anatomy Of Authoritarianism, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), Advocacy
Forum-Nepal, Amnesty International Nepal urge govt to
ratify Rome Statute (rep) [see joint
statement]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/07/2021:
Transitional
justice bodies get new term but conflict victims have
little hope : Rights activists say the Congress and
Maoist Centre have got another chance to complete the
peace deal by settling insurgency-era cases, but
progress remains dismal, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [There is not much to expect.
Dahal, by his own admission, was responsible for the
Maoists' crimes, and Deuba was at times responsible
for the actions of the state security forces. In
particular, Deuba was responsible for the mobilisation
of the army and the resulting escalation of the
conflict!], Proposed
policy to ban small importers sparks individual rights
concerns : Provision will limit the number of
importers and make it easier to identify them and
track their transactions, report says, by Prithvi
ManShrestha (kp), Caste
discrimination case : SC tells police to book
ex-minister Shrestha (ht), INSEC
Urges to Ratify Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court (INSEC)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
15/07/2021:
EC
cancels election schedule for HoR (kh), Let’s
appoint a retired justice as President, suggests ex-PM
Bhattarai (kh), PM
Deuba to take vote of confidence within few days : His
strategy to secure vote of confidence (kh), Uncertainty
ahead : Deuba cannot afford to be "incompetent" again.
But his hands are tied (kp), In
KP Oli’s ouster, there are lessons for others—what not
to do when in power : A fall from grace for the leader
who squandered a historic opportunity and strong
mandate to govern, implement the constitution and
safeguard democracy, observers say, by Anil Giri
and Tika R Pradhan (kp), Cabinet
recommends House meeting at 4pm Sunday : The lower
house was restored by the Supreme Court on July 12
(kp), Three
days after the abrupt ending of NA, Deuba calls for
its new session (kh), Conflict
victims not to engage with commissions sans law
amendment (ht), Reframing
Our Youth Employment Problem, by Surath Giri and
Saurabh Shah (rep), President
Bhandari calls HoR, NA meeting on July 18 (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/07/2021:
Deuba
returns as prime minister with challenges ahead :
Congress leader has taken over the reins for fifth
time with a duty to fight pandemic and clean up the
mess left by Oli, by Anil Giri (kp), Confidence
vote will decide how long new government lasts : If
Deuba wins, it will be 18 months. If not, he’ll have
to hold polls in six months, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Budget
hit as Oli govt nosedives 3 days prior to its
implementation (kh), After
court’s observations, questions arise over fate of
ordinance budget : The court called the introduction
of the budget through an ordinance a week after
House dissolution fraudulent. Legal experts say Deuba
government can bring a new one, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Telling
it like it is : The court has made it clear that
snollygosters must be thrown out (kp), Reproductive
rights of women, young people must be protected, says
UNFPA (ht), End
Comedy Of Political Errors, by Namrata Sharma
(rn), SC
issues interim order to stay works on Kaligandaki
River diversion (kh), NC
leader Gachhadar released on Rs 1 million bail
(kh), UML
cadres demonstrate against SC order in Oli’s hometown
Damak : Effigy of Chief Justice also burned (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/07/2021:
Oli
flew too high : The judiciary has rescued Nepal’s
parliamentary democracy and averted a constitutional
disaster (kp), Supreme
Court shows Oli the door : Constitutional Bench orders
Nepali Congress President Deuba’s appointment as prime
minister and reinstatement of the House. Legal experts
say the court verdict is a victory of rule of law,
constitutionalism, independence of judiciary and
democracy, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Court
verdict raises serious moral question for President
Bhandari : As Supreme Court restores House, it says
Head of State’s actions are subject to judicial review
and that it is the judiciary’s responsibility to
correct any unconstitutional moves, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Speaker
can call meet of Lower House: Apex court (ht), Congress
President Deuba set to return to power, for fifth
timeThe Congress leader needs to be appointed prime
minister by 5pm today as per court order. UML’s Nepal
faction, however, has severed ties with the opposition
alliance, by Anil Giri (kp) [This
could mean that new elections will be held within the
next 6-7 months, this time under the rule of law.
After all, such new elections are likely to be
inevitable.], Senior
UML leader Nepal breaks alliance with opposition
parties (rep), UML
holding Standing Committee meeting today : Likely to
endorse 10-pt consensus deal (kh), Nepal-Khanal
faction meeting prior to UML SC meeting : To decide
whether to attend SC meeting or not (kh), Is
Nepal likely headed for political unrest? The country
cannot afford another political turmoil, by Ishwar
Dev Khanal (kh), Attorney
General Badal resigns (kh), People’s
mandate is in my favor, NC Prez Deuba got SC’s: PM Oli
(kh) [This is a lie! Oli
continues to be intransigent and ignores the fact that
the representatives of the people withdrew his mandate
in a democratic process on 10 May 2021. Everything he
has done since then has been unconstitutional!],
PM
Oli says SC decision disturbed balance of powers,
democracy in peril (kh) [Reversal
of reality!], PM
Oli announces resignation in his address to nation
(kh), President
Bhandari appoints NC President Deuba as new Prime
Minister : Swearing-in ceremony to take place at 6 pm
(kh), President’s
Office statement skips mentioning constitutional
provision by which Deuba is appointed (kp), President
appoints Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba
prime minister : The appointment comes after the
Supreme Court ordered it on Monday. It ruled that the
rejection of his claim, with the support of 149
lawmakers, by the President in May was
unconstitutional (kp), Deuba
sworn in as prime minister : Four ministers also
sworn-in (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
12/07/2021:
SC
reinstates House of Representatives yet again :
"Appoint NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime
Minister within two days" (kh) [see
Nepali text of the verdict, alternative
link in case of overload of the SC server], Court
orders President to appoint Congress leader Deuba
prime minister by 5pm Tuesday : The decision of the
five-member Constitutional Bench also orders summoning
of the House by 5pm July 18 (kp), Apex
court reinstates parliament, issues mandamus to
appoint Deuba as new PM (rep), What’s
in the SC verdict? (rep), Supreme
Court reinstates House, issues verdict in favour of
Deuba's claim (ht), Lawmakers
free to give vote of confidence for PM under Article
76 (5): SC (kh), MPs
can’t be imposed whip as per Article 76 (5): SC
(rep) [This is a particularly
important part of the ruling, as elected
representatives are granted unrestricted freedom of
conscience: Nepal has a democracy and not a party
dictatorship! This also applies to those parties that
now see themselves on the winning side!], Oli
supporters take to streets against SC verdict on House
dissolution case (ht), 23
UML lawmakers’ signatures in support of Deuba will
remain intact: UML leader Nepal (kh), For
an inclusive Congress : Caste, class, culture and
gender diversity is imperative to end the status quo,
by Sambridh Ghimire (kp) [And
with it comes an unwavering commitment to federalism
and secularism. Advocates of a return to the Hindu
state should have no place in this party that will now
have to take the lead in the future government!],
Reinstatement
of Parliament: Arguments and counterarguments, by
Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Precedents
of dissolution and reinstatement of HoR (kh), SC
verdict is flawed and unpleasant yet we will accept
it: CPN-UML (kh) [Let's
hope so! You don't seem to accept that a Supreme Court
decision is binding law!], Opp’n
alliance decides to form govt led by NC President
Deuba (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/07/2021:
Police
intervene in civil society demonstration : Dozens of
demonstrators arrested (kh), Police
arrest 19 protesting civil society members : The
Brihat Nagarik Andolan group were demonstrating
against irregularities in the medical education sector
in front of Singhadurbar (kp), China
aims to create an alternative regional bloc in South
Asia : Observers say Nepal needs to tread carefully as
the Beijing-led Poverty Alleviation Centre minus India
is part of Chinese attempts to expand its influence
and countervail New Delhi’s clout in the region,
by Anil Giri (kp), What
made you wait for a month, Mr Prime Minister?, by
Kunga Hyolmo (rep), Details
of UML task force’s 10-point unity deal : UML task
force announces 10-point unity agreement (kh) [At the beginning of the agreement,
the most important point is missing: Oli's immediate
resignation from all state and party offices.
Putschists are unacceptable in a democracy!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/07/2021:
Cases
of missing person go up during Covid-19 pandemic,
police records show : The National Human Rights
Commission in 2019 had reported that nearly 1.5
million Nepalis are at risk of various forms of human
trafficking; 10,418 missing person reports were filed
in first eight months of the current fiscal year,
by Shuvam Dhungana (kp), Newlywed
inter-caste couple attacked, girl taken away (ht)
[An archaic patriarchal way of
thinking and acting that raises doubts as to whether
Nepal really has a civilised society! This violation
of basic human rights requires the toughest possible
crackdown by the government and the judiciary!],
Ideas
For Systemic Conflict Transformation, by Dev Raj
Dahal (rn), Good
and bad nationalism, by Surendra Singh Rawal (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
09/07/2021:
Don’t
wait for free jabs, pay to secure them, World Bank
tells Nepal : The donor agency, which has provided
$100 million for vaccine procurement, says money
should not be an issue when it comes to vaccinating
the population, by Sangam Prasain (kp), With
majority population unvaccinated, concerns abound over
hasty lifting of Covid-19 restrictions : Covid-19
Crisis Management Centre says it is devising a
strategy to tackle a possible third wave, by Anup
Ojha (kp), Codifying
the breaking of wind : The Nepali state’s desire to
control all aspects of life, including our orifices,
is omnipresent, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), The
deep dive : Specter of secularism, by Pranaya Rana
(rec), Parliamentary
whiplash : Hopefully, by this time next week a Supreme
Court verdict will show us a way out of this maze
(nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/07/2021:
Legitimacy
of the CPN (Maoist Centre) challenged at the Election
Commission : Former Maoist leaders claim the party has
breached the constitutional provision of holding the
periodic general convention, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Fewer
flights, expensive tickets and Covid-19 restrictions
hit migrant workers : Vaccination rule has added
uncertainty to Nepal’s foreign employment sector.
Nepali diplomats in labour destination countries say
workers are facing similar hardship as last year,
by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), A
bunch of hogwash : The government is known for
bullshit, but even it could have supported citizens
better against Covid-19, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Elderly
People: Waiting for Justice at Very Important Phase of
Life, by Punam Pant (rep), What
does it mean to be a casteist? To not be a casteist,
we must recognize that caste is structural and exists
in invisible forms in Nepali society, by Tarun
Timalsina (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/07/2021:
Ties
of tradition that bind and blind : Without more
aggressive politicisation of the inclusive
agenda, cultural divisions are unlikely to end, by
CK Lal (kp), Critical
Citizenry Vital For Democracy, by Bhupa P Dhamala
(rn), Fate
of opposition alliance at stake as CPN-UML factions
step up unity talks : As talks to bring Oli and Nepal
together are termed positive, the future of the
alliance, formed to make Nepali Congress President
Deuba prime minister, is uncertain, leaders say,
by Anil Giri (kp), Split
in Samajbadi Party is no surprise as its formation was
unnatural, analysts say : The Election Commission will
decide which of the two rival factions will get the
party name and election symbol, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/07/2021:
Government
is way behind tax revenue target as fiscal year ends
on July 15 : Annual target is Rs450 billion but the
Inland Revenue Department has collected just Rs373.26
billion until July 3, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), Don't
even think about it : Political adventurism to scrap
secularism and federalism will backfire (kp), Supremacy
of the constitution : To preserve democratic values
and norms, the reinstatement of the House is
inevitable, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Court
likely to give its verdict on July, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht), SC
Verdict To Seal UML Fate?, by Narayan Upadhyay
(rn) [All parties must change
fundamentally if Nepal is to have a future. Nepal's
political parties are not democratic, socially
non-inclusive and in the hands of patriarchal machos
with a greater or lesser proximity to Hindu political
thinking!], JSP
headed towards split as EC’s last-resort effort to
strike deal between two factions fails (kh), Janata
Samajbadi Party decide to split a little more than a
year after merger : The Election Commission will
decide on which of the two warring factions led by the
two chairs Thakur and Yadav will get the party’s name
and symbol (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/07/2021:
Oli’s
aversion to federalism and secularism becoming more
apparent : A proposal at UML top panel to review major
achievements of the constitution does not portend well
for the charter which has come under increasing
threats, observers say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Arguments
centre on if court can appoint Deuba prime ministe r:
Chief justice asks whether it will be the right thing
for the bench to pick prime minister as demanded
by petitioners, as hearing on House dissolution
continues, by Binod Ghimire (kp), HoR
Dissolution: Three senior lawyers presenting
counter-arguments today : Four hours remain for writ
against HoR (kh), Hearing
on parliament dissolution case over, verdict likely on
July 12 (rep), Rupa
Sunar moves court demanding sacking of Education
Minister Shrestha : Shrestha had escorted an alleged
perpetrator of caste discrimination from the police
office to her home on June 23 after the district
attorney’s office ordered her release (kp), The
world is watching : It would be shameful if the
National Human Rights Commission’s status were to be
downgraded (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/07/2021:
‘A’
status of rights commission under threat due to
controversial appointments : Global Alliance of
National Human Rights Institutions has asked the
commission to furnish a justification over the
controversial appointments of its office bearers,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), House
Dissolution: Constitutional Bench hearing debates
today as well : Legal practitioners to debate on
behalf of Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota (kh), No
party whips on the govt formation as per Article 76
(5): Speaker Sapkota’s lawyer (kh), Constitution
was violated by President: Senior Advocate Kharel
(kh), PM
Oli has skipped constitutional provisions, HoR will be
reinstated: Yogesh Bhattarai (kh), Rupa
Sunar files writ petition against Minister Shrestha on
caste-based discrimination allegation (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/07/2021:
Ratnanagar
not to allow lactating mothers to go abroad (kh) [This is archaic patriarchy!
According to Article 18 of the Constitution, all
people are equal, regardless of their gender.
Consequently, men with children of this age are also
no longer allowed to leave the country!], As
US supplies vaccines to some countries, Nepal waits
and wonders : Nepal fails to become Washington’s
priority for vaccine aid despite its urgent needs.
There is no clarity on doses and delivery of the jabs
White House announced last month, by Anil Giri
(kp), Election
body preparing for polls despite uncertainty : The
Election Commission plans to issue a tender notice
next week for the procurement of election materials,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Oli
is now to blame for this situation for the second
time. He should be held personally responsible for the
completely unnecessary expenses if the SC declares his
actions unconstitutional this time as well, which is
to be assumed! It would have been much more important
to use the time to finally prepare a postal voting
option so that migrant workers and other expatriate
Nepalis, election workers and security personnel could
also vote. Denying them the right to vote is
unconstitutional!, SC
to pass its verdict on HoR dissolution case next week
(rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/07/2021:
Questions
galore before the Supreme Court as it hears House
dissolution : How the Constitutional Bench looks into
arguments from the petitioners and defendants and how
it passes a verdict will help define the constitution,
experts say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), HoR
Dissolution: Govt attorneys to finish pleading today :
Lawyers to begin arguments on behalf of Speaker
(kh), Without
dedicated health, foreign ministers, vaccine purchase
will be hit, ex-ministers say : Two Nepal Airlines
flights will bring vaccines from Beijing next week,
officials say. But other sources of vaccine are
unclear, by Anil Giri (kp), The
great headcount : The bureau must sensitise the
enumerators on the need to appreciate social diversity
(kp), Federal
government continues handling local roads and bridge
projects : Road officials say local governments still
don’t have capacity to implement such projects, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [This
is a consequence of the fact that the Oli government,
as the first government elected under the new
constitution, refuses to this day to really implement
federalism!], PM
Oli claims there will be enough vaccines from Sunday
(kh 02/07/2021) [Direct
connection to heaven?], Labour
migration : A sound policy is required to make
productive use of the remittance, instead of
squandering it on importing luxury goods (ht), Not
the right time to conduct polls : Faulty comparisons,
by Mahendra P Joshi (ht), After
the petitioners, now the defendants, by Narayan
Manandhar (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/07/2021:
Koshi
Tappu residents protest decision to turn their
homesteads into leasehold forest : The proposed area
is home to 500 families, mostly flood and landslide
victims, squatters and impoverished households, by
Dilliram Khatiwada (kp), Central
Bureau of Statistics told to make plan for conducing
census before Dashain : With a third wave of Covid-19
projected to hit the country around the same time, the
bureau faces challenge, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), NHRC's
call against caste-based inequality (ht), Abide
by the code : The office-bearers must live up to the
people's expectations and take impartial and fair
actions as per the legal provisions (ht), Writ
petition filed at SC, demanding halting of Kali
Gandaki-Tinau Diversion Multipurpose Project
(rep), Secure
Demographic Dividend by Attending to Nepali Youth Now,
by George Varughese and Richard Howard (rep), Protests
intensify against HoR dissolution in capital
(photo feature) (rep), 16
ordinances presented at NA meeting (kh) [That
is complete nonsense! Does the Oli government really
think the people of Nepal are stupid? According to
Article 114 of the Constitution, ordinances require
the approval of both houses of parliament. Approval by
the National Assembly alone is absolutely meaningless.
At least some of the ordinances should have been
tabled a long time ago when both houses were in
session. Indeed, according to Article 114 (2) (a),
this has to be done in the first session of Parliament
after the promulgation of the Ordinances, otherwise
the latter are deemed to be repealed. However, the Oli
government deliberately failed to make such a
submission!], Hold
Nepali politicians to account : Perhaps what Nepal
needs is a figurative demise of dishonourable,
untrustworthy, corrupt netas. That demise can only
begin if the average Nepali decides to stop being a
marionette, by Shreya Soni (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
30/06/2021:
American
firms say unable to supply vaccines to Nepal before
2022 : J&J and Moderna’s inability to sign any
deal within this year shrinks government’s options,
just as Nepalis wait desperately to get inoculated
amid a third wave threat, by Anil Giri (kp), Five
student unions staging protest against HoR dissolution
today (kh), Lawyers
defending House dissolution face intense grilling :
Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana asks lawyers
whether it is mandatory for the President to
appoint a prime minister after Article 76(5) is
invoked, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Anti-defection
law key weapon of defence team (ht) [Once
again, it is evident that Nepal does not have
democracy but party rule. Since the parties are not
structured democratically and the party leaders claim
almost absolute power, the constitution and the party
law must be amended so that decision-making power lies
with the elected representatives of the people who,
despite all the necessary party discipline, are
primarily responsible to their conscience! Hopefully,
the SC will demand this in its final judgement!],
Caste
persists, nurtured by the state, by Shradha Ghale
(rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
29/06/2021:
NHRC
discusses with Health Ministry on COVID-19 control
efforts (kh), The
difference between communism in China and Nepal :
Three decades of existence has shown us that Nepali
communists have misguided priorities, by Sujeev
Shakya (kp), Isn’t
parliament a forum to seek vote of confidence? Chief
Justice Rana asks govt attorney (kh) [What
a confusing argumentation on the part of the Attorney
General!], HoR
Dissolution: Political parties subject to party whip
in democratic country: Joint Attorney General Pandey
(kh) [Accordingly, most of the
democratic states in the world are not democratic at
all if they put the freedom of conscience of the
members of parliament above party discipline, e.g.
Germany!], PM’s
resignation not envisaged by constitution, argues DAG
Pandey (kh) [Mr Pandey,
please read Article 77 (1) (a) of the Constitution. A
leading jurist in the country should be familiar with
this passage!], PM
Oli cautions Education Minister Shrestha for latter’s
‘indecent’ behavior (kh) [Anyone
who supports caste discrimination is unacceptable as a
minister!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/06/2021:
Nepal
hasn’t seen a single conviction for torture and
custodial deaths in the past three years : Police
cannot be trusted to conduct impartial investigation
into cases where own officers are involved, says a
2020 Supreme Court ruling, by Binod Ghimire (kp),
Investigate
torture : Only an independent mechanism can
investigate and prosecute all acts of torture and
ensure justice to the victims (ht), Dalit
rights: No respite at the top. Those in power are
allowed to get away with perpetuating atrocities
against Dalits, by Deepak Thapa (kp), HoR
dissolution: Govt attorneys delivering arguments on
behalf of Prime Minister from today : Ramesh Badal,
Sushil Panta and Agni Kharel to advocate (kh), Court
should order Deuba be appointed prime minister,
lawyers argue : As Article 75 (5) has already been
activated, the question now is who should lead the
government on its basis, they say. The defendants’
arguments begin today, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Writ
filed against HoR does not fall within jurisdiction of
Constitutional Bench: Attorney General Badal (kh)
[And what about Article 137
(2) in combination with Article 133 (1)? The Attorney
General's statement casts doubt on his legal
qualifications!], Attorney
General Badal claims President saved face of
opposition alliance (kh) [The
President and the Prime Minister only had to abide by
the Constitution. The mandatory second vote of
confidence would have brought absolute clarity.
Everything else was unconstitutional!], Get
the point? Nepali migrant workers cannot travel to
labour destinations as they are yet to be inoculated
(kp), Judiciary
in federalism of Nepal: Universally agreed principles
ignored, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (ht), Are
We Heading Towards Socialism?, by Mukunda Raj
Kattel (rn), Chief
Minister Raut alleges federal government does not want
the provinces to prosper (kh) [KP
Oli and many other central party politicians would
prefer not to have a federal system but a return to
centralism with an all-powerful prime minister at the
helm who is beyond the control of parliament!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/06/2021:
HoR
Dissolution: Debates on behalf of writ petitioners
concluding today (kh), Press
Council’s censure of social media posts draws
condemnation, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Justice
eludes victims of heinous crimes: NHRC (ht), 'Establish
dedicated mechanism to investigate torture' (ht),
Grand
old party is in transition and seems to be in a
dilemma : Nepali Congress is preparing for its general
convention to elect a new leadership, but with too
many aspirants to lead the party, leaders are busy
forming alliances, by Anil Giri (kp) [The
old familiar party leaders, most of whom have already
failed several times, who have led the party into the
abyss over the years, are applying again, some of whom
are seriously calling for a return to the Hindu state.
If the NC now misses the chance for a fundamental
change to a younger generation of politicians, an
internal democratisation and, above all, social
inclusion at all levels, the party will face a
difficult future and that is not good for Nepal!],
UML’s
unity mantra : The Nepal camp has unequivocally
supported Oli and turned a blind eye to his
transgressions, by Naresh Koirala (kp), Biplav
expedites meeting with other party leaders on holding
a referendum (kh), Judiciary,
Executive On Collision Course, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(rn), Himalayan
Reinsurance Company: Rs 1 billion ‘deal’ for operating
license (rep), No,
Mr Prime Minister! KP Oli’s tendencies are wholly and
growingly anti-democratic. He seems to hold no
conception that an MP’s power to vote in parliament is
derived from the trust from the sovereign people, and
not from the party’s chairman, by Manish Jung
Thapa (rep) [In this regard,
all party leaders of Nepal think alike, with Oli
topping all others. It must be enshrined in the
Constitution and the Political Party Law that MPs are
representatives of the people and not of the political
parties and that they are only accountable to their
conscience!], Apex
court issues interim order not to appoint Yuvraj Karki
as ambassador (kh) [Prime
Minister Oli loves to bend the constitution and laws
to suit himself!]
see
also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/06/2021:
Opposition
alliance builds pressure on Oli, but it too faces
questions galore : The group with five former prime
ministers also has answers to provide to the public
and come up with what exactly it is aiming for,
analysts say, by Anil Giri (kp), President’s
actions can be subject to judicial review, lawyers
argue : Advocates pleading on behalf of petitions
against House dissolution wind up their arguments,
bringing the Head of State’s role and intentions under
scrutiny, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Of
course, the President is not above the law. She has to
fulfil her constitutional duties diligently and must
act in a completely non-partisan manner! Her
allegiance to the CPN-UML must rest as long as she is
President! And she must accept criticism as long as it
is factually justified!], Three
UML lawmakers in Karnali suspended again (kh) [Nepal obviously does not have a
democracy, but a party dictatorship. MPs are the
representatives of the people and not of the party;
they have only to follow their conscience! Moreover,
decisions of the SC are binding law that all parties,
including the Prime Minister, have to abide by!],
Book
perpetrators to justice: National Human Rights
Commission (kh), The
Myth Of Merit, by Aashish Mishra (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
25/06/2021:
Article
76 (5) is meant for individual lawmakers—not parties,
lawyers tell bench : On the second day of hearing on
House dissolution, advocates attempt to
interpret the provision’s legislative intent and how
it has been breached, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), PM
and President have no right to dissolve HoR: Advocate
Pokharel (kh), Today’s
hearing on House dissolution case over, petitioners
now have 2.35 hrs for debate (rep), President
appoints 20 to constitutional bodies while case is sub
judice in court : With the House dissolved, their
hearings could not be conducted. Lawyers argue that
provision of appointment after 45 days is applicable
only when hearing is possible, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Political
mishandling aggravates vaccine uncertainty, experts
say : Oli’s focus is on politics rather than
governance, as he has been shuffling ministers,
including at Health Ministry, and there’s a lack of
will, not resources, to arrange for the jabs, by
Arjun Poudel (kp), Nepal
is in disarray. Its foreign policy doesn’t need to be
: Foreign policy cannot serve individual interests. In
Nepal, unfortunately, this is the norm, by Amish
Raj Mulmi (kp), The
real cost of Nepal’s second wave : The pandemic makes
Nepalis poorer and ruins the economy, but the
government has no solutions, by Anita Bhetwal
(nt), Dalit
Commission calls for impartial investigation into
alleged refusal of a house owner to rent her premises
to a woman of the Dalit community : In a statement, it
has also questioned the role of the education minister
in securing the release of the house owner while the
investigation was ongoing (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/0672021:
Chief
Justice turns a blind eye to ‘Doctrine of Necessity’:
PM’s Press Advisor Thapa (kh) [It
is not the SC that is responsible, but only the
coup-mongering Prime Minister Ol and his personal
president who keep breaking the Constitution to
maintain power, not to help the country and its
citizens, Mr Thapa! The SC has only done its
constitutional duty!], Political
blow : The reversal of govt decisions by the SC time
and again does not augur well for the image of the PM
(ht), Lawyers
question President’s intent as hearing on House
dissolution starts : The way Bhandari acted on May 21
makes it clear that she wanted Oli—and no other
person—as prime minister, advocates argue. Hence she
rejected Deuba’s claim, by Binod Ghimire (kp), PM’s
appointment is not discretionary right of President:
Advocate Shrestha (kh), “Article
76 (5) provides discretionary right to
parliamentarians to act independently” (rep), Prez
Bhandari appoints 20 commissioners in various
constitutional bodies (rep) [The
unconstitutional actions of the Prime Minister and the
President continue unabated!], PM
Oli shuffles portfolios of ministers : Deputy Prime
Minister Bishnu Poudel gets Ministries of Home Affairs
and Finance (kh), Restore
political course : The administration has a lot on its
plate amid vaccine deal fiascos and natural disaster
alerts (kp) [Three basic
conditions would have to be fulfilled for this: First,
the immediate replacement of the unconstitutional Oli
government by a transitional government, if necessary
under Deuba. Secondly, exchange the leadership of all
political parties for a younger generation of
politicians. Thirdly, democratisation of the political
parties and the law governing them.], Nepal’s
foreign policy failure : The oft-repeated policy of
equidistance between India and China is unrealistic,
by Lok Raj Baral (kp), Nepal’s
transitional justice hurdle : At the core of Nepal’s
current constitutional crisis is a deeper struggle
over who will direct its transitional justice process,
by Bishal Thapa (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/06/2021:
In
a big blow to Oli, Supreme Court annuls appointments
of 20 ministers : Interim order asserts government is
a caretaker one and terms induction of new ministers
earlier this month, after prime minister lost a
confidence vote, unconstitutional, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp) [Why are only the
new appointments of ministers considered
unconstitutional under Article 77 (3), but not the
dismissals made at the same time? In any case, the
aforementioned article does not make any distinction.],
SC
hearing writs against HoR dissolution from today
(kh), President
has gone beyond the Constitution: Advocate Bandi
(kh), President
should have said PM Oli “You’re no more Prime
Minister: Senior advocate Karki (kh), PM
Oli dissolved HoR with an ill intent, argues Senior
Advocate Khati : Seeks mandamus to appoint Deuba as PM
(kh), Economic
growth target unchanged for the next three years
despite the pandemic : Target of 6.5 percent for
2021-22 may be met if situation normalises given the
negative growth last fiscal year, but double digit
growth after that is impossible, experts say, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [A
political way to raise unrealistic hopes!], Settlements
in Chure foothills at high risk of flood, landslide :
Conservationists blame exploitation of forest and
riverbed materials in the Chure region for the
incidents of floods and landslides occurring
frequently in recent years, by Bhawani Bhatta and
Mohan Budhaair (kp), Kathmandu’s
street vendors find no respite despite loosening of
lockdown, by Anup Ojha (kp), Saffronisation
of the body politic : Oli wants to be the republican
inheritor of Hindu rule, by mingling royalist yellow
with Marxist-Leninist red, by CK Lal (kp), The
Failed Dalit Struggle : The dream of creating a
classless society has remained just a dream. It could
never become a reality, by Giri Bahadur Sunar
(rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/06/2021:
Twists
and turns: What will happen next?, by Ishwar Dev
Khanal (kh), Supreme
Court quashes cabinet reshuffle : 20 ministers
relieved of their positions (kh) [Oli
and Bhandari have been taught that they are not above
the constitution and have to respect it like any other
citizen of Nepal! The next lecture will be about the
renewed dissolution of the House of Representatives.
The damage done by Oli and Bhandari is already
immense! But if the interim cabinet should not have
been changed under Article 77 (3), then the dismissed
ministers should also be returned to their posts now,
shouldn't they?], Supreme
Court quashes appointment of 20 ministers : Oli had
inducted the ministers in two different Cabinet
expansions after the government became a caretaker one
following May 21 House dissolution (kp), Politics,
gerontocracy-style : The very politicians who fought
for democracy hold on to power and influence
stubbornly (kp), Nepal’s
abstention on Myanmar resolution at UN raises
questions : Diplomats, experts and rights defenders
say Nepal, despite being a member of the Human Rights
Council, failed to show its commitment to human rights
and democracy, by Anil Giri (kp) [Both
states are experiencing a similar scenario, Myanmar a
coup by the army, Nepal one by the prime minister! In
both cases, democratic structures and procedures are
being disrupted. Nepal has never been qualified to be
a member of the UN Human Rights Council!], Ilam
sees hard times ahead as tourists stop coming : If the
situation continues, a large section of the population
will lose jobs, insiders say, by Biplav Bhattarai
(kp), SC
issues interim order to vaccinate 1.35 million senior
citizens awaiting second dose of Covidsheild vaccine
(kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/06/2021:
UML
lodges writ against SC’s decision to reinstate Karnali
lawmakers (kh) [Unbelievable
that not even the SC accepts the supremacy of Prime
Minister Oli!], Manpower
and hydropower : This monsoon is a wake-up call. We
ignore these moving mountains at our own peril
(nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/06/2021:
Dr
Bhattarai emphasizes “radical transformation” of
political parties (kh) [This
is indeed a very important point. But there is also a
second one: The constitution and the law on political
parties, as they stand, are geared exclusively to the
interests of the party leaders. Members of parliament,
as representatives of the sovereign people, must not
be bound by the orders and instructions of their party
leaders and must be bound only by their conscience.
Party discipline must have its limits when party
leaders put their personal power interests above the
welfare of the people and the state! Furthermore, the
selection of election candidates must come from the
grassroots. Only then can better social and regional
inclusion be achieved.], SC
issues interim order to prioritize vaccination for
journalists (kh), Police
nabs landlord in Babarmahal for caste-based
discrimination (kh), Litmus
Test Of Judiciary, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Pseudo-experts
and Economic Policy, by Ram Prasad Mainali (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/06/2021:
Is
Nepal still a democratic state?, by Karl-Heinz
Krämer (kh), Nepal
talks about vaccines from China. And the Chinese are
not happyConcerns from Sinopharm and Chinese Embassy
forced Health Ministry to ‘refute’ media reports. But
everyone, including prime minister, is giving
statements on the jabs, by Anil Giri (kp) [The
people's basic right to correct information is not
exactly what Oli and his government are aiming for!],
Supreme
Court puts brakes on government’s plan to extract
aggregates for export : Extracting the Chure resources
in the name of decreasing trade deficit would degrade
the environment, critics say, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), Lockdown
drags on but no relief package for the urban poor,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Essence
Of Native Civil Society, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Enhancing
Public Trust In Judiciary, by Shyam Prasad Mainali
(rn), Crime
against Humanity : Instead of making genuine efforts
toward vaccine procurement, the PM urged the public to
gargle with guava leaves and drink turmeric-infused
water to prevent COVID, saying even the vaccine does
not guarantee total immunity. This was the time when
cases had started increasing by 100%, by Sambridh
Ghimire (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/06/2021:
100
nursing colleges to close down (kh) [Given
the particularly high demand for nurses in times of
pandemic, the Oli government should explain this
absurd policy immediately!], Bhandari,
Oli defend House dissolution, Sapkota calls it
unconstitutional : In their responses, the President
claims her action cannot be tested by judiciary, prime
minister argues court cannot give a prime minister and
Speaker says both are wrong, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp) [What kind of argument is
this? No one is above the constitution. The duties of
the president and prime minister are clearly defined
there. If they violate them, they become a case for
the judiciary!], Court
cannot appoint a Prime Minister, PM Oli says in his
written response to SC, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [This confused and idiosyncratic
interpretation of the constitution and democracy
suggests a basic suspicion of mental confusion!
Important votes in parliament, such as the vote of
confidence, should be held in secret, if only to
protect the MPs. In a democratic state, how a member
of parliament votes is his or her personal decision of
conscience!], Decade
of disasters : Our challenges have grown due to
climate change, geological conditions and misguided
policies (kp), The
Chure conundrum : The consequences of mining
aggregates are more severe than
deforestation, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), SC
issues interim order to halt govt’s plan of exporting
river products (kh), Supreme
Court issues interim order not to implement the
government policy to export sand, pebbles and stones :
There had been widespread criticism of the
government’s policy, announced in the budget for the
fiscal year 2021-22, to export these materials needed
for construction (kp), This
is not fair, Prime Minister Oli!, by Kunga Hyolmo
(rep), Hunger
for governance : Childhood malnutrition in Nepal has
its roots in political failure, the same reason more
children are going hungry during the pandemic.
(nt), Nepal’s
epidemic of hunger : Malnutrition among Nepali
children pre-dates Covid-19, but the pandemic has made
it worse, by Anita Bhetwal (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/06/2021:
Two
transitional justice commissions getting another term
extension : But conflict victims say the commissions
have done very little to deserve added tenure, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Monsoon
displacements could complicate pandemic : Temporary
shelters for the displaced can turn into coronavirus
hotspots while there is the risk of water-borne and
vector-borne infections, doctors say, by Arjun
Poudel (kp), Depending
on handouts : The provinces still rely heavily on
fiscal transfers and revenue sharing (kp) [This
is not what is meant by federalism! Oli and other
leaders continue to stand for a central state to keep
everything under their control!], The
way to environmental degradation : The decision to
extract sand, stones and soil for export to reduce the
deficit is unwise, by Shyam Mainali (kp), Wage
gap between men and women persists: Report; The widest
difference is in the professional category where a
male worker earns Rs23,800 monthly compared to
Rs12,000 for a female, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Govt
urged to provide relief to underprivileged, needy
people (ht), 'Federation
of Nepali Journalists cannot be a mere spectator to
journos' woes' (ht), Party
Democratisation Should Top The Agenda, by Mukti
Rijal (rn), Parliamentarians
cannot breach party discipline: PM Oli claims in his
written response to Supreme Court (rep) [MPs
are the elected representatives of the people, not of
the Prime Minister or his party faction, Mr Oli! It is
a feature of democracy that they must follow only
their conscience and the constitution in doing so!
Anything else would be party dictatorship.], Oli
says government formation a political process and it
cannot be decided by the court : In his response to
the Supreme Court, Oli argues he dissolved the House
after it could not give a new government (kp) [Hopefully, not even this reality
denier and ignorant of the constitution himself
believes in this!], Who
will fight for you? Irresponsible government and
geopolitical rivalry mean darker times ahead for Nepal
unless the youth resolve to unite and act, by
Dinkar Nepal (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/06/2021:
Nepal
to purchase 4 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine from
China : Officials say procurement will be under a
non-disclosure agreement. Price is not disclosed yet
but is said to be around $10 per dose. No other
details are available, by Anil Giri (kp) [In
a democratic state, people have a right to information
(see Article 27 of the Constitution). There is no law
that makes the purchase of vaccine a confidential
matter!], Lack
of response to President’s letters for vaccines a
diplomatic failure, observers say : There has not even
been ‘reciprocal response’ to the President’s letters
requesting for vaccine support, by Anil Giri (kp),
Is
Oli government’s new Nepal map more about optics than
substance? As India continues to expand the road via
Lipulekh, Nepal has yet to make any diplomatic
response. Foreign Ministry says it has asked Home
Ministry to look into the matter, by Binod Ghimire
(kp) [Oli's statements are
empty slogans without content! Or does he want to
build a road on Indian territory in response?],
Decentralise
SEE and honour statute, experts advise government :
Education experts say the government with a
centralised mindset doesn’t want to lose any of its
authority, by Binod Ghimire (kp), No
safe space : Women who faced sexual violence during
the 10 years of the Maoist armed conflict continue to
suffer, by Susan Risal (kp), The
Space Creator : Ujwal didn’t want a professional
political party like the ones which have been in power
for the last thirty years in Nepal, where the only way
someone could serve had to go through decades spent on
the different rungs of party membership, by Simón
Dhungana (rep), Oli’s
attempts to rule by dicta : Since coming to power,
Prime Minister Oli has attempted numerous times — via
ordinances — to bypass the legislation and vest the
powers to make laws within himself, by Robin
Sharma (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
15/06/2021:
No
let-up in cases of violence against women and children
during lockdown : On average 53 cases of violence
against women and children are reported daily across
the country, according to records maintained by police,
by Shuvam Dhungana (kp), Pressure
from all sides for jabs, but there is no sign of
vaccine arrival : Officials say there has been
pressure on health workers across the country to
give the Covid-19 jabs to friends and family members
of influential people, by Atjun Poudel (kp), Covid-19
pandemic, snap polls cast a shadow of uncertainty over
census : Central Bureau of Statistics wants to conduct
the 12th national census from July 30 to October 1,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Another
consequence of PM Oli's destruction of the state and
the nation guided by greed for power!], River
management project announces inability to control
floods as monsoon arrives (kh), Upheavals
In Provinces : UML Bickering Boon For Opposition,
by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Hunger
& Scarcity Hit Badi Community, by Mahesh
Nepali (Badi) (rn), EC’s
decision partial and prejudiced, says JSP Chair Yadav
(kh), Maoist
Spokesperson Shrestha accuses EC of being govt’s hand
puppet (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/06/2021:
Arrogant
attitude among top leaders main obstacle for party
unity: UML leader Bhattarai (kh) [There
is only one solution: You must get rid of all of them
as soon as possible. This would be the best for the
party, the people and the nation!], Ego-centric
politiciansEven as the pandemic rages on, they
can’t see beyond their nose (kp), Political
uncertainty puts Nepal’s federal process on a bumpy
road : Confusion created by KP Sharma Oli in Kathmandu
has percolated into the provinces and it endangers
implementation of federalism, experts say, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Authorities
appear clueless about how to ease or lift lockdown :
Prohibitory orders currently in place in the Valley
have been extended by a week and the rest of country
follows the model. Little else is being done to check
virus spread, by Arjun Poudel (kp) [The
Oli government is finding it difficult to deal
rationally with the pandemic. Oli himself is only
interested in staying in power, may the country go
down the drain.], Daily
earners hit hardest by prohibitory orders in Lumbini :
The workers have no source of income and have received
no relief from the authorities and social
organisations during the ongoing second coronavirus
wave, by Sanju Paudel and Mohan Budhaair (kp), Petty
traders selling non-essential goods getting wiped out
: Preventing the spread of the virus is essential, but
the rules unfairly impact small businesses over large
businesses, insiders say, by Krishana Prasain
(kp), “Oxygen,
vaccines, essential medical supplies urgently needed,”
says AI in new briefing (kh) [see Amnesty
International report (14/01/2021)], Supreme
Court moved against Constitutional Council Act
Ordinance (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/06/2021:
Newly-wed
spouse ruthlessly battered for not bringing dowry
(kh), Man
arrested for attacking wife with acid (kh),
New severe media law in the offing : Media publishing,
broadcasting news on prohibited issues to be shut down
(kh) [related to Lumbini Province], A
setback for Oli, as his aide is replaced by Congress
leader in Gandaki : Nepali Congress’ Krishna Chandra
Nepali takes over chief minister after Prithvi Subba
Gurung lost confidence vote, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), Let
our children thrive : We should act to ensure that
children are not robbed of their childhood and dreams
, by Narayan Bhattarai and Shiva Shanker Dangol (kp), Province
2 Chief asks CM to make cabinet more inclusive
(kh) [Cabinets in Nepal have
never been inclusive. They are still dominated by men,
except for Province 2 by male Bahuns. Janajatis
(population share about five times that of male
Bahuns) and Madheshis are severely underrepresented,
women find at best a pseudo-representation. Dalits and
Muslims are extremely rarely included.], Five
former PMs call for joint struggle against Oli's
unconstitutional move (ht), The
Court Calls The Shots, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Quo
Vadis? Given the state of affairs since December 20,
2020 - the date of the first dissolution of the House
of Representatives - the lack of constitutional norms
and political morality and the character of leadership
to bypass everything that becomes inconvenient for
power grab, where is the leadership taking the
country?, by Dinesh Bhattarai (rep), Citizens’
movement condemns threat on medical education
commission executive : Brihat Nagarik Andolan alleges
that the prime minister and ministers have been
exerting undue pressure on Dr Giri to approve
affiliation to B&C College (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
12/06/2021:
International
condemnation for HoR dissolution (ht) [see statement
by IBARI (10/06/2021)], Leadership
Crisis Plagues The Nation, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
Government
agrees to grant affiliation to B&C Medical College
: Despite protests against affiliation, the prime
minister-headed commission has asked for the necessary
paperwork to be completed within a week, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [Nepotism at the
highest level!], Apex
court's stay on citizenship ordinance raises questions
(ht), PM’s
Advisor claims Baidya swore to take PM’s life :
Bhattarai demands Baidya be booked by law (kh), Baidya’s
statement is unacceptable: NC leader Gagan Thapa
(kh), NC
Spokesperson Sharma directs Baidya to apologize for
his statement : 'NC has no tradition to cover
objectionable statements' (kh), Baidya’s
statement highy objectionable and criminal in nature:
UML (kh), NC
Bagmati Province member Baidya self-criticizes,
withdraws his controversial statement (rep), Social
activist Gyanendra Shahi assaulted (kh), Families
await support amidst loss of large scale jobs and
income sources, survey reveals (kh), Risk
communication strategy key to fighting virus, but
there’s none : As cases continue to rise and without a
strategy in place, the public is left confused and
panicking, experts say. The latest example is conflict
during ongoing vaccination, by Arjun Poudel (kp),
Army’s
foray into agriculture sector sparks debate : There
should be a clear distinction between what a national
defence force should and should not do, observers say,
by Anil Giri (kp), Freed
haliyas bearing the brunt of pandemic (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/06/2021:
Going
down with the ship : Nepal’s leaders are fighting it
out with deck chairs on the Titanic, by
Kunda Dixit (nt), Civil
society members held for protesting in Baluwatar
(kh), 20
civil society leaders including Narayan Wagle,
Khagendra Sangraula arrested from Baluwatar (rep),
Experts
say Speaker discussing House dissolution is
undemocratic : The issue is sub judice in court but
after holding meetings with former Speakers and
lawyers, Sapkota has called a meeting today of the
parties represented in the dissolved House, by
Binod Ghimire (kp) [The Prime
Minister's constant unconstitutional measures are also
undemocratic!], SC
stays citizenship ordinance, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht) [Because of the Hindu
thinking of the ruling elite, women continue to be
discriminated against. If children of Nepali women
with foreign men do not have an unrestricted right to
citizenship, then according to Article 18 of the
Constitution this also applies to children of Nepali
men and foreign women! However, neither is right!],
Stateless
in their own country : The ordinance gave thousands of
Nepalis who have no citizenship hope that they could
perhaps finally get one. But with the Supreme Court
declaring it void, that hope has been lost for now,
by Raksha Ram Harijan (rec) [Oli
didn't want this change either, he only initiated it
now for political reasons because he wanted to get
supporters from the Tarai with it!], PM
Oli put in difficult position as Supreme Court stays
his major decisions (rep), Speaker
Sapkota holding all-party meeting on HoR dissolution
today (kh), PM
Oli not to attend all-party meet called by Speaker
Sapkota (kh), Supreme
Court orders government not to enforce citizenship
ordinance : Constitutional Bench says legal
complications could arise if the ordinance fails to
get through Parliament, by Tika R Pradhan (kp)[Extreme complications and costs
will also arise if the Supreme Court declares the
renewed dissolution of parliament and cabinet
reshuffle by caretaker Prime Minister Oli
unconstitutional, which is to be expected given the
clear wording of the constitution!], While
he has yet to clarify his June 4 Cabinet expansion,
Oli does it again : Seven more ministers appointed to
curry favour with his supporters and an eye on
the elections, by Anil Giri (kp) [A
completely unconstitutional government policy by Oli!],
Gandaki
Province Assembly member Thapa again relieved of his
post (rep) [Continued
disregard of constitution, legislature and
jurisdiction means anarchy!], Chure
is not just environment, but a political issue,
experts say : Degradation of the hills, a crucial zone
balancing Nepal’s fragile ecosystem, should be a top
political agenda, as it can have a profound impact on
the generations to come, by Chandan Kumar Mandal
(kp), A
break from an all-male tradition : Hisila Yami’s
feminist leaning brings a different perspective to the
Maoist conflict. But is it adequate?, by Amish Raj
Mulmi (kp), Ruling
UML to go on vacate against the SC order (kh) [When a court rebukes Oli for his
undemocratic and unconstitutional measures, it amounts
to lese majeste!], COVID-19
pandemic threatens progress made by Nepal to reduce
child labor (rep) [see report
by UNICEF and ILO], Half
of Nepalis lost jobs in past month : New survey shows
most households got little or no support from the
government (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/06/2021:
PM
Oli picks Pahadi as minister from Nepal-Khanal faction
(kh), PM
Oli appointing 8 ministers including one state
minister today : Adhikari to be appointed as Home
Minister (kh), Oli
expands Cabinet Prime minister appoints seven new
ministers (kp), Walking
two hours daily for a free mealHundreds of families in
the Capital are struggling to manage two square meals
after they lost their means of livelihood, by Anup
Ojha (kp), Wealth
communism : That Gyawali’s asset declaration should
surprise Nepalis itself is a surprise, by Deepak
Thapa (kp), Supreme
Court issues interim order not to implement
citizenship ordinance (kh), Saving
Nepal’s flawed constitution : Only a truly
non-partisan a-political civilian movement can bring
about this shift to institutional stability and help
reinforce our crumbling constitution, by Bishal
Thapa (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
09/06/2021:
With
politics a preference in provinces, pandemic has
become a non-issue : Chief ministers are so busy
saving their chairs that they have failed to make the
fight against the coronavirus, which is spreading fast
in rural Nepal, their priority, by Anil Giri and
Tika R Pradhan (kp), Who
decides vote of confidence, HoR or the President?,
Senior advocate Thapa asks : ‘As the ad-hoc PM has
dissolved HoR, Interim order should be issued’
(kh), Supreme
Court issues show cause notice to offices of the
President and prime minister over House dissolution :
Constitutional Bench has asked the defendants to
furnish clarification in writing by June 23 (kp),
SC
refuses to issue interim order against HoR
dissolution, hearing to be continued from June 23
(rep) SC
allocates 15 hours each to both parties of HoR
dissolution case (kh), SC
seeks amicus curiae on Parliament dissolution case
(kh), Bench-hunting
sets a bad precedent for the judiciary, according to
experts : Crucial time of the Supreme Court is being
wasted on unnecessary things, they say, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [This is
intentional on the part of Oli and other politicians!],
That’s
the way to do it : Court order unbanning online
delivery services is a relief (kp) [This
extremely incompetent government needs a court ruling
for everything!], Paradoxical
powerlessness of the Supremo : The anti-Maoist
elements of civil society have made Oli an icon of
Khas-Arya ethnonationalism, by CK Lal (kp),
Six
ministries to be split into 10 in Pradesh 2 to include
NC and Maoist Center (kh) [Thanks
to Oli's power politics games, puffed-up councils of
ministers are back in Nepal politics!],
Nepal's caretaker government : A total embarrassment,
by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Republic,
federalism and secularism are agenda imposed by
foreigners: RPP Chair Thapa (kh) [They
are intellectual achievements of human civilisation,
Mr Thapa. Those who think that multi-ethnic and
multi-religious Nepal must remain in the centuries-old
state of exclusion and social discrimination have
understood nothing!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/06/2021:
Entirely
over to the judiciary : As politicians go beserk for
power, there is no alternative to nuanced judicial
activism, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Supreme
Court hearing writs against cabinet expansion today
(kh), How
upper house has become inactive, to the extent of
being irrelevant : The National Assembly has certain
roles to play. When the lower house is dissolved and
the judiciary is in crisis, it has an even bigger
responsibility, but it has failed, analysts say,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Ease
restrictions cautiously : Let experts handle the
situation instead of leaving the job to bureaucrats
(kp), All
Eyes On Supreme Court, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/06/2021:
UML
leader Acharya suggests all first generation leaders
in the party to resign en masse (kh) [This
is the only right way to save Nepal's democracy and
political parties. It applies to all major parties and
should be implemented immediately so that the people
in this difficult time finally get the policies and
help that the old and failed top politicians deny them
in their delusion of power!], All
eyes on Chief Justice Rana, as crisis deepens in the
judiciary : After Rana constituted the bench on
seniority basis, Oli’s lawyers demand expulsion of two
justices for their position that current House
dissolution is linked to March 7 verdict, by Tika
R Pradhan (kp), Court
on trial : The judiciary must ensure its independence
so that it remains loyal to the citizens and not the
powers that be (kp), Oli's
proposal aimed at weakening parliament dissolution
case in Supreme Court: Panta (rep), Few
convinced as government body defends plan to export
construction materials : The government’s plan to
export construction materials from mines in order to
reduce trade deficit has been criticised as an
environmentally disastrous idea, by Chandan Kumar
Mandal (kp), Triangular
geopolitical rivalry : Nepal must maintain a balance
among the big powers, or it will turn into a
playground, by Geja Sharma Wagle (kp), Impoverished
family hit hard by prohibition order struggling to
survive (kh), Right
to bodily autonomy under threat, say activists
(ht), Three
years in jail for assaulting health workers (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/06/2021:
CJ
Rana forms Constitutional Bench of senior judges :
Constitutional Bench to hear House dissolution case
today (kh), Govt
lawyers object to Constitutional Bench reformation
(kh), Now,
it’s ruling side lawyers’ turn to question
constitution of Constitutional Bench : Lawyers argue
11 justices of the Supreme Court cannot be included in
the bench (rep), AG
Badal expresses dissatisfaction over reformation of
Constitutional Bench (kh), CJ
Rana warns lawyers of charging with contempt of court
as they raise questions over 11 justices (rep), Chief
Justice Rana warns of suing on defamation allegation
(kh), SC
receives writ petition seeking reversal of cabinet
reshuffle (kh), SC
orders reinstatement of Rastriya Janamorcha’s expelled
lawmaker Thapa (kh) [What
does this provisional ruling mean for the numerous
party expulsions in recent months, all of which were
based on power politics?], Change
in criteria to appoint ambassadors meets with
widespread criticism : The share of political
appointees among envoys has grown and if the candidate
is a former minister a high school degree would
qualify them for the role, officials say, by Anil
Giri (kp), Govt
amends eligibility criteria for ambassadors to make
space for ‘relatives’ (kh), Covid-19
fund idle as pandemic paralyses nation : Coronavirus
Prevention and Control Fund officials say there was no
demand for resources, but others blame political
crisis for the disuse, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), Migrant
workers return to India in search of jobs, by
Mohan Budhaair (kp), Sunsari-Morang
sees 20,000 workers laid off as lockdown chokes
factories : The industrial heartland in the eastern
region is home to 500 factories which employ around
50,000 persons, by Binod Bhandari (kp), Civil
society, environmentalists against Chure exploitation
(ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/06/2021:
For
Oli, power—not governance—is priority, as country
fights virus wave : Thakur-Mahato faction joins
government, inviting questions for themselves of being
complicit with someone who they once opposed for his
loathing for the Madhes, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Another serious breach of the
constitution by KP Oli: He now only heads a
caretaker government. Such a government is supposed
to remain in office until the election of a new
prime minister, but according to Article 77 (3) of
the constitution it may not be changed!],
Oli
reshuffles Cabinet, appoints Mahato deputy prime
minister, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), World
is giving medical goods to Nepal. Concern is if they
are fairly distributed : Foreign missions say
they keep track of what they provide, but some
observers do not rule out misuse of such assistance,
by Anil Giri (kp), Discrimination
cases got worse during pandemic, Dalit rights
advocates say : Incidents of discrimination haven’t
decreased due to lax implementation of law, according
to national rights body, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
[see press
release by NHRC (in Nepali)], Health
workers at Bheri Hospital call probe committee’s
report unfairMedical fraternity in Banke says the
committee failed to provide a fair investigation into
all aspects of the incident since it has not addressed
the issue of violence against women, by Thakur
Singh Tharu, Rupa Gahatraj and Madhu Shahin (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/06/2021:
CJ
Rana forms a constitutional bench comprising senior
judges in the roster : The Bench to hear the ordinance
related to citizenship today (kh), Amendment
to rules redundant for Constitutional Bench formation:
Full Court (kh), SC
hearing against citizenship ordinance adjourned till
June 10 : Hearing on HoR dissolution to resume from
Sunday (kh), Petition
seeks exclusion of 11 judges in Constitutional Bench
(kh), Curbs
need gradual lifting, with other measures to control
pandemic, experts say : Contact tracing, testing and
isolating are the key and for this whole
government machinery must be deployed. But Health
Ministry alone cannot do everything, officials say,
by Arjun Poudel (kp), KMC
provides hotline number 1180 in aid of people without
food (kh), Fact
Check: Is this elderly woman applauding the increase
in old-age allowance? (kh), A
budget without economic objectives : Every government
has tried to launch schemes to stir up the public for
election gains, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), Community
forest user groups lambast government for not
addressing concerns : They had hoped the government
would resolve their outstanding issues of tax and PAN
through new budget, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp),
Lockdown
has been especially hard on Valley’s visually-impaired
persons : Most of the visually-impaired persons in the
Valley were employed in the informal sector, by
Anup Ojha (kp), NHRC
urges to ensure Dalit’s rights to justice and equality
(kh), A
yam between two Indias : Nepal does not just need to
balance India and China now, it has to keep out of
India’s polarised politics (nt), Friday
Cabinet reshuffle: All but four incumbent ministers
sacked : DPM Ishwor Pokhrel, and ministers Pradeep
Gyawali and Hridayesh Tripathi among others sacked
(kh) [The most urgent
dismissal is missing; that of KP Oli!], New
ministers to be sworn in at 8 pm today (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/06/2021:
Who
Nepal’s political parties represent anyway : None seem
to be concerned about the people hit by the virus, as
they deal with crises of their own, paying little
attention to their electorate, by Anil Giri (kp),
Farmers
face getting wiped out for lack of market access :
Vegetable growers are forced to destroy their produce
due to lack of transportation, by Krishana Pasain
(kp), Fertilisers
not on ‘essential commodity’ list as paddy farmers
wait anxiouslyDecision to block supply can have an
overarching effect, as it may hit paddy crop, and
slash economic growth in turn, by Sangam Prasain
(kp), Police
misbehaviour with citizens under scanner, thanks to
social media, by Shuvam Dhungana (kp), Pay
Tax, Demand Welfare And Accountability, by Kamal
Parajuli (rn), Non-implementation
of Cabinet decision halts distribution of relief funds
to families of COVID-19 victims (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/06/021:
A
reconstituted bench to hear petitions against House
dissolution : Chief justice to designate new justices
on seniority basis to Constitutional Bench after row
over his choice earlier. Two members refuse to recuse
and the other two opt out, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Malnourished
children deprived of care as nutritional rehabs are
converted into isolation facilities : Doctors warn
child and infant mortality will increase, and years of
effort and investment in reducing child
mortality will go to waste, if the issue is
continuously ignored, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Budget
heavily relies on foreign funds for Covid-19
prevention : Government aims to get Rs 26.21 billion
or 71.67 percent of the allocation for the
Covid-19 Prevention and Control Programme from foreign
donors, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Licence
to plunder : The outrageous announcement erodes years
of conservation efforts at the stroke of a pen
(kp), Strike
ban on areas of essential goods and services expanded
(ht), Relentless
Ripples In Political Pond, by Bhupa P Dhamala
(rn), Nepal’s
Failed Governance and Unemployment Problem : The
government is least concerned about the chaos in the
country created by the unemployment problem. Instead,
the Oli government’s every move shows that Oli is only
worried about saving his chair, by Prakash Pokhrel
(rep), Prohibitory
orders must be eased but scientifically: Experts,
by Kunga Hyolmo (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/06/2021:
Who
is poisoning our democracy?, by Ishwar Dev Khanal
(kh), House
Dissolution : Blow to political future of Nepal,
by Geeta Kochhar (ht), Back
in court : The world will be watching the political
and legal eccentricities taking place in Nepal,
by Narayan Manandhar (kp), Judiciary
in the dock as justices come into question : Never in
the past has the Supreme Court faced a crisis of
such immense proportions where it has to fight
to justify the composition of a bench, by
Tika R. Pradhan (kp) [Oli's
state-destroying policies continue to work just fine!],
Justices
divided on recusal, hearing put off, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht), Justices
Karki and Bhattarai quit as KC and Shrestha decide to
remain in bench (kh), Chief
Justice Rana to reconstitute Constitutional Bench with
justices on seniority basis : After Bam Kumar Shrestha
and Tej Bahadur KC refuse to recuse, Deepak Kumar
Karki and Ananda Mohan Bhattarai leave the bench.
Hearing on House dissolution to start on June 6 with a
new set of justices (kp), Janata
Samajbadi wants ordinance to split party before
joining government : Thakur-Mahato faction wants a
split fearing expulsion by a powerful Yadav-Bhattarai
camp if Parliament is revived, by Anil Giri (kp),
JSP
Yadav faction expels four leaders, including Thakur
and Mahato (kh) [Oli
continues to succeed in dividing parties!], JSP
letter on party action registered at Election
Commission (kh), JSP
Chair Thakur faction decides to expel Chair Yadav
(kh), Govt
signs 6-point deal with Tharuhat/Tharuwan Struggle
Committee (kh) [This
agreement will probably not be worth the paper it is
printed on either!], Government
agrees to take initiatives for the release of Resham
Chaudhary and other Tharu leaders : They had been
convicted for their involvement in the 2015 Tikapur
riots in which nine died. The release has been a
long-standing demand of the Janata Samajbadi Party
which is in talks to join the government (kp), President’s
initiatives for Covid-19 vaccines seen as foreign
policy failure : The move is an attempt to improve the
President’s image tarnished after her complicity in
the prime minister’s move to dissolve the House,
observers say, by Anil Giri (kp) [Her
blind support for the Oli coup with all its aftermath
cannot and must not be excused! The constitution
prescribes exactly the opposite behaviour! What she is
doing now, she could have done months ago.], Environmentalists
warn plan to export stones, pebbles and sand can spell
ecological disaster : The announcement in the budget
speech was made without Environment Ministry’s
knowledge, say officials who fear it could lead to
unchecked exploitation of resources to the point the
country may not have enough for itself, by Chandan
Kumar Mandal (kp), Withdraw
quarrying program from budget: NEFEJ tells government
(kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
31/05/2021:
The
country be damned : No one seems to be able to
stop Oli’s whimsical actions, even if it ends up
destroying the country, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Lawyers
continue to question composition of bench examining
House dissolution : Chief Justice Rana has agreed to
review his selection of justices and is expected to
announce a decision today. Public faith in the
judiciary is at stake, observers say, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), Petitioners
call for CJ, two justices to recuse themselves from
case, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Supreme
Court Justices’ meeting underway (kh), Opposition
parties working on a strategy for an electoral
alliance (kh), Antigen
kits rolled out in hundreds of thousands but daily
tests remain dismal : As pandemic reaches villages
which lack PCR labs, antigen tests are the
alternative. Health Ministry officials blame the
reluctance of local officials for the lacklustre
testing, by Arjun Poudel (kp), In
a pandemic-hit economy, state offers little hope for
creating jobs : The budget for the upcoming fiscal
year aims to create around 350,000 new jobs
whereas 500,000 youths enter the labour market
every year, by the government’s own estimates, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), Ban
on roadside vending disrupts livelihoods of
Kathmandu’s poor : Over 6,000 vegetables and fruits
hawkers have been robbed of their incomes, by Anup
Ojha (kp), All
bark and no bite : Reflecting on the government that
announced it, Budget 2021-22 is bound to be
unimplementable (kp), Time
to end the unacceptable: Together we can end child
labour, by Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
30/05/2021:
Indifference
is not an option : We must challenge the politicians
and expose their treachery, by Naresh Koirala
(kp), SC
to hear petitions on House dissolution today as well
(kh), A
bloated budget of Rs1.64 trillion through ordinance :
With some focus on fighting the coronavirus, the
financial plan of Oli administration carries lofty
promises which observers say are aimed at the
uncertain elections, by Prithvi Man Shrestha and
Sangam Prasain (kp), Government
unveils nearly Rs 1.65tn budget for 2021-22 (ht),
Incentives
and tax rebates galore in new federal budget with
focus on midterm elections : Incentives include
deduction of value added tax on diesel and cooking gas
for businesses and on payments through electronic mode,
by Krishana Prasain (kp), Opposition
parties term budget as “populist” (kh), Opposition
parties warn government to refrain from making
decisions having long-term impact (kh), Small
parties lament a full budget from caretaker government
(kh), Lawyer
say judges KC and Shrestha should leave bench to
maintain SC’s dignity (kh), House
dissolution case: Senior lawyer Thapa suggests Chief
Justice Rana to stay on leave (kh), Amid
heightened rift, JSP leaders engage in a tug-of-war
(kh), As
monsoon nears, Nepal will have to cope with virus and
seasonal diseases : Since seasonal diseases have
symptoms similar to Covid-19, experts warn that
treatable conditions may not be diagnosed in time and
this may be fatal, by Arjun Poudel (kp), School
dropout remains a challenge, survey report shows :
Poverty, parents’ illiteracy and lack of learning
environment are major reasons behind high dropout
rates, education experts say, by Binod Ghimire
(kp) [see report
by Ministry of Finance in Nepali], Online
classes a far cry for many students (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
29/05/2021:
A
fledgling republic and a vulnerable constitution : How
a charter that institutionalised republicanism has
come under threat from someone elected to
protect it–the President, by Binod Ghimire (kp) 14th
Republic Day today; President stresses
socialism-oriented economy (kh) [Which
republic? In a republican state the people are
sovereign and not prime minister and president! The
sovereign people have their representatives elected
into parliament and the constitution is the legal
basis for all citizens of the country!], Four
former Chief Justices call House dissolution an
unconstitutional exercise, say it is against past SC
verdict (ht), Migrant
Workers’ Contribution vs. Government Behavior, by
Nitish Lal Shrestha (kh), Composition
of bench questioned as hearing on House dissolution
begins : Plaintiffs’ lawyers say Shrestha’s
presence constitutes conflict of interest as he was
part of the bench that invalidated Nepal
Communist Party (NCP) in March, by Tika R
Pradhan and Binod Ghimirwe (kp), Untangling
The Tangled Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), UML
leader Bhusal confesses violating parliamentary norms
: Claims he signed for NC Prez Deuba to safeguard
Constitution (kh), Budget
2021/22: Most debated Constituency Development Fund
revoked (kh) [Finally a
positive step, but not born out of the conviction that
the project means political corruption at the highest
level for only directly elected and thus selected by
party leaders and usually high-caste male MPs!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/05/2021:
Four
former chief justices warn of mockery being made
against rule of law : In a statement, they say the
dissolution of the House of Representatives is against
the letter and spirit of the constitution and
democratic values (kp), Constitutional
Bench to decide the fate of 30 petitions : Petitioners
wanted an extended full bench to look into the case of
House dissolution, by Binod Ghimire (kp), SC
allocates 10 minutes for hearing on writ petition
related to HoR dissolution (kh), SC
hearing adjourns as concern raised over Justice
Shrestha’s inclusion in Constitutional Bench : Hearing
on HoR dissolution to continue Sunday (kh), Buying
Chinese vaccines easier said than done, officials and
experts say : Though some provisions have been eased,
the non-disclosure agreement condition proposed
by Sinopharm could pose a challenge to procurement,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha and Anil Giri (kp), Aid
pours into Nepal, but where be vaccines? International
community rushes oxygen and PPEs, but Nepal is not
even getting the vaccines it paid for, by Sonia
Awale (nt), Ramp
up testing : Without curbing the infection rate, we
risk a perilous situation of a flare-up in new cases
and deaths (kp), New
provisions issued to empower women (ht), Health
workers at Bheri Hospital attacked by relatives of
deceased patient, by Arjun Oli (rep), Health
ministry expresses concern over physical assault on
health workers at Bheri Hospital (rep), “There
was no option but to jump off the window to save our
lives” (rep), Political
exercise of democratic republic turns helpless: Former
Chair Regmi (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/05/2021:
Bending
constitutional provisions for government formation,
the KP Oli way : Constitution drafters failed to
foresee that prime minister elected under 76 (1) would
dissolve the House after three years at the helm, as
that article clearly ensures full term, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Dissolution
of Lower House condemned (ht), 'PM's
repeated moves to dissolve parliament not good sign
for democracy, constitutional system' (rep), SC
to begin hearing writs against HoR dissolution today
(kh), CJ
Rana sends all 19 petitions on HoR dissolution to
constitutional bench (kh), SC
refuses to issue interim-order, all writ petitions to
be heard at Constitutional Bench (rep), Speaker
Sapkota warns of taking “tough and strenuous step” to
protect constitution (kh), Stop
intimidating journos: Amnesty International (ht),
Govt
to skip policies and programs this year (kp) [How easy it is for Oli to rule and
control this country after he has marginalised the
opposition in every way by unconstitutionally
dissolving the House of Representatives! This is much
better for Oli than democracy and the rule of law.],
Thakur
faction of JSP likely to register RJP at EC today :
JSP on verge of split (kh), JSP-N
on the verge of split? Rift widens as co-chairs seek
explanation from each other (ht), Speaker
Sapkota consulting with constitutional experts on
House dissolution (kh), What
about the poor? Officials cannot continue to evade
responsibility even as people go to bed hungry
(kp), Lockdown
disrupts dairy sector as sales suffer, feed becomes
scarce : With hotels and restaurants shut, farmers
can’t sell their milk because there are no buyers.
Residents also do not want to come out of their houses
to buy milk due to risk of infection, by Chandani
kathayat, LP Devkota and Biplab Bhattarai (kp), The
UK must help Nepal : The British Parliament discusses
Nepal’s Covid crisis after Nepalis organised a
petition, by Sanyukta Shrestha (kp), The
subtle art of misogyny: Time to break free of it,
by Supriya Pudasainy (ht), Political
Expediency Overrules Ethics, by Mukti Rijal (rn),
Do
not bring budget through ordinance: Nine former NPC
vice-chairmen (kh), Oli
following in Modi’s footsteps (ae), Existential
crisis : In recent times, fissures in communist
parties have largely, if not exclusively, been guided
by personal calculations (ae) [This
has been typical for Nepal's political parties since
the late 1940s!], Let
them eat cake, Madam President, by Bishal Thapa
(ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/05/2021:
Supreme
Court summons editors over news reports. Not everyone
is amusedExperts say court’s rebuttal of news
suggesting a meeting between prime minister and chief
justice is uncalled for and demanding proof from
editors wrong, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Supreme
Court to hear writs against HoR dissolution on
Thursday and Friday (kh), House
dissolution “unconstitutional”: Constitution
Monitoring Group (kh), Dissolution
at midnight: Yet another travesty of the constitution,
by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Civil
Society stages protest against HoR dissolution in
capital (rep), A
watershed in country’s communist movement as
ruling UML nears split : The Madhav Nepal faction of
the CPN-UML, currently the largest communist
party in the country, decides to part ways with
Oli, charging the chair with shenanigans, by Anil
Giri (kp), JSP
on verge of split with both factions taking action
against each other (kh) [Oli
is again successful in using the Hindu political means
of bheda by division, betrayal, sowing discord
among opponents!], Leaders
of CCP and political parties of Nepal holding zoom
meeting today (kh), UML’s
Sudurpaschhim Province PP meeting underway (kh) [According to the 2015
constitution, Nepal is a federal state. In such a
state, the central party leadership can only make
recommendations to that of the province, but cannot
issue orders.The measure is merely part of KP Oli's
hate campaign and is aimed at destroying governability
at all levels of the federal system!], UML’s
Sudurpaschim province PP defies SC decision : Decides
not to withdraw support from the province government
(kh), Controversies,
conspiracies and the constitutional crisis :
With more holes in it than a strainer, the convoluted
constitution was fated to fail, by CK Lal (kp), Covid-19
fuelling child labour in Nepal, a new Human Rights
Watch report says : With little support from the
government, children have been forced to work for long
gruelling hours for low pay (kp) [HRW
report “I Must Work to Eat” - Covid-19, Poverty, and
Child labor in Ghana, Nepal, and Uganda], “Immediate
rescue plan needed for Nepalis stuck abroad” (rep)
[As in 2020, the
oh-so-competent Oli government refuses to honour its
responsibilities!], 15
UML SC members appeal to stand against Chairman Oli’s
arbitrary rule : Yogesh Bhattarai and Gokarna Bista
come back to Nepal-Khanal camp (kh), Nepal
Public Health Association demands to annul mid-term
elections (kh), HoR
dissolution is unconstitutional and undemocratic:
Nepal Bar Association (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
25/05/2021:
Opposition
alliance moves court against House dissolutionAs many
as 146 members from Congress, Maoist Centre, UML’s
Nepal faction, Janata Samajbadi’s Yadav-Bhattarai
faction and Janamorcha demand restoration of House,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), SC
fixes May 27 and 28 as hearing dates for writs against
HoR dissolution (kh), PM-CJ
meeting at night in Baluwatar does not bode well: JSP
leader Bhattarai (kh) [The
Chief Justice should not meet people who are the focus
of a serious case in the making!], UML
row: Nepal-Khanal faction to establish new party
(kh), Fight
for survival, by Nitish Lal Shrestha (kh), Valley’s
poor worry about food as authorities prepare to extend
lockdown by another week : Rights activist Mohna
Ansari says the state must support the needy in times
of crisis, by Anup Ojha (kp), Lockdown
violator to face 1 year jail-term or fine of Rs
500,000 from today (kh) [And
why do repeated violators of the Constitution go
unpunished? Why are leading politicians allowed to
lure people en masse onto the streets in the middle of
a pandemic with impunity?], Speaker
Agni Sapkota holding talks with former speakers
(kh) [The non-participation of
Subas Nembang is very telling!], Former
Speakers conclude HoR dissolution unconstitutional
( kh), Nepal
woefully short on human resources for Covid-19
treatment : An expert group says it had sent a list of
health workers trained in critical care before the
first wave but there was no response from the Health
Ministry, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Doctors
in Dolpa warn of halting Covid-19 treatment : The
health workers have been deprived of allowances and
facilities due to them for the treatment of Covid-19
patients since the last fiscal year, by Hari
Gautam (kp), Chain
of injustice : The perpetrators of the caste killings
in Rukum West are yet to face justice (kp), Faltering
Intraparty Democracy : The deepening crisis of
intraparty democracy brushes off the achievement of
democratic values and legal standards and creates a
feeding ground for brutal and egregious dictators. We
are, in a true sense, living under a dictatorship,
by Nilam Sangroula (rep), Preparation
to file contempt of court writ against PM Oli (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/05/2021:
Democracy’s
gravediggers : KP Sharma Oli proved that you may win
elections and still be a loser (kp), Oli
attempts to use citizenship ordinance for his
political gains : Timing raises questions over
intentions as bill had been pending in Parliament for
years, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Attorney
General Badal addresses concerns on citizenship
ordinance (kh), Nepalis
on social media take a dig at Oli over his criticism
of a Kantipur cartoon : The Post’s sister paper had
run the cartoon two days after President Bhandari
endorsed Prime Minister Oli’s House dissolution
decision with promptitude, by Chandan Kumar Mandal
(kp), 23
UML lawmakers join protest against HoR dissolution
(kh), Opposition
alliance files petition at Supreme Court demanding
House reinstatement : 146 lawmakers, including 23 from
the Madhav Nepal faction of the UML, have signed the
petition, also demanding that Congress President Deuba
be appointed prime minister (kp), 146
lawmakers of opp’n parties file writ against HoR
dissolution : Key demands: appoint Deuba as PM,
reinstate parliament (kh), Opposition
alliance raises three concerns in writ against HoR
dissolution (kh), We
came to SC to show we are competent to form govt:
Gagan Thapa (kh), Chand-led
Communist Party demands withdrawal of citizenship
ordinance (kh), CPN-UML
expels 11 leaders, including Madhav Nepal and Jhala
Nath Khanal : Also decides to withdraw support given
to Sudurpaschim govt (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/05/2021:
President
Bhandari faces more questions for failing to abide by
her duty : The head of state comes under scrutiny for
being Oli’s accomplice in undermining the
constitution that she is supposed to protect,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Elections
in the time of a raging pandemic, a recipe for
disaster : In India campaigning for assembly polls in
states in April contributed to a deadly second wave.
In Nepal elections are scheduled during a potential
third wave, experts say, by Atjun Poudel (kp), Thakur-Mahato
faction of Janata Samajbadi to join government : An
observer of Madhes politics says the party will
split if the faction joins the Oli Cabinet amid
polarisation, by Anil Giri (kp), Severe
flaws in the governance system : The mantra of
politics, it is increasingly being realised, does not
appear to be the spirit of freedom and equality,
by Abhi Subedi (kp), Politics
Takes Dramatic Turn, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), CPN
(Unified) Party registered at EC : Party’s leader
Jiwan Rai is close to Madhav Nepal; election symbol
pen (kh) [This indicates
a formal split of the CPN-UML in the making!],
House
dissolution and announcement of midterm election amid
COVID-19 pandemic is inhuman cruelty: Bibeksheel Sajha
Party (rep), NC
cadres protesting against house dissolution arrested
in capital (rep), HoR
dissolution “unconstitutional” (kh), Devkota
reveals he was intimidated to back out from NA
by-election (kh), No
complaint can be filed against president’s
discretionary rights: PM Oli (rep) [Oli
dreams of infallibility of PM and President! The
problem is that Article 76 (5) is not a right of
application of the President. This paragraph of
Article 76 only applies automatically after a PM
elected under Article 76 (3 and 4) has his confidence
withdrawn by Parliament after 30 days. Your vote of
confidence, which is required for this, is still
pending, Mr Oli! Consequently, Article 76 (5 - 7) may
not yet be applied at all on the basis of the
Constitution and the House of Representatives may not
be dissolved at all. To disregard this is a serious
breach of the constitution!],
Budget
will be introduced through ordinance on May 29: PM
Oli (rep) [Oli needs
neither constitution nor parliament, in fact no
cabinet either. He only needs his president to
sign his ordinances! What was it said about the
power of the King in the Panchayat Constitution?
Yes, the sovereignty of Nepal is vested in His
Majesty and all powers - executive, legislative
and judicial - emanate from Him! Nothing to add to
that!], Prez
Bhandari issues ordinance on citizenship (rep)
[In order to manipulate
the JSP!], President
issues Citizenship Ordinance : The ordinance
addresses concerns of Madhes-centric parties
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/05/2021:
Oli
calls emergency cabinet meeting at midnight; decides
to dissolve house, announces snap elections (ht) [Again, although the Supreme Court
has made it unmistakably clear to him that he is not
empowered to do so and must follow the steps provided
by the Constitution. This is a gross disregard of the
court and, in view of the extreme pandemic situation,
a serious crime against the people of Nepal!],
PM
Oli dissolves parliament, announces midterm elections
in November, by Kosdh Raj Koirala (rep), President
dissolves House, calls snap polls for November 12 and
19 : After a day-long political drama, through a
midnight Cabinet meeting, Oli, as he failed to get
reappointed, takes the country towards elections amid
a raging Covid-19 pandemic, by Anil Giri, Tika R
Pradhan and Binod Ghimire (kp), President
dissolves Parliament; declares elections on Nov 12
& 19 (kh), Social
media awash with criticisms against President’s move
to announce mid-term polls (kh), Actions
of PM Oli and Prez Bhandari cannot be pardoned:
Parties; NC: Unconstitutional; Maoist: Oli on
Gyanendra’s path (rep), NC
decides to take political as well legal action against
HoR dissolution (rep), Why
didn’t NC Prez Deuba agree to go for impeachment and
no-confidence motion? (kh), Thakur-Mahato
faction of JSP welcomes House dissolution
(Setopati) [This means the end
of the JSP and thus another success of Oli's policy!],
Before
heading to prez, Oli urged opposition to let him lead
national govt (ht) [This
proves that Oli is only concerned with maintaining his
personal power in everything he does, even if the
country is destroyed in the process!], I
Paved The Way For Alternative Govt: PM (rn) [This person must be completely
insane to claim that he knows better what would be
useful than the Constitution!], Parliamentary
system does not suit interest and need of Nepali
people: NCP Gen Secy Biplav (kh), Govt
can now impose state of emergency to curb
COVID-19, if necessary (rep), PM
directs Election Commission to gear up for election
(kh) [Just like Oli's forced
election preparations after the first unconstitutional
parliamentary dissolution, those of the present one
will mean a lot of wasted money for which Oli and
Bhandari will have to be held personally accountable
once they are out of office!], The
devil on one side and a pandemic on the other, by
Pranaya SJB Rana (Record), Opposition
alliance calls house dissolution and call for snap
polls unconstitutional and regressive : In a statement
three parties, a faction of the ruling party and a
faction of Janata Samajbadi have accused the prime
minister of announcing the polls with the
ill-intention of prolonging his autocratic regime as
it cannot be held (kp 22/05/2021)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/05/2021:
With
President’s complicity, Oli hammers another nail in
the coffin of the constitution : Bhandari’s call to
form a new government in less than 24 hours at the
request of the incumbent one bypassing the due
parliamentary process is unconstitutional, experts and
political parties say, by Anil Giri (kp) [Oli's
constitutional options would be immediate resignation
or another vote of confidence and, if that fails,
immediate resignation as well. Anything else is
unconstitutional and the president is once again
acting as his stooge!], Nepal
Tarun Dal voices impeachment against President
Bhandari (kh), NC
leader Thapa suggests President’s ouster through
impeachment (kh), Opposition
parties discuss impeaching President : Meeting at Sher
Bahadur Deuba's residence, Budhanilakantha (kh) [According to Article 61 of the
Constitution, the President has only two duties:
Promoting national unity and respecting and protecting
the Constitution. With her blind support for
Oli's largely unconstitutional and unlawful
machinations to secure his grip on power, she has done
exactly the opposite! She is a servant of Oli and not
of the people!], Six
writ petitions filed at SC against President’s move
(kh), Bibeksheel
Sajha Party urges opposition parties to impeach Prez
and form a new government (rep), The
many sins of Bidya Bhandari, by Pranaya SJB Rana
(Record), Govt
invoked Article 76 (5) to form new govt for budget: PM
Oli (kh) [Article 76 (5)
cannot be invoked by the government. It is merely a
provision of the Constitution if the incumbent Prime
Minister loses the necessary second vote of confidence
in the House of Representatives within 30 days on the
basis of Article 76 (3 and 4) and is thus deemed to be
voted out standing!], Nepal
Constitutional Crisis: What happens after 5 PM today?,
by Kamal Subedi (rep), Opposition
parties reach Sheetal Niwas with signatures of 149
lawmakers : NC President proposed Prime Minister
(kh), PM
Oli reaches Sheetal Niwas before the opposition
leaders : PM Oli, President holding talks as
opposition waits for President to submit its claim
(kh), PM
Oli too claims stake on govt formation with support of
153 lawmakers (kh), Opposition
parties’ claim registered at President’s Office :
President told the opposition alliance that a decision
would be taken after consulting experts (kh), Oli,
Deuba stake claim for Prime Minister (kh), Nepal’s
opposition alliance to stake claim to new government
with support of 149 lawmakers : Congress President
Deuba proposed new prime minister (kp), UML’s
Nepal faction leaders issue contradictory statements
over support to Deuba : They say they never agreed to
make Deuba the PM (kh), Is
Nepal headed toward early elections?, by Ishwar
Dev Khanal (kh), JSP
leader Bhattarai calls to resolve imbroglio invoking
Article 76 (5) (kh), JSP
holding PP meeting to dwell on power-sharing today
(kh), PM
Oli-Thakur agree to form task force to amend
constitution (kh) [Oli
promised the same in 2018 when he was elected prime
minister, but later he would not hear of it. He
belongs to the circle of those male Tagadharis,
especially Bahuns, who pushed through the
constitution in this very form to ensure their
dominance!], Rules
apply to all : When the head of the government doesn't
follow rules and regulations, it gives others ample
reason to do likewise (ht), A
pandemic of apathy: How our MPs failed to address
Covid-19 : It’s our great misfortune that the ones in
power continue to protect their own interests,
by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), Correcting
Nepal’s Political Course, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/05/2021:
Red
tape, indecision and politics blamed for delay in
getting Chinese vaccines : Initially there was
over-dependence on India and when the crisis deepened,
authorities scrambled to acquire shots but made little
effort to reach out to Beijing, officials say, by
Anil Giri (kp), Pandemic
leaves migrant workers with worries piling up and
savings depleting : With international flights
suspended, many cannot return home–and they don’t have
jobs as their contact is over, by Chandan Kumar
Mandal (kp), Pandemic
pushing more families into poverty as
unemployment soars : People have been deprived of
their basic right to health, education and livelihood,
rights activists say, by Binod Ghimire and Anup
Ojha (kp), Scars
of the Maoist conflict : Resetting the truth
commission now is a priority if citizens
are to get closure, by Anttoni James Numminem
(kp), Khim
Lal Devkota defeats Ram Bahadur Thapa in National
Assembly election : Devkota, an independent candidate
backed by Nepal-Khanal faction of the UML, had the
support of Congress and Maoist Centre. Thapa was
fielded by the UML (kp) [Both
Oli and Thapa really deserve this!], Khimlal
Devkota elected to National Assembly (kh), Dr
Devkota secures victory in National Assembly by-poll
(rep), Supreme
Court scraps appointment of seven ministers who are
not lawmakers : Chief Justice Rana’s bench says their
appointment and oath, on May 14, prima facie, against
constitutional provisions. All of them had joined the
CPN-UML after deserting the Maoist Centre (kp) [Oli as well as Thapa and the other
deserters really deserve this! Finally respect the
constitution, the laws and the parliamentary defeats,
Mr Oli, and resign!], SC
scraps appointment of non-MP ministers, seven
including Home Min Thapa relieved (ht), SC
Orders Seven Ministers To Stop Works (rn), Reappointment
of former Maoist leaders as ministers
unconstitutional: SC (rep), President
calls on HoR members to form govt as per Article 76
(5) by 5pm Friday : PM Oli opted to pave way to form
new government as he did not see possibility of him
gaining parliament's trust (kh), Railway
ordinance stipulates provision for dedicated security
unit (ht) [Why by
ordinance at all, when Nepal has a popularly elected
parliament, which the prime minister has so far been
unable to abolish despite all his efforts?], Public
Policies Fail To Deliver Results, by Mukti Rijal
(rn), President
Bhandari issues two ordinances (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/05/2021:
Janata
Samajbadi in a bid to bring a new twist to the tale of
Nepal politics : The party says it is ready to lead
the government, a condition that could leave Oli in a
precarious position, by Anil Giri (kp) [This demand is not new and it is
understandable in one respect: The three other parties
want to continue as before, with the same, largely
failed and non-inclusive party leaders!], RPP
issues whip to vote for Home Minister Thapa (kh) [The monarchists and supporters of
the Hindu state support the election of a former
Maoist! Someone must have radically changed his mind,
and it is not the RPP!], Youth
dies in APF firing in Nawalparasi (rep), PM
Oli violates election code of conduct, EC warns of
action (rep), PM
Oli urges to cast votes for Thapa in NA by-elections
(kh), Afno
manche, all over again in Nepal : If any of you wants
a government/bureaucratic job in the next two years,
profess your loyalty to the UML, then join a clique,
then prove your loyalty to your leader, by
Trailokya Raj Aryal (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/05/2021:
Morality
and policy and the means (upaya) of Hindu
politics, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh), Leaders
underplay spectre of split hovering over JSP-N
(ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/05/2021:
Authorities
continue to fumble around amid Covid-19 surge : With
pandemic showing signs of sliding into a devastating
crisis, authorities mull a new law to streamline
response, as they ignore the basics like tracing,
testing and isolating, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Help
us, world : Nepal is counting on you for
life-saving oxygen equipment and vaccines
(kp), The
economy has been eroding : Given the rapid spread of
Covid-19, CBS’s growth projection will most
likely be an overestimation, by Chandan Sapkota
(kp), Vegetables
rot in fields as lockdown paralyses market : Groceries
are allowed to open briefly in the morning and sales
are at minimum level, traders say, by Pratap Bista
and Krishana Prasain (kp) [This
is an expected consequence of the totally
ill-conceived pandemic policy of the incompetent Oli
government!], Controversy
over PM's swearing-in snowballs : Petition filed in
the Supreme Court demanding that Oli be sworn in again,
by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Nepali
politics: Testing waters of democracy, by Geeta
Kochhar (ht), Daily
wage earners struggling to meet survival needs
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/05/2021:
Do
we have a government?, by Kamal Subedi (rep), Despite
increase in health budget, preparations for crisis
were sorely lacking : Plans to set up enough oxygen
plants, ICU beds and to procure equipment
remained only on paper. Less than 4 percent of
Covid-19 capital budget has been spent, by Prithvi
Man Shrestha (kp), Contact
tracing yet to take off as ministry assigns job to
local level : Cases won’t come under control unless
they are checked at the source but whether local
governments have the capacity to do the task is
another question, experts say, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), Army
ignores House panel’s directive, forges deal for
expressway : Bypassing the directives of the House
committees is an act of defying the sovereign entity,
experts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Oli’s
envoy appointments could erode country’s credibility,
experts warn : Only two out of eleven ambassadorial
nominees are career diplomats, by Anil Giri (kp),
Govt
urged to protect citizens' right to life (ht), Oli’s
Third Innings In Government : The entire drama
indicates that political culture and constitutional
conduct is yet to take roots in the federal republic,
by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), What
are Nepali youth thinking?, by Jagannath
Lamichhane, Sanjaya Mahato and Sushav Niraula (rep) [see
corresponding Niti
report],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
15/05/2021:
An
oath of office when people are gasping for breath as
well as answers : As Oli has been sworn in as prime
minister again, he now must focus on fighting the
pandemic and saving lives, leaving his political games
aside, analysts say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Nepal’s
missions abroad have little to show in seeking
Covid-19 assistance : Even as country battles the
virus and the world shows concern, diplomats have
failed in actively lobbying for support, By Anil
Giri (kp), Flimsy
huts set up in lieu of holding centre at Gaddachauki
border point : Kanchanpur authorities are yet to set
up a holding centre for people returning from India,
by Bhawani Bhatta (kp) [Unlike
the completely superfluous power struggles, this would
have belonged to the real tasks of a competent and
morally oriented prime minister!], Lawmakers
get second dose of vaccine while citizens are still
waiting for theirs : They didn’t pressure the
government to ensure vaccines for all as they knew
they wouldn’t be deprived of the second dose, says a
former general secretary at Parliament Secretariat.
Around 1.3m people are still waiting for second jabs,
by Binod Ghimire (kp) [!!!!],
Government
preaches but does not act, political analysts and
local units say : Kathmandu Valley Mayors’ Forum
alleges that the central government has just been
issuing instructions while doing little to address the
Covid-19 crisis, by Anup Ojha (kp), People
can’t go out, and they can’t get home delivery :
Online stores are confused about providing service due
to lack of clear guidelines from the government
regarding ecommerce, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Cabinet
recommends 11 envoys for various countries : Of the
recommendations, nine are political appointees while
only two are from the foreign service (kp), Rato
Machhindranath chariot being pulled despite the
pandemic terror (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/05/2021:
Losing
trust in the republic : As citizens scramble for
oxygen and a hospital bed, our state has disappeared,
by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp) [It is
not the republic, the top politicians have failed. The
monarchy was no better. The party-political oligarchs
behave like the monarchy once did, without conscience,
without morals, oriented only towards their own power
interests!], A
tale of two Nepals : As the country reported 8,842 new
Covid-19 cases and 214 deaths, Nepali politicians had
but one number in mind—136, the figure that could
secure them power; Oli reappointed prime minister,
by Tika R Pradhan and Anil Giri (kp) [There
must be a way to get rid of these failed and totally
irresponsible politicians! Unfortunately, even
possible elections are hardly hopeful, as only these
self-declared masters of Nepal decide on the selection
of candidates and will never change their undemocratic
party structures!], Virus
in the villages : The perennially marginalised cannot
be left to fend for themselves (kp), Daily
infection count hovers around 9,000 mark but deaths
could continue to rise : As hospitals are not
admitting patients due to oxygen shortages, many
infected are in home isolation. Without timely and
sufficient care, they are at high risk, doctors say,
by Arjun Poudel (kp) [Thank
you Mr Oli, you have all the time in the world for
your power struggles but no time to fulfil your
obligations as Prime Minister and care for the people
in their need!], Ill-timed
trust vote may scupper pre-budget session : Avoiding
the pre-budget discussion is like barring people from
participating in the budget process, a former
Parliament Secretariat official says, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [PM Oli does not
need a budget. He can rule without one and also
without parliament! The money earmarked for the
country's development is never spent as planned
anyway!], Defeat
of confidence motion : Herculean challenge for new
govt, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), We
need a functioning govt (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/05/2021:
Data
discrepancy amid virus crisis could spell disaster :
Different figures on Covid-19 death toll, which
have puzzled many, raise concerns if there are
more virus fatalities than what the government
is reporting, by Binod Ghimire (kp), How
the raging coronavirus pandemic is tearing families
apart : The government’s inefficiency and apathy
towards handling the pandemic has made things
much more challenging for people infected with
Covid-19, by Srizu Bajracharya (kp), End
of the Oli show : Oli’s departure from the scene will
not and should not be lamented, by Deepak Thapa
(kp), Rawal
urges CPN-UML lawmakers to quit (ht), Only
essential services to remain open from today
(rep), Talks
between UML Chair Oli and senior leader Nepal end on a
positive note : Resignation on hold; leaders agree on
making a task force (kh), NC
and Maoist Center bid to form majority govt fails
(kh 13/05/2021), Nepal
needs political consensus, again : Such political
consensus is long way off. But that should not stop
our political actors from trying, by Biswas Baral
(ae)
see also
news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
12/05/2021:
Oh,
what a fall it was : Oli will be remembered in Nepali
politics and society for all the wrong reasons
(kp), It’s
time to go, El Supremo : Oli considers the amoral
pragmatism of Marxism-Leninism and Maoism to be the
guiding principle of his political life, by CK Lal
(kp), Nepal’s
health system cracks under the strain of rising
Covid-19 cases : More people are in dire need of
oxygen, but plants are falling short of production, as
hospitals say they cannot take new patients for lack
of the life-saving gas, by Shuvam Dhungana and
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Country
faces political crisis on top of a deepening virus
crisis : With political turmoil ignited by Oli,
parties are now in the number games, which look like a
futile exercise, given their strengths and internal
feuds in UML and Janata Samajbadi, by Anil Giri
and Tika R Pradhan (kp), Housemaids
and elderly hit hard by prohibitory orders in
Kathmandu : The lockdown has not just put many
domestic helps out of their jobs, elderly people have
also lost their caregivers, by Anup Ojha (kp) [The Oli government again fails to
realise that countless other things need to be
considered and thought through in a lockdown. Anyone
who even makes the remotest power play in such a
situation is completely out of place.]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
11/05/2021:
Noxious
politics hits the nadir : We need a wholly new
approach to regain the sanctity, independence and
efficacy of our institutions, by Achyut Wagle
(kp), Public
policy implementation : Ways to upending barriers,
by Madhav Shrestha (ht) [No
prime minister after 1990 could build on such a stable
majority government as Oli, but his delivery was the
worst Nepal has seen since!], Regaining
Lost Credibility, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), Oli
loses vote of confidence : Parties have until Thursday
to form a new government, but the process appears to
be tricky. Congress and Maoist Centre look to Janata
Samajbadi as they lack numbers, by Anil Giri and
Tika R Pradhan (kp), As
things stand, Oli is likely to be PM again under
Article 76 (3) (kh) [This
is definitely the last thing Nepal needs at this
critical hour!], Oratorical
genius Oli missed a golden opportunity, by Ishwar
Dev Khanal (kh), Janata
Samajbadi’s Thakur not to support government formation
process : Thakur’s Monday midnight statement makes the
government formation even trickier as the Congress and
the Maoist Centre lack the numbers (kp) [Obviously,
you want Nepal to go further down the drain or prolong
the disastrous Oli government, which is somewhat the
same thing, Mr Thakur! How can you want to destroy
your homeland so deliberately?], NC
to stake claim on govt formation after discussion with
all parties (kh), The
sting operations : It is very difficult to say what
possible impacts the ban will have on the
anti-corruption drive, by Narayan Manandhar (kp),
HRW
urges Nepal to act urgently to avert looming COVID-19
disaster (ht) [see: Nepal:
Act to Avert Looming Covid-19 Disaster : Desperate
Need for Supplies, Oxygen as Cases Surge (HRW
10/05/2021)], Human
Rights Watch calls on Nepal government to act urgently
to avert a looming Covid-19 crisis : The rights body
urges donor countries like the US, UK and EU to make
life-saving oxygen equipment and vaccines equitably
available (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/05/2021:
Nepal
Prime Minister Oli fails trust vote in Parliament : Of
the 232 lawmakers present, 93 cast votes in Oli’s
favour and 124 against him while 15 lawmakers stayed
neutral, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), PM
Oli fails to secure parliament’s confidence, what
next? (rep), PM
Oli fails to retain confidence of parliament (kh)
[Budget session of parliament
ended on its very first day?], Speaker
Sapkota writes to President saying PM failed the floor
test (kh), PM
Oli reaches President’s Office (kh), Out
of control : It is the coronavirus pandemic, and not
the media narrative, that should be under control
(kp), Chief
justice in dock for attending council meet : Experts
say Rana, who has refused to hear a petition against
ordinance on Constitutional Council Act, committed
judicial misconduct, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Oli
dangles a carrot as Nepal-Khanal faction wavers :
Nepal-Khanal group remains indecisive as prime
minister faces a trust vote today. Janata Samajbadi is
a divided house. Congress waits and watches. So do the
Maoists, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), No
immediate plan to evacuate workers affected by flight
suspension : Officials say the government will
repatriate the affected workers if the flight
suspension remains for an extended period, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp) [A
similar lack of interest from the Oli government as
during the first lockdown!], Oli
appeals to stop anti-party activities : Says it’s a
crime to attempt to pull down the party (ht) [The one who has been misbehaving
in this way for months is above all you personally, Mr
Oli: sowing discord among political opponents,
dividing your own and other parties, destroying
democracy and the constitution, disregarding numerous
laws, pretending false facts, neglecting urgent
measures to contain the pandemic, suppressing
fundamental rights, neglecting any moral
responsibility, etc.], Nepal
records highest single-day spike with 9,127 new
Covid-19 cases : Health Ministry says 139 deaths based
on statistics from the Covid-19 Crisis Management
Centre and Nepal Army (kp) [The
Oli government really has it all under control!],
Super-spreader
Special Session of Nepal’s Parliament . Oli loses
confidence vote in the midst of a raging pandemic,
demonstrating why the country is in crisis (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
09/05/2021:
Oli’s
virus ‘situation under control’ remark meets with
criticism : Crisis continues to deepen with over 8,000
new cases and 53 deaths. Many from Oli’s orbit
and over two dozen lawmakers test positive ahead of
May 10 House session, by Tika R Pradhan and Binod
Ghimire (kp), Valley
hospitals face shortage of oxygen, many have stopped
admitting patients : Oxygen manufacturers say demand
has gone up four times their production capacity.
China has given 3,500 cylinders as a grant but they
will take three weeks to arrive, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), Anti-COVID-19
Cooperation : Can China’s Move Fill Regional Void?,
by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Constitutional
Council recommends appointments to various
Constitutional Commissions (kh) [Last
manipulated appointments before Oli is finally dumped?],
Can’t
give a vote of confidence: Mahanta tells PM Oli
(kh), Prohibitory
orders likely to be extended by two more weeks
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/05/2021:
Nepal
wanted to buy millions of jabs. Here’s how it failed :
Over the past months, conflicting narratives have
emerged on what went wrong in Health Ministry that
leave the country without vaccines, as virus crisis
deepens, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Govt
rules out vaccine import in near future (ht), Elderly
waiting for second dose, by Sabitri Dhakal (ht), Residents
in Karnali and Sudurpaschim hit hard by the second
wave of pandemicPandemic brings challenges to regions
suffering from lack of proper health care system, and
poor road connectivity, by Hari Gautam, Chhapal
Lama, Menuka Dhungana and Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), Deuba,
Dahal reach understanding to foil PM Oli's bid to
secure vote of confidence (rep), Deuba
leaves NC PP meeting in the middle to chalk new
strategy (kh 08/05/2021), Main
oppn leader Deuba, Speaker Sapkota to boycott
Constitutional Council meeting (rep 08/05/2021)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/05/2021:
Oli’s
preference for politics to virus crisis is an affront
to people, analysts say : The UML chair and prime
minister is paying no attention to soaring coronavirus
cases, as he busies himself with political schemings
ahead of his May 10 trust vote, by Tika R Pradhan
and Anil Giri (kp), Pandemic
is getting out of hand, as government has its focus
misplaced : Officials fail to heed fundamentals
like increasing contact tracing and testing as they
see lockdowns as only option, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), Factories
face shortages of raw materials as prohibitory order
cuts supply lines : Entrepreneurs say they can handle
a short period of immobility, but worry the lockdown
may be prolonged, by Madhav Dhungana (kp), Health
Ministry refutes news reports on the involvement of
govt in COVID-19 vaccine procurement scam (rep), Vaccine
procurement scandal is not just a case of corruption
but a ‘crime’: MP Thapa (rep), Nepal
is a hotbed of virus and politics : In the midst of a
pandemic, Nepal’s prime minister calls for a
confidence vote in Parliament, by Kunda Dixit
(nt), Microcosms
of a pandemic : In the absence of government,
municipalities and communities on the frontlines
manage the second wave, by Sonia Awale (nt), PM
summons Constitutional Council meeting on Sunday
(kh) [Oli continues to try to
prove that a Prime Minister, no matter how
incompetent, has the right to govern without respect
for the Constitution and the rule of law!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/05/2021:
No
plan B to break infection chain as virus continues to
rage : Experts say prohibitory orders can slow the
spread of the coronavirus but until there are
other measures simultaneously in place, a let-up in
the surge is unlikely, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Govt's
indecision threatens vaccination drive : Agents of
vaccine producing companies want advance payment,
health ministry not ready to pay (ht), Oli
reaches out to Deuba as opposition forces band
together : Meeting follows talks between Congress,
Maoist Centre and a section of Janata Samajbadi
leaders, by Anil Giri (kp), What
happens after Monday’s voting on confidence motion :
Oli will be in difficulty if the Nepal faction with
its around 30 lawmakers resigns before vote, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Flight
suspension stalls Covid-19-related imports : Suppliers
say almost all oxygen concentrators in the market have
already sold out causing an acute shortage of
equipment, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Things
to do before the budget : Institutional
structures at the federal level should be
reduced by at least a quarter, by Khim Lal Devkota
(kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/05/2021:
Complacency,
miscalculation and missteps : Country records highest
daily coronavirus death toll and new cases. Oli’s
chest-thumping and false claims continue as
vaccine supply is nowhere in sight. 47 percent of
total tests return positive results, byArjun
Poudel and Binod Ghimire (kp), Rights
activists find rapid response team ineffective : The
job of squad representing several ministries is to
keep supply lines clear during the prohibitory period
aimed at containing rising Covid-19 cases; Traders say
trucks bringing food items to Kathmandu have to wait
at entry points for long, by Krishana Prasain
(kp), Will
Oli’s confidence vote plan shake up political
landscape? Maoists withdraw support and Nepal-Khanal
supporters are mulling resigning as lawmakers.
Congress party eyes government and Janata
Samajbadi is still a divided house, by Anil Giri
and Tika R Pradhan (kp), Restoring
balance : The relationship between the people and
political parties is reaching a breaking point, by
Ajaya Bhadra Khanal (kp), Maoist
Center submits letter of withdrawal of support to govt
at Parliament Secretariat (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/05/2021:
Sick
and tired : The monkey business that is called
democratic politics (kp), Authorities
enforced antigen tests but failed to increase numbers
: Such tests at border points could have been
helpful but they were few and far between,
experts say, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Frontline
health workers deprived of promised risk allowances :
Health workers who were engaged in setting up
quarantine and isolation facilities and providing
treatment to Covid-19 patients last year say they feel
cheated by the authorities, by Madhav Aryal (kp),
Kathmandu
Valley district administration offices decide to
enforce prohibitory orders more strictly : Shops
selling essential foodstuffs will be allowed to open
only in the mornings and up to 9 am. Vehicle passes
will not be issued anymore (kp), Covid-19
restrictions once again cast uncertainty over labour
migration : After a disastrous 2020 when labour
migration dropped to a new low, the foreign employment
sector has once again started to feel the heat amid
surge in coronavirus cases, by Chandan Kumar
Mandal (kp), Maoist
Centre decides to withdraw support to government : The
decision comes days after Oli said he would go for a
floor test (kp), NC
decides to foil PM Oli’s bid to garner majority in HoR
(kh), Second
wave of corona : Quality education compromised, by
Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/05/2021:
As
if there’s no pandemic : Oli and his clique’s seeming
indifference to the raging coronavirus and unfolding
tragedy is stark. Even as virus cases hit a new record
of 7,137 and death toll clocks 3,325, political games
continue, by Tika R Pradhan and Binod Ghimire
(kp), Campaigners
join global call for lawful postings at human rights
commission : The National Human Rights Commission has
the chance of becoming a mere shadow of the
government, they say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Organisations
asked to divert some funds to fight pandemic : The
government has asked domestic and international relief
organisations to divert 5 to 20 percent resources for
pandemic relief depending on the size of their budget,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), After
Health Ministry bows out, municipal officials bear the
brunt of Covid-19 crisis : Ward chiefs say they’re
flooded with phone calls from people asking for
hospital beds. Kathmandu lacks isolation or quarantine
facilities, infected persons can’t access bottled
oxygen, by Anup Ojha (kp), Pupils
in limbo : The cabinet needs to reconsider its
decision to conduct in-person exams (kp), Conflict
victims seek prosecution of perpetrators (ht) [see
statement
by Advocacy Forum-Nepal]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/05/2021:
Covid-19
peak yet to arrive, warn experts as they lay stress on
curbing infections : Doctors say increasing number of
beds and keeping an eye on possible hoarding of
oxygen cylinders, as well as expanding testing,
should be an immediate priority, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), Oli
caused formation of Janata Samajbadi Party. Now he is
prompting its split : Cracks have emerged in the party
which was formed in April last year through the merger
between Rastriya Janata Party Nepal and Samajbadi
Party Nepal, by Anil Giri (kp), NHRC
urges govt to handle health crisis effectively
(ht), Offices
to operate with only 25 per cent staffers (ht), Prohibitory
order in the Valley to be tightened from today
(rep), PM
Oli calls cabinet meeting at 4 pm today : Likely to
take crucial decisions on COVID-19 (kh), Nepal
records highest-ever 7,211 new coronavirus cases in
last 24 hours : Kathmandu Valley witnesses 3,595 fresh
COVID-19 cases (kh), Resignation
of CM Pokharel approved, preparations to form UML-led
one-party govt (rep), Lumbini
Province: UML parliamentary party decides to form new
govt under Pokharel’s leadership (rep), Lumbini
Province Assembly Member Bimala Khatri joins Maoist
Center, CM Pokharel loses majority (rep), Pokharel
re-appointed CM in Lumbini Province (kh) [Article
168 (1) requires a majority of the party concerned, in
this case the CPN-UML, in the provincial assembly for
such action. As of today, however, the UML no longer
has such a majority. The procedure is a clear breach
of the constitution following KP Oli's trick!],
Pokhrel’s
bid to form UML-led government in Lumbini meets with
obstacles : A Provincial Assembly member, Bimala
Khatri, chooses to side with the Maoist Centre, making
the UML fall short of a seat to prove majority
(kp), Opposition
requests Lumbini Province Chief to stop Pokharel from
forming govt : Maoist leader Kul Prasad KC says he
should form new govt as Pokharel lacks majority claim
now (kh), Three
UML lawmakers resign in Lumbini : UML loses its
majority in the province assembly (kh) [All
these political capers are a direct consequence of KP
Oli's power games after his failed coup at the central
level!], PM
Oli sees need for paperless government service system
(kh) [Is that all he sees? But
the little insight comes too late!], Domestic
and international non-governmental organisations
required to divert 5-20 percent of budget to fight
Covid-19 : Such funds can be used to procure medical
supplies and equipment, distribute relief and run
small construction projects targeting employment for
migrant workers, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/05/2021:
‘We
give up’ : Health Ministry asks people to be
‘sensible’, saying the health system cannot cope, as
hospitals have run out of beds with new cases crossing
the 5,000 mark, by Arjun Poudel (kp) [Since
Oli and other top politicians are largely to blame for
this situation, this is a declaration of bankruptcy by
the government and party political circles!], To
Prime Minister Oli’s relief, Deuba rules out
no-confidence motion : With Janata Samajbadi Party not
wholly supportive of such a motion, the numbers
would not be enough to oust Oli, the opposition
leader says., by Anil Giri (kp), JSP-N
to back no-confidence motion : Opposition to the move
by Thakur, Mahato might split the party, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht) [This is all
a consequence of Oli's policy of sowing discord among
his political opponents, one of the traditional means
(upaya) of Hindu politics to maintain a ruler's power!],
Permit
no longer needed for essential services within
Kathmandu : From Friday, the District Administration
Office, Kathmandu started issuing permits only to
those who have to travel out of the Valley for funeral
rites or highly essential purposes, by Shuvam
Dhungana (kp), Biplav-led
NCP splits as Dhamala forms Jana-Samajwadi Manch
(kh), Three
decades of movements, uprisings, putsches and
constitutions: Did they promote democracy?, by
Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
30/04/2021:
Lash
of a lockdown : It’s the decline in the moral
foundation of Nepali politicians that is causing this
situation (kp), Modern-day
Neros : Our political leadership’s abdication of
responsibility borders on criminality, by Amish
Raj Mulmi (kp) [Today's party
leaders will go down in history as the great
destroyers of the country!], Nepal:
A victim of party politics and power games, by
Niranjan Mani Dixit (rep), Ugly
face of Nepali politics : Ruling party engaged in ugly
horse-trading as opposition parties mount effort to
oust it from power in provinces (rep), Scrambling
for jabs, Nepal in talks with Russia, China, US : With
India, the vaccine powerhouse, itself in dire
need of international support, the government
looks to other countries to acquire shots as
coronavirus cases surge, by Anil Giri (kp), Kathmandu
Valley’s daily wage earners worry about survival : For
many daily-wage earners and squatters living in
Kathmandu, they have nowhere to go to escape the brunt
of the pandemic, by Anup Ojha (kp) [The
problem repeats itself from the first lockdown, as the
Oli government is not at all interested in these
people and once again believes it can solve all
problems with a lockdown!], 1.1
million child labourers in the country: Report; 3.3
per cent of child labourers in urban areas involved in
hazardous work (ht) {see report],
Prohibitory
orders to be stricter from today (kh), JSP’s
“majority members” agree to bring no-confidence motion
against PM Oli (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali):
29/04/2021:
Politics
in the midst of a pandemic as people suffer : At a
time when politicians should have demonstrated unity
to fight the virus, they are busy in their petty
political games, which represents a betrayal of
citizens’ trust, analysts say, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Government
and Janata Samajbadi Party near deal : Agreement is
expected to address several longstanding demands of
the party, including the release of jailed party
lawmaker Resham Chaudhary, by Anil Giri (kp), Failure
of Nepali political class, by Biswas Baral (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/04/2021:
Lawmakers
across parties for continuing pork barrel funds : They
say misuse of the funds in some places doesn’t mean
the Local Infrastructure Development Partnership
Programme has failed across the country, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [The system
implies high levels of political corruption, as it
only helps handpicked mainly male directly elected MPs
to secure future re-election!], Consequences
Of Power-Centered Politics, by Bhupa P Dhamala
(rn), Govt
decides to withdraw 15 cases filed against 120 people
(with list) (rep) [This is
part of Oli's desperate efforts to maintain his power.
Just to remind you, during the Madhesh Movement, his
attitude was totally adamant!]
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/04/2021:
Back
to square one, or even worse : No contact tracing even
as the number of active cases crosses the 20,000 mark.
Country reports 3,442 new cases and 12 deaths, by
Arjun Poudel (kp), Set
up soup kitchens : With yet another lockdown, we are
back to square one. Are we better prepared this time?
(kp) [Definitely not! The Oli
government has been busy all along with power
struggles, breaking the constitution and laws and
suppressing basic human rights! There was no time to
deal with such trivial things as the pandemic!],
Take
harsh measures : Nepal may not have much of a choice
other than to place extraordinary civil restrictions
to break the chains of infection (ht), Prohibitory
orders enforced in Kathmandu Valley for 15 days
starting Thursday : Decision comes amid rising number
of coronavirus cases in the Valley, which recorded
more than half the total new infections reported
across the country in the past 24 hours, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), United
Nations special rapporteurs urge Nepal to rectify the
appointments in the National Human Rights Commission :
They have pointed out the appointments were not in
line with international practices and undermines the
independence, integrity and legitimacy of the rights
body (kp), More
than 900 women go missing in Morang (ht), SC
refuses to issue stay order against Oli's action
(ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/04/2021:
A
system that failed in the fight against pandemic :
Failure to empower sub-national governments and
political games in Kathmandu impacted provinces,
thereby deepening the coronavirus crisis,
experts say, by Anil Giri (kp), Police
defy court to arrest journalist, media manager: Anil
Tamang and DL Tamang of ujyaalonetwork.com were
detained for publishing document bearing purported
signatures of KP Oli and Samant Goel, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Ujyalo
Network editor, publisher arrested for crime against
state (ht) [Oli ist
nicht der Staat! Außerdem eine solche
Regierungsmaßnahme gerichtlich untersagt untersagt!],
FNJ
demands immediate release of journalists (ht), Phallic
fallacies : The Dharahara inauguration drama amidst
the coronavirus crisis was in bad taste (kp), What
is wrong with Nepal govt's COVID response, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht) [What
response? The Oli government is irresponsible in every
respect and only interested in prolonging the power it
no longer has anyway!], Covid-19
prohibitory orders re-introduced in Kathmandu valley;
regulations effective from Thursday (ht), Prohibitory
orders in Kathmandu Valley from Thursday : The
decision by three chief district officers comes amid
rising number of coronavirus cases in the Valley which
recorded almost half of the total infections across
the country, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Act
now! (rep), Local
administrations given authority to impose prohibitory
orders : Educational institutions cannot hold
examinations and those entering Nepal have to stay in
quarantine, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
25/04/2021:
People
ignoring social distancing measures despite spike in
infections : When government officials and politicians
themselves have been organising functions and rallies
in defiance of Covid-19 restrictions, ordinary
people have stopped taking precautions, experts say,
by Shuvam Dhungana (kp) [This
criminal behaviour of Oli and the other so-called top
politicians was a deliberate part of their ruthless
and self-serving power struggles!], As
cases surge and hospitals fill up, doctors are worried
: With only seriously ill cases coming for treatment,
doctors say that the virus is much more widespread
than daily infection data shows and the next two
months will be critical, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Amid
fears of oxygen shortage, government talks to
suppliers : Manufacturers say production is sufficient
but supply could be disrupted if hospitals start
hoarding oxygen. To increase capacity, more
cylinders need to be imported, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Lax
health security checks at Darchula border points
; There is no official record of entries through five
of the six border points in Darchula, by Manoj
Badu (kp), JSP-N
undecided, new govt formation in limbo (ht), Fickle
Comrades Bicker Over NCP Day, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(kp), PM
Oli urges party rank and file to fan out for control
of COVID-19 (kh) [With
your months-long calls for mass public meetings for
the purpose of maintaining your personal power, you
bear an outstanding responsibility for the development
of the pandemic in Nepal. Resign from all offices at
last!], DAOs
in Kathmandu Valley suspends non-essential services
from Monday (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/04/221:
Nepal
seeks support in virus fight from crisis-hit India :
The request for oxygen, antiviral drug and intensive
care beds exposes the government’s inaction despite
warnings of a looming crisis, experts say, by Anil
Giril (kp) [All oxygen
available in the country should be used exclusively
for Covid-19 patients and not for mountaineers!],
A
second wave prompting a new exodus : Fearing
lockdown, people are moving out to avoid the trouble
they faced last year, by Anup Ojha (kp), After
Nepal Communist Party (NCP), now UML headed for
vertical split : Oli constitutes a 19-member Standing
Committee excluding leaders close to Nepal—an
indication the two leaders are prepared to go their
separate ways, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Most
handwash stands installed in Valley last year are not
in working condition: Authorities say they are working
to repair and restore the handwashing stations
but even after four days since the commitment, the
situation remains the same, by Anup Ojha (kp), Health
Ministry recommends immediate lockdown in Kathmandu
Valley (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/04/2021:
When
governance took a backseat, second wave took hold : At
border points, authorities are failing to conduct
tests and quarantine people, just as health facilities
are on the verge of buckling under the caseload,
by Arjun Poudel (kp) [The Oli
government is behaving almost more incompetently and
irresponsibly than during the first Corona wave!],
Government
mismanagement leads to crowding at hospitals :
Many were forced to return without getting the jabs
despite waiting in line for hours, by Anup Ojha
(kp), Billions
spent on Dharahara but school reconstruction suffering
in lack of funds : Reconstruction of college buildings
damaged in the 2015 earthquakes is yet to begin as the
government only recently decided to take Indian loan
despite stringent conditions, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Health
ministry seeks Rs 33 billion for vaccines (ht) [That would have made more sense
than 95 kg of gold for the Dharahara top!], Politics
In A State Of Flux, by Dhruba Hari Adhikari (rn),
Arrested
democratic transformation in Nepal : International
civil society intervention could make a difference,
by Bihari Krishna Shrestha (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/04/2021:
Lives
vs livelihoods? Amid a surge in coronavirus cases,
lockdown fears loom : Authorities must devise
strategies to contain the spread without imposing
blanket restrictions as such curbs can severely impact
the economy and the people, analysts say, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Red
alert : The government has to stop waiting for things
to turn worse and urgently prepare for the worst
(kp), Justice
eludes rape victims in six South Asian countries,
including Nepal : Rape survivors and their families
face pressure to withdraw complain (ht), Khadka
held from UML HQ for calling CM Rai a ‘rapist’
(kh) [??], Fostering
Intergovernmental Ties, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Caste
discrimination still prevalent in Karnali, by
lalit Bahadur Budha (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/04/2021:
Swearing
by political principles and acting just the opposite :
Nepali politicians are losing their moral compass,
they themselves say to criticise others. Analysts say
such a lack of political ethics among leaders is a
threat to democracy, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), An
old mindset prevails : Public confidence in federalism
is waning because of the Constituency Development
Programme, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp) [The
CDP is an instrument of political corruption by the
non-inclusive male ruling oligarchy!], Online
classes for some : The pandemic has exposed yet
another harsh reality—the digital divide
(kp), Thousands
participate in Seto Machhindranath chariot procession
(ht) [An excellent behaviour
in times of strongly increasing Corona infections!],
Need
Of Robust Civil Society Movement, by Namrata
Sharma (rn), Maoist
Center entrusts party chairman Dahal to take decision
to withdraw support to Oli-led govt (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/04/2021:
Government
issues a slew of orders amid threat of a second
wave : More than 25 people cannot gather at one place;
schools and places of worship among others closed till
May 14. Testing and treatment made free, by Arjun
Poudel (kp), Schools
close again but there have been no preparation for
virtual learning : Distance learning was not effective
last year and as the virus may not go away soon, a
long-term policy is required rather than seeking
ad-hoc solutions, experts say, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Building
institutions : The focus on the individual must be
replaced by a culture of institution-building, by
Sujeev Shakya (kp), Import
controls go as foreign exchange reserves swell :
Experts say that Nepal should increase earnings from
other sources and not depend too much on remittance,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Lower
House of Parliament prorogued, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/04/2021:
Vaccination
rate dismal even as cases are surging with only
100,000 taking Chinese shots : Poor planning on
accessibility, target groups, and awareness campaign;
and vaccine hesitancy cited as reasons, by Arjun
Poudel (kp), ‘Strategic
plan’ hints federal civil service law will be delayed
by around two years In the absence of the law,
provinces have been unable to recruit staff since
2017; The Bill faced delays after Oli prorogued the
House on July 2, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Oli and many other central leaders
are not interested in federalism!], In
MCC, Oli sees a chance to play domestic and
geopolitical games : The prime minister is using the
American aid not only to rein in opponents in his
party but also to curry favour with international
power centres, analysts and insiders say, by Anil
Giri and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), The
elusive no-confidence motion : What are the options to
replace Oli and restore sanity in Nepal’s politics?,
by Naresh Koirala (kp) [The
endless infighting of the failed and incompetent top
politicians results in the morally reprehensible Oli
government remaining in power and continuing to play
its manipulative games!], President
Bhandari ends winter session of HoR (ht) [This
means that all ordinances ipso facto cease to be
effective according to article 114 (2) of the
constitution since they have not been tabled at the
session of parliament held after their promulgation!
Is Oli about pushing MCC through without Parliament?],
Siraha
woman accused of practicing witchcraft, tortured
(ht), Good
Governance: Myth Or Reality?, by Bhupa P Dhamala
(rn), Govt
decides to withdraw cases filed against JSP cadres
(kh) [Part of Oli's policy to
win over the divided JSP? Not to forget: Already in
2018, Oli had promised the party all sorts of things
without ever delivering!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/04/2021:
Democracy
and political parties in crisis, by Karl-Heinz
Krämer (kh) [See also shortened
Nepali text], Officials
forgot duty, public dropped masks; now second wave is
here : New variants of the coronavirus are more
transmissible and deadlier, but people are not taking
precautions and there is not enough testing and
monitoring of those in home isolation, by Arjun
Poudel (kp), In
the CPN-UML, Oli has found a new spin doctor—Pradeep
Gyawali : The foreign minister lectured on ‘democracy
with Nepali flavour’ and morality as he defended House
dissolution. Now he says Karnali incident is against
parliamentary system, by Binod Gyawali (kp), Oli
asks parties for support to ratify MCC in Parliament :
With the Nepali Congress and Janata Samajbadi Party in
favour, the compact will likely be ratified but
the Speaker has to agree to table it for vote in
the House meeting, by Anil Giri (kp), Home
Min Thapa loses ministership after being removed from
National Assembly; reappointment likely today
(ht), Leader
Badal Re-Appointed As Home Minister (rn), 2077
BS: Annus Horribilis, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Most
INGOs in Nepal yet to work in areas beyond Kathmandu
Valley (rep), PM
Oli warns of seeking Speaker’s alternative if MCC not
presented in HoR (kh) [Mr.
Oli should finally get to grips with the constitution.
The replacement of the Speaker of Parliament is not a
matter for the executive, but requires the support of
a two-thirds majority of MPs (Article 91 (6) (c)).
Much more important would be the election of a Deputy
Speaker of Parliament who has been pending for more
than a year! In the current constellation, this post
would belong to a woman!],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/04/2021:
Janata
Samajbadi, amid differences within party, close to a
deal with Oli : Leaders say the government has given
them word to free their lawmaker and to withdraw cases
against their cadres in return for support to Oli on
early polls and the MCC, by Anil Giri (kp), Shahi
survives vote of confidence in Karnali as four UML
members defy whip : The decision to cross the floor is
aimed at sending across a message to Oli, says a
leader who decided to vote to save the Maoist Centre
provincial government, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Karnali
CM wins confidence vote : Four UML lawmakers cross,
by am Kumar Kamat (ht) [Oli's
manipulations foiled!], Message
from Karnali: No govt is safe unless internal conflict
is resolved (kh), To
open, or not to open : Contradicting messages from
government about running schools amid the
coronavirus scare confuse guardians, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Election
Commission earns disrepute over communist party
legitimacy indecision : The commission has time and
again failed to resist influence despite being a
constitutional body, observers say, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Political
Shifts And Public Intellectuals, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), Political
Space for Youths : The political space for youths is
going to contract further in South Asia including
Nepal until and unless the senior leaders voluntarily
give the youths the chance to lead, by Rajaram
Bartaula (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/04/2021:
No-confidence
motion filed against Gandaki Chief Minister Gurung :
Since the Provincial Assembly was prorogued hours
before the motion was filed, provincial
lawmakers have also called for a special session,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Unmasking
the second wave : Nepalis are ignoring the new
coronavirus surge, by Sonia Awale (nt), Preparing
for a ‘No Normal’ : Nepal’s Covid-19 second wave is
here, and it is an exact re-enactment of 2020
(nt), Miracle
Boy, six years after Nepal quake : Baby survived being
buried under the rubble for 22 hours, but his family
still struggles to cope, by Monika Deupala (nt), Quarter
of Nepalis still hungry during pandemic : A year into
the Covid-19 crisis, Nepalis have more food but still
suffer under-nutrition (nt),
PM Oli calls an all-party meeting for Saturday
(kh), Discriminatory
citizenship laws continue to disenfranchise Nepalis :
Despite constitutional provisions, inaction on
supporting laws has meant that individuals are
routinely denied citizenship through their mothers,
by Bimita GC (Record) [Thanks
to Oli and all the other patriarchal so-called
leaders!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
15/04/2021:
Why
Nepal is not on the list of invitees for climate
summit called by Joe Biden : The country has failed to
demonstrate its actions to mitigate impacts and make
concerted efforts to show its vulnerabilities before
the world despite bearing the brunt, by Chandan
Kumar Mandal and Anil Giri (kp), Mountain
blues : The government must invest in climate
change research (kp), Verdict
ahead of parliamentary hearing raises multiple
questions : Experts say the Supreme Court saying
Nahakul Subedi is qualified for the post of justice
before a parliamentary hearing threatens the principle
of separation of powers, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Armed
and unrestrained : Wrangling concessions from a pliant
leadership, the army’s professionalism is compromised,
by Deepak Thapa (kp), Purse
Plays Havoc In The Polls, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Ominous
2078 : As the Oli government battles for its very
survival, it has been badly distracted from the
growing virus menace (ae), Debt
without reforms : Financing debt without adequate
policy reforms is a bit like financing the gambler,
by Bishal Thapa (ae), Gandaki
Province Assembly winter session prorogued (rep) [Practising KP Oli's undemocratic
methods to prevent his dismissal!], No-confidence
motion filed against Gandaki CM Gurung, NC’s Pokharel
proposed as new CM (rep), Opposition
parties in Gandaki to call for special session
(kh),
Fearing no-confidence motion Gandaki Chief Minister
Gurung prorogues Assembly : Leaders of the Maoist
Centre say a no-confidence motion will be filed
nonetheless and the party will support the Nepali
Congress to form a new provincial government (kp),
Health
Ministry urges not to attend schools in COVID-19
affected districts, including Kathmandu (kh),
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/04/2021:
A
lament for lost opportunities : The excitement of
achievement in 1990 turned out to be a rather short
one, by CK Lal (kp), Political
lull in Nepal : All the major parties to be blamed,
by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), The
second wave is knocking on the border : The government
seems to be unconcerned about a possible renewed virus
outbreak, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), Covid-19
infecting more children, but government reluctant to
close schools : Epidemiology and Disease Control
Division says the UK variant B.1.1.7. might be
responsible for over 60 percent of the new infections
in Nepal, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Janata
Samajbadi willing to form new government under its
leadership : Party leaders say the candidate will be
based on a consensus, by Anil Giri (kp), Government
has failed on employment front (ht), Supreme
Court scraps provision requiring online media to renew
their registration each year (rep), Oli
govt is trying to usurp the rights of provinces:
Prakash Man Singh (kh)
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening
(Nepali)
13/04/2021:
Experts
warn against lapses and complacency as virus cases
surge : As Nepal reports 13 new deaths with a daily
count of 496, concerns grow over a repeat of
last year’s cycle if authorities fail to ramp up
measures to contain the spread, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), New
Virus Variant : Averting Second Wave Of Pandemic,
by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Lumbini
Province sees surge in Covid-19 cases ; Health
officials are concerned about cases increasing in all
districts of the province that borders with India,
by Thakur Singh Tharu and Sanju Paudel (kp), Accountability?
What? The Baskota case shows how little politicians
care about public opinion (kp) [KP
Oli stands out in a particularly negative way. He can
be bluntly described as a protector of corruption!],
Performance
contract blues : Such contracts have failed due to the
lack of ownership and concrete incentives, by
Achyut Wagle (kp), JSP
leaders Yadav, Bhattarai holding talks with NC
President Deuba in Budhanilkantha (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
12/04/2021:
A
third of Oli’s Cabinet ministers are not members of
federal parliament : Analysts say the prime minister
is showing utter disregard for constitutional
provisions for his political gains, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [Oli should one
day be held accountable for his continued destruction
of the state and democracy, but his opponents are also
to blame! The drama would end if the CPN-MC finally
officially ended the coalition with the CPN-UML!],
Ghode
Jatra draws huge crowd at Tundikhel amid Covid-19 risk
: People are not following simplest of advice like
wearing masks in public, by Anup Ojha (kp) [And the Oli government supports
this criminal madness by doing nothing to stop it!],
Baskota’s
recommendation to House committee raises concern about
conflict of interest : The ex-minister, who was
embroiled in a Rs700 million bribery scandal, has been
recommended as a member of the Public Accounts
Committee, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [This
is probably part of Oli's way of fighting corruption!],
Free
legal aid inadequate, ineffective, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht), Ensure
Voting Rights Of Persons With Disabilities, by Dev
Datta Joshi (rn), World
Hindu Federation office vandalized in Kathmandu
(kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/04/2021:
Bipul
Pokhrel-led panel sweeps all positions of Federation
of Nepali Journalists (kp) [The
media should be free from any infiltration by
political parties!], Erosion
of poetry in Nepali politics : The most alarming
aspect of politicians’ use of language is the
production of lies, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Nepal
needs an ICT census : The survey will provide facts
and figures to help manage education during crises,
by Sagun Shrestha (kp), Particracy
Undermines Democracy, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/04/2021:
NC
asks CPN-MC, JSP-N to help form government, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht), Janata
Samajbadi seeks time to decide and politics is stalled
again : Three parties finally meet to discuss
unseating Oli. Nepali Congress and Maoist Centre agree
to join hands, but the fourth largest party wants
to wait for Oli’s response, by Binod Ghimire
and Tika R Pradhan (kp), Dialogue
As Tool To Solve Conflict, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
09/04/2021:
Deuba’s
intriguing dilemma and his credibility chasm : The
onus of taking political process forward is upon the
Congress chief. But given the dynamics in his party,
and his relations with Oli and other parties, he is
hesitating, by Anil Giri (kp), Three
parties meet today for talks on new government
formation : If the negotiations between Nepali
Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre) and Janata Samajbadi
Party are positive, further discussions will be
held on the way forward to unseat Oli, Congress
leaders say, by Anil Giri (kp), An
election of journalists under the shadow of political
parties : Almost all candidates have backing of
parties, leaving little space for independent ones to
lead, which many say could affect independence of
Federation of Nepali Journalists, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), FNJ
Must Rise Above Partisan Interest, by Kundan Aryal
(rn), Untangling
the knots : What is happening in Nepali politics is
impossible to explain in a nutshell. But we will try
(nt), JSP
as Nepal’s king-maker party : “I have given my word to
Oli that I will not turn against him”, interview
with Mahantha Thakur (nt), Maoist
Center suspends National Assembly membership of Home
Minister Thapa, seeks clarification from lawmaker
Khadka (rep), PM
Oli to reappoint four former Maoist Center ministers,
oath-taking later today (rep), Govt
mulling to stop physical classes as the COVID-19 cases
see a fresh spike (rep), Health
ministry recommends to CCMC to stop physical classes
as second wave of COVID-19 hits Nepal : COVID-19
infection rate doubled among children below 18 years
of age (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/04/2021:
How
rigid provisions are hobbling Nepal’s political
process : A no-confidence motion is a tool parties can
use against prime minister, but strong conditions
aimed at stability have weakened opposition forces in
the House instead, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Coalition
to topple govt merely a chimera, by Ram Kumar
kamat (ht), Election
in crisis : Why we need to talk about, by Apurva
Singh (ht) , Four
Maoist Center lawmakers lose their posts (kh), NC
leader Gagan Thapa invites PM Oli to HoR (kh), Amnesty
International paints bleak picture of rights situation
in Nepal Report calls Nepal out for custody deaths,
police brutality, curbs on freedom and failure to
probe conflict-era crimes (kp), AI
paints dismal picture of human rights in Nepal
(ht), Combat
human trafficking : As many as 300 children, more
girls than boys, go missing every month in Nepal
(kp), Politics
and institution building : Political tactics and
short-term gains trump institution-building for
frontline politicians, by Pramod Mishra (kp), Struggling
for breath : The biggest problem right now is that
people have zero faith in their government (ae),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/04/2021:
Are
Nepal’s parties taking the country towards early
polls? Oli is for elections, and Congress, the main
opposition, Maoist Centre, Oli’s former ally, and
Samajbadi Party, the fourth but a key force, appear to
give their tacit consent, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Break
the deadlock : The political parties have squandered
the opportunity given by the Supreme Court (kp) [Nepal's political parties lack
democratic structures and plitical culture!], Politics
of fear and international influence : Political
processes in Nepal are now increasingly being
influenced by networks of greed, by Ajaya Bhadra
Khanal (kp), Government
plans to hold census in Kalapani but doesn’t know how
: Sending enumerators there looks impossible, local
leaders say. Authorities are mulling over counting
residents on the basis of past Indian census
data or satellite imagery, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), Early
marriage and teen pregnancy rampant in Karnali
Province : According to the Ministry of Social
Development, 41,000 teenage girls got married in
Karnali in the last three years, by Chandani
Kathayat (kp), VAW
On Rise, Seven Rape Cases Reported Daily In Nepal,
by Deepa Chaudhary (rn), Nepal
2020 (excerpt from Amnesty International report
2020/21), Nepal
records 339 fresh cases, tally hits 2,78,809 (kh),
Nepal’s
security forces used excessive force in peaceful
protests : Amnesty International (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/04/2021:
As
Congress and Janata Samajbadi Party hem and haw,
politics has stagnated : Congress leaders say Deuba
must take a lead, but he is still reluctant with one
eye on the polls. Maoist Centre’s indecision on
withdrawing support complicates things, by Anil
Giri (kp), NC's
New Initiative JSP In Decisive Position, by
Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Maoist
Center taking action against its Ministers in Oli-govt
(kh), Maoist
Center writes to Parliament Secretariat to expel four
of its lawmakers (kh), Poverty
Alleviation Fund was scrapped, but it still exists.
What does it do? The fund created at the height of
insurgency has lost its relevance with local
governments in place, officials admit, by Prithvi
Man Shrestha (kp), Three
years have passed, but no consumer court in sight :
Consumer rights activists accuse the government of
deliberately delaying the implementation of the law,
by Krishana Prasain (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/04/2021:
Local
governments say they don’t get enough resources : The
federal government needs to hand over their
constitutional responsibilities as well as staff to
subnational governments, experts say, by Prithvi
Man Shrestha (kp), Women
representatives in Achham are excluded from
decision-making roles : Most women ward members say
the inclusion policy has only served as a token
gesture to fulfil gender and caste representation
requirements at the local level, by Menuka
Dhungana (kp) [All the male
Bahuns who dominate all levels in the state and
parties, even though they are recruited from only 6%
of the population, consider the state as their
property and have no interest whatsoever in social
inclusion, decentralisation and federalism! Ending the
Bahun patriarchy requires a fundamental change in the
state, parties and society!], On
the campaign trail : Oli is on an inauguration spree
with an eye on elections (kp), NC
urges JSP-N to help form govt (ht), The
Vice Of Factionalism, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), SP
leader Mahato hints at party’s intent to lead new govt
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/04/2021:
Oli
capitalises on other parties’ lack of heft to act
against him : Experts say the prime minister needs to
seek a vote of confidence by Tuesday, but there
is no answer to what happens if he refuses to do
so, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Political
course unclear despite Nepali Congress decision to
unseat Oli : Maoist Centre has to withdraw support but
more importantly Janata Samajbadi has to make its
stance clear. And early elections cannot be ruled out,
leaders say, by Anil Giri (kp), Nepal-Khanal
faction mulls forming a party and joining broader
alliance, insiders say : With its leaders suspended
from the UML and Oli in no mood to compromise,
the cornered faction has few options before it
as its leaders’ political future is at stake, by
Tika R Pradhan (kp), Oli
rushes to inaugurate 165 road projects without their
preparatory works complete : Observers term prime
minister’s move a populist ploy aimed at securing his
political position, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp),
Freed
haliyas in Bajura still remain victims of state apathy
(ht), Thorny
political course versus conceited leaders (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/04/2021:
United
Nations questions rights body’s autonomy after
controversial appointments : Five National Human
Rights Commission office bearers were appointed after
the Oli government introduced an ordinance in December
to amend recommendation rules, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Nepali
Congress appears to be ready to get the ball rolling :
The main opposition decides to seek Oli’s resignation
and start process to form a government led by its
president, by Anil Giri (kp), NC
demands resignation of PM Oli : NC to take initiative
to form a new government under its own leadership
(rep), Judge's
daughter-in-law complains of torture (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/04/2021:
A
setback for Dahal as court rejects his review petition
: With the court refusing to revisit the revival of
the Maoist Centre and UML, Dahal’s options are
limited, as Nepal faction joining hands with him soon
is unlikely, insiders say, by Tika R Pradhan and
Anil Giri (kp), Rainfall
brings some respite from pollution but threat of more
wildfires remains : With the rain, the number of
wildfires came down to 59, air quality index to 42
from a high of 334, and visibility went up to
7,000 metres from 1,000 metres, by Chandan Kumar
Mandal (kp), Public
hearing by Greater Civic Agitation : The disgrace that
was!, by Bihari Krishna Shrestha (kh), Reinstated
HoR has become dysfunctional: PM Oli (kh) [Yes,
this has been your intention for months!], Political
smokescreen : The smoke that shrouded Nepal for the
past week was a metaphor for the state of the state
(nt), Why
On The Thirteenth Day? As birds of the same feather
flock together, and as there are neither permanent
friends nor foes in politics, it is likely that the
politicians will come to a political deal that suits
them rather than what is best for the country, by
Hemang Dixit (sp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/04/2021: Be
no fool : We must start questioning the intention and
integrity of those who govern us (kp) [This
whole generation of failed so-called political leaders
must go immediately! Anyone who thinks and acts like
them should not even apply to be their successor!],
Whatever
happened to equity and inclusion? That one group
should progress so disproportionately talks about the
failure of the state-society compact, by Deepak
Thapa (kp), Disregard
of constitutional norms : Manifestation of hubris
syndrome, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), A
complex political triangle of Maoist Centre and two
opposition parties : The Maoists are looking to the
Congress, which does not want to make any move, while
the Janata Samajbadi is a divided house. Amid
this, Oli continues to wield power, by Anil Giri
(kp), Nothing
is being done to curb local pollution,
environmentalists say : Vehicle emissions, industries,
brick kilns and construction are major sources of air
pollution, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), Supreme
Court refuses to review its verdict to revive UML and
Maoist Center (rep), Maoist
Center not to withdraw support to govt immediately
(kh), The
Political Imbroglio, by Narayan Manandhar (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
31/03/2021: Judiciary
in the spotlight as political process is halted :
Nepali politicians’ inertia and failure to find
solutions to the deadlock politically could give room
to non-political actors, which is not good for
democracy, analysts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Worsening
wildfires a reminder that the country lacks clear
policies : Despite their frequency, in which lives,
wildlife and hundreds of thousands of hectares of
green cover are lost, forest fire disasters have been
largely ignored by authorities, experts say, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), Talks
between the government and Tharu Welfare Society
termed positive : The dialogue takes place two days
after the home minister met the agitating group whose
demands include the release of jailed lawmaker
Resham Chaudhary, by Tika R Pradhan and Ganesh
Chaudhary (kp), PM
Oli should gain vote of confidence from parliament by
April 5: CPN (Maoist Center) leader Gurung (rep),
Govt’s
constitutional validity ends on Apr 5 if vote of
confidence not taken: Maoist Center (kh) [KP
Oli was elected prime minister by the CPN-UML and
CPN-MC MPs under Article 76 (2), i.e. he was prime
minister of a coalition government whose two
components only later merged to form the NCP. Article
100 (2) is not very clear on the situation at hand.
The NCP is again divided into the original parties by
the SC decision; however, it was in principle already
divided into the Oli and Dahal/Nepal factions before
the ruling. At that time, therefore, Oli should
already have asked for a vote of confidence under
Article 100 (2). Formally, however, it is also the
case today that Oli was elected by the two
aforementioned parties in 2018 and the CPN-ML has not
withdrawn its confidence in Oli to date.], Take
the initiative to form new govt: Prachanda urges Deuba
(kh),
Highly-proclaimed People’s Housing Program goes
sluggish : 31 percent budget and 30 percent
construction in 11 years, by Sabina Karki (kh),
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
30/03/2021:
Education institutions ordered shut for four days,
stakeholders criticise delayed response, by Anup
Ojha (kp), 52%
Nepalis support declaring Nepal a Hindu state:
Nationwide survey, by Shree Ram Subedi (rep) [This little opinion poll was not a
political election. In a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural
and multi-religious state like Nepal, one cannot link
state identification with any one of these cultures
and religions. Otherwise, we will have the same
situation that has existed for centuries and is the
cause of many of today's serious social problems. Even
according to the opinion poll, more than 40 per cent
would obviously feel discriminated against. Only a
secular and socially inclusive state suits Nepal, but
the country is still miles away from that! Why at all
is the Hindu state brought into play in this otherwise
purely politically oriented opinion poll?]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
29/03/2021:
Deteriorating
air quality amid spike in Covid-19 cases causes
concerns : Experts say asking people to stay inside
and wear face masks is just a temporary solution
and stress a long-term plan to deal with such
situations, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Gasping
for air : The government’s response to the ongoing air
pollution emergency is grossly inadequate (kp), There’s House and there are political parties.
But politics is deadlocked : While Congress has been
partly blamed for not making any move, the Maoist
Centre’s indecision over support to Oli is the major
reason the political process is stalled, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [PM Oli has lost
all moral legitimacy for political office after his
failed coup, but the rest of the so-called top
politicians are no better!], Disregarding
Covid-19 risk, hundreds celebrate Holi : Health
experts fear the revelry could become a
‘super-spreading’ event, by Anup Ojha (kp), Subnational
level finances : The provinces should enlarge their
own sources and not depend on fiscal transfers only,
by Khim Lal Devkota (kp) [But
Oli and many other central level politicians don't
really want federalism and decentralisation!],
Child
marriage continues unabated (ht), Home
Minister-led talks team formed to address demands of
Tharuhat movement : The list of demands includes the
release of Resham Chaudhary, convicted for
masterminding the 2015 Tikapur incident in which nine
people were killed (kp), CPN
(Maoist Center) to withdraw support to govt in Bagmati
Province (kh) [A test
for a similar approach at the central level?]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/03/2021: As
controversy over Constitutional Council continues,
recruitment in state agencies is hit : Office bearers
of Public Service Commission retired last week. With
the ordinance on Council challenged in court and bill
stuck in House, new appointments can’t be made, by
Anil Giri (kp) [How much
longer will Oli and all the other would-be leaders be
allowed to destroy this beautiful country and its
newly won democracy?], Data
collection for national ID card distribution hits snag
: Against the target to collect the details of 10
million people, the government may only be able to
collect the details of 4.4.5 million people because of
Covid-19 scare, officials say, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp) [And what about
the millions of Nepalis who are denied citizenship
because they do not fit into the male Bahuns' concept
of national identity?], Law
implementation remains weak in cases of caste-based
discrimination : A report says police are reluctant to
register cases. And even if cases get registered, they
lack evidence to back up the claims, which results in
low conviction rate, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Jurisdictions
of human rights protection ambiguous: NHRC (ht), Investing
in youth : Big employment generating programs must be
carefully evaluated while small innovative pilots
should be supported, by Simone Galimberti (rep), Speaker
Sapkota meets PM Oli, discusses a host of issues
including crucial bills (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/03/2021: Janata
Samajbadi looks set to support Oli even as some
leaders oppose idea : Those holding talks with the
prime minister say there is no harm in joining
the government if their demands, including freeing
Resham Chaudhary, are met, by Tika R Pradhan (kp)
[If
KP Olis, one of the biggest opponents of Madhesh
interests, is supported, the JSPN will be permanently
damaged!], Team
formed to hold talks with government regarding release
of Tikapur riot convictsTharuwan/Tharuhat Rashtriya
Morcha says it will continue movement until government
releases all prisoners related to Tikapur incident and
withdraws cases filed against them, by Mohan
Budhaair (kp), Tharuhat-Tharuwan
National Front forms team : Six-member talks team is
led by Resham Chaudhary (ht), Only
217 migrant workers availed of government’s pandemic
repatriation scheme : Poor implementation of the
programme led to low numbers, labour rights experts
say, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp) [One
of numerous cases of complete failure by the Oli
government!], Challenges
Of Political Leadership, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), High-level
mechanism advised for effective RTI implementation
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/03/2021: House
panels aren’t doing their part when government
decisions are being questioned : Parliamentary
committees should spring into action when the House
has been rendered ineffective, analysts say, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Give
business to HoR : Some of the bills are sensitive and
require cautious deliberation before they are passed
by the parliament (ht), Break
the cycle of impunity for rape : Repeal statute of
limitations, by Laxmi Pokharel and Boram
Jang (ht), JSP
won’t join Oli-led govt under any circumstance:
Upendra Yadav (rep), KP
Oli sits pretty as opposition forces in Nepal run out
of options, by Ashok Dahal (ae), No
replacement for Oli in Nepal? (ae), Only
20 percent budget spent in eight months, by
Shivaraj Bhatta (ae), In
a state of disillusionment : A public opinion survey
shows disenchantment for the centre, but hope in local
leaders (opinion poll (nt) [A
damning but understandable verdict for the government
and the political parties! What is incomprehensible,
however, is what people in the multi-ethnic and
multi-religious state of Nepal with its endless
discrimination against women, Dalits and ethnic groups
expect from a Hindu state!], PM
Oli discloses his plan to end parliament session soon
(kh) [Oli-archy does not need
parliament! But all ordinances become invalid if they
are not decided by this session, Mr Oli!],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
25/03/2021: Which
party those elected under Nepal Communist Party now
represent? Analysts say they have freedom to choose
between the UML and Maoist Centre but don’t rule out
complications, by Binod Ghimire (kp), No-confidence
motions against Rai and Poudel to be withdrawn : The
positions of Province 1 and Bagmati chief ministers
were challenged after Prime Minister Oli dissolved the
House of Representatives on December 20 last year; A
UML leader says the indecision on the part of
Nepali Congress also led to the decision, by Deo
Narayan Sah (kp), Parliament
in limbo, bills pending, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht),
Get
thee to work : Lawmakers should understand that their
primary role is making laws (kp), 17
Dalits killed after introduction of act against
untouchability (ht), Deputy Mayors
Disempowered At Local Level, by Mukti Rijal (rn) [And most of the are women! This is
typical for Nepal's macho patriarchy!], Marriage
is no license to rape : Sexual violence by intimate
partner is largely unreported due to social stigma as
well as the belief that forced sexual relation by a
husband without the consent of the wife doesn’t
constitute violence, by Roshani Giri (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/03/2021: Oli
and Janata Samajbadi Party take their talks one step
aheadBut hurdles remain as not all in Samajbadi Party
are willing to support Oli government, by Anil
Giri (kp) [No one from any
party should support Oli after all the reprehensible
and anti-democratic things he has done out of pure
lust for power!], JSP-Nepal
leaders offer support to Oli, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(kp), A
forgettable year : Not much has changed a year after
Nepal went into lockdown (kp), Supreme
Court: Arbiter of democracy : One bad stumble is all
it takes for a fledgeling system to suffer a fatal
blow, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), My
body, my rights : There is growing evidence that the
Covid-19 economic recession has led to increased
vulnerabilities, by Christian Manhart and Eunsong
Kim (kp), Govt
to decide on lockdown after analyzing the pandemic
risk (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/03/2021: Nepali
politics is becoming devoid of principles, ethics and
ideologies : Beneath the veneer of their high-sounding
claims of fighting for the system and democratic norms
and values lies politicians’ insatiable desire to
attain power and control, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Provincial,
local governance hit as key law delayed : It has been
more than two years since bill on federal civil
service was registered. But passage of bills has not
been a priority of the House, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp) [Oli and many
other top politicians are among the most adamant
opponents of federalism and any kind of
decentralisation!], NC
will neither table no-confidence motion nor join govt:
Deuba, by Binod Subedi (rep) [This
literally means: Deuba is committed to keeping PM Oli
in power, as the latter could only finally be deprived
of power through the active participation of the NC.],
UML
and JSP discuss constitution amendment, government
formation (kh) [This is
exactly what Oli had already promised the JSPN once in
2018. After their entry into his government, he no
longer wanted to know anything about it! But even with
the participation of the JSPN, the Oli government
would not have a majority in parliament!], Guilty
until proven innocent? The practice of making suspects
public too quickly is wrong (kp), Girl
injured after boyfriend sets her on fire by dousing
her with kerosene in capital (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/03/2021: Political
instability an excuse to delay justice, conflict
victims say : Leaderships of major political parties
have refused to sit for a meeting with the victims,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Deuba’s
silence has resulted in status quo—and it is
benefiting OliCalls are growing within the Nepali
Congress that the party president must take
initiatives to form an alliance with Maoist Centre and
Janata Samajbadi Party to unseat Oli, by Anil Giri
and Binod Ghimire (kp), Enough
of bickering : The arbitrary ways of the PM are making
it more and more difficult to effect a reconciliation
with the rival faction (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/03/2021: As
Oli tightens grip on the party, he tells rivals to
support him or face the music : UML Central Committee
amends Parliamentary Party statute giving its leader
sweeping powers including that to sack lawmakers. It
asks four of them for clarifications, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp) [The party
structure of the UML is not democratic but
dictatorial, which, by the way, is similar in all
political parties. According to Article 269 (4) of the
Constitution, such parties should not even be
registered by the Election Commission! All
office-bearers of a political party should be elected
democratically from the grassroots upwards and in a
socially inclusive manner, must be accountable at all
times, face a re-vote at regular intervals and must
not have authoritarian powers! Well-founded criticism
and dealing with it without aggression are part of the
basis of democracy!], Rite
of passage : Nepal is excited by the prospect of
moving up from the LDC status, but dreads losing the
benefits, by Bijendra Man Shakya (kp), Health
ministry urges not to organize any gatherings, rallies
and seminars as threats of COVID-19 grows (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/03/2021: Representation
of women in state organs dismal: NHRC report (ht)
[see annual
report of NHRC], As
Janata Samajbadi rift grows, so does uncertainty over
new coalition formation : While the Thakur-Mahato
faction of Janata Samajbadi Party supports Oli, the
Yadav-Bhattarai faction wants to join hands with the
Congress and the Maoist Centre, by Anil Giri (kp),
To
ally with Oli or NC-Maoist Center: JSP in Hamletian
dilemma (kh) [The Oli
government should not be supported on moral grounds!],
Oli
wants to prove House irrelevant, critics say : The
prime minister neither attends meetings, nor does his
government provide any business to the House of
Representatives, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Prime
minister's resignation sought on moral grounds :
Opposition lawmakers cite examples of ministers in Oli
govt who did so not long ago, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht), Beating
The Politics Of Attrition, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
COVID-19
Crisis Management Center is ‘nonfunctional’ : The CCMC
sat for a meeting after a gap of three months on
Thursday (rep), Nepal
‘happiest’ country in South Asia (rep) [Maybe
that's because they're laughing at Oli and all the
other failed politicians, although it' more like
crying!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/03/2021: No
to censors : Functioning democracy and regulated
speech just don’t go together (ae), Moment
of truth : The leadership should leave no stone
unturned to manage the vaccine shortage (kp), PM
Oli has lost all moral, ethical grounds to rule: NC
leader Thapa (kh), UML
vs UMLThe Nepal-Khanal faction plans to revive all
party committees to counter KP Sharma Oli while the
latter appears firm on bulldozing decisions, by
Tika R Pradhan (kp), Oli
accused of promoting factionalism in UML (ht) [Oli is currently one of the most
destructive politicians in the world. Everything he
does is done with full intention, without regard for
democracy, state, nation and party!], Government
directed to run VAW classes in schools every week
(ht), HoR
holding fourth meeting; when is address by top
leaders?, by Narayan Neupane (rep) [What
good is parliament if it is not even willing or able
to remove from the prime minister's office a putschist
who has only a small proportion of MPs on his side?
Democracy looks different!], Attorney
General Agni Kharel resigns (rep) [This
was overdue since his strange justification of the Oli
coup!], “The
goal is empowerment and independence of women”,
Supreme Court Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla on the
struggle ahead for Nepal’s feminist movement (interview)
(nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/03/2021: Why
KP Oli must go : Failing to sack Oli out of power is
tantamount to breeding a situation of impunity at the
highest level of executive authority, by Narayan
Manandhar (rep) [After his
departure, additional judicial steps should be
considered.], Rigging
the match : The president is deeply enmeshed in the
ruling party’s mess, and that is not good for the
republic (kp) [Both Oli
and Bhandari have failed completely, because they know
no duties, but are only oriented towards their
personal advantages!], Parliamentary
hearing no more than ritual, experts say : Former
bureaucrats, committee members say panel is obliged to
toe the party line, by Binod Ghimire (kp), UML’s
Oli faction withdraws support to Karnali government :
Parliamentary Party won’t back Chief Minister Shahi
from CPN (Maoist Centre), leaders say; Shahi now has
two options: step down or prove majority in the
provincial assembly, by Kalendra Sejuwal (kp) [Just
like Oli on the national level!],
Language
chauvinism : The recent arrests in Balaju show the
need for greater understanding of language diversity,
by Deepak Thapa (kp), Health
service cuts resulting in more child deaths (ht),
Integration,
disintegration of parties : Lack of ideological debate
responsible, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht) [Even
more significant is the lack of democratic party
structures and the personal claims to power of the top
politicians, even if they have already failed several
times!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/03/2021: House
is reinstated, but neither government nor opposition
has faith in it : The government hasn’t given
Parliament any business, and the opposition too hasn’t
used it to hold officials to account, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [When will people
realise that they have neither democracy nor a future
with this generation of failed politicians?], President’s
all-party meeting comes into question over intent :
Oli proposing House dissolution and fresh elections
makes the event look like Sheetal Niwas dancing to
Baluwatar’s tune, leaders attending the meeting and
analysts say, by Anil Giri (kp) [Bidya
Devi Bhandari is a president by Oli's grace. Since
then, she has therefore been a compliant tool in
support of her Prime Minister's ambitions for power,
forgetting her constitutional duties!], Prez
criticised at all-party meeting (ht), Laws
are not enough : We risk reversing years of
hard-earned progress toward keeping children,
especially girls, in school (kp), Musahars
deprived of land for lack of citizenship (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/03/2021: The
spectre of split hovers above CPN-UML even as Oli and
Nepal hold talks in a fence-mending attempt : The
factions led by party chair and senior leader refuse
to budge from stances, thereby deciding to make their
own moves, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Delay
in talks hobbles the Congress, Maoist Center, Janata
Samajbadi Party’s attempts to forge an alliance : What
looked like an easy game has turned out to be
cumbersome exercise with multiple factors coming into
play by the day, by Anil Giri (kp), In
Kalikot district, incidents of child marriage are
still rampant169 incidents of child marriage were
reported in two local units of the district in 2020,
by Tularam Pandey (kp), Shun
violence : Let us hope Nepal is not witnessing a
resurgence of those violent activities that brought
the country to a standstill (ht), No
End To Political Theatrics, by Narayan Upadhyay
(rn), HoR
meeting concludes in just seven minutes, next meeting
on March 19 (rep) [The
farce continues! All top politicians care more about
personal power claims than democracy and the
well-being of the people!], Let
women lead : Men must be part of the equation but
women must be prepared and assert themselves, by
Simone Galimberti (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
15/03/2021: Court
yet to hear case on constitutional body picksChief
Justice Rana himself is a defendant in the case that
should constitutionally be heard by the bench he
chairs, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [The
Chief Justice is clearly biased and cannot judge
objectively in this case!], Eight
injured, two critically, in a blast at a government
office in SirahaThe explosion, for which Jaya Krishna
Goit-led group has taken responsibility, shows radical
forces continue to exist and they should be brought to
the talks table, analysts say, by Bharat
Jarghamagar and Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Only
a few days ago, PM Oli claimed that there was no
militancy left in Nepal, except for the one he had
started. That was probably a false statement!],
Maoist
Centre is in a fix over its next move : The party has
decided to seek clarification from its members who
have sided with Oli but it is yet to chart out further
strategy, by Binod Ghinire (kp), Why
participation isn’t enough : Women’s
participation in decision making may not
mean they are truly empowered, by Sahara Basnet
(kp), Making
our democracy work : The thing to do is rein in
political corruption and depoliticise public
institutions, by Naresh Koirala (kp), Many
senior citizens continue to be neglected: NHRC report
(ht),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/03/2021: Renewed
feud leads CPN-UML towards a vertical split : As Oli
prevails, the Nepal-Khanal group is in a bid to
form parallel party committees and has called a
national gathering of its own on March 17-18, by
Tika R Pradhan (kp) [How can a
party leader who has gone berserk work himself up into
such a frenzy and destroy his party? All political
parties must finally democratise themselves and
drastically curtail the authoritarian rule of their
leaders!], Congress,
Maoist Centre and Janata Samajbadi pursue deal to
remove Oli : But they are aware that the whole
political scenario could change if Oli offers
premiership to Samajbadi Party which, with 32 votes in
Parliament, has turned kingmaker, by Anil Giri
(kp), The
Tragic End Of NCP, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Bomb
blast at Lahan’s Land Revenue Office, three injured,
by Mithilesh Yadav (rep), Lahan
Blast: Pamphlets of Jay Krishna Goit-led Janatantrik
Tarai Mukti Morcha recovered from incident site,
by Mithilesh Yadav (rep), Tarai
Janatantrik Mukti Morcha’s leaflet found in Lahan
blast, by Kamalesh Thakur (kh)
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/03/2021: Elusive
Democratic Stability : The domination of personality
conflict in Nepali party politics demonstrates the
return of old politics of authoritarianism that
devalues participatory impulses and the spirit of
democracy in their inner life, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), As
Deuba gets nod to lead government, efforts on to build
coalition to oust Oli : The former prime minister,
however, has an eye on party’s general convention in
August as well as on next general elections before
playing his card, leaders close to him say, by
Anil Giri (kp) [Oli must be
replaced immediately, but not by Deuba. The latter
acted in 2002 in a similar way to Oli now, exclusively
to preserve his own power. It would be a chance to
change to younger politicians like Gagan Thapa!],
Congress-led
new coalition government soon: Gagan Thapa (kh), JSP,
NC and Maoist Center inching close to forming a new
government (kh), JSP-Nepal
leaders meet Deuba (ht), Oli
tightens his grip in UML relieving leaders from Nepal
camp of their roles : Nepal and other leaders returned
to their old party and have vowed to fight, form
parallel committees, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [In no democratic party in the
world would the chairperson have such authority, in
other words, the CPN-UML is definitely not a
democratic party under Oli!], Oli
cuts Nepal down to size in CPN-UML : His aides
divested of responsibilities, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht), Nepal-led
faction of UML forms parallel party committees
(rep), UML’s
Nepal-Khanal group forms parallel structure to counter
Oli’s move (kh), CPN-Maoist
Centre calls back its members from the Cabinet
(ht), CPN
(Maoist Center) decides to recall its minister
including Home Minister Thapa from cabinet : The party
asks to Maoist lawmakers joining UML to choose either
the party or the position of lawmaker within 24 hours
(rep), Rebuttal
to international rights concerns draws flak : The
National Human Rights Commission’s response to
statements by Human Rights Watch and others is
unprincipled, unwarranted, ex-officials say, by
Binod Ghimire (kp) [This is
part of the destruction of Nepal's reputation in the
democratic world by the machinations of Oli!],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
12/03/2021: It’s
broke, fix it : The best-case scenario now would be if
the four main parties skipped a generation and
elevated a new crop of untainted younger leaders
(nt) [!!!],
PM Oli should be toppled at any cost: NC leaders
(kh), Supreme
folly : A dangerous precedent of largely political
questions being settled by the judiciary could be set
(ae), A
crucible of fragile coalitions : There's little to
expect from political partnerships that have
repeatedly failed the people in the past, by
Shekhar Kharel (nt), Congress
to wait for Oli, Janata Samajbadi and Maoist Centre
moves before making its own : An alternative
government with the Nepali Congress at the helm only
if the Maoist Centre withdraws support to Oli and he
fails to strike a deal with Janata Samajbadi Party,
by Anil Giri (kp), JSP-N
leaders set riders for support : Party emerges key
player in formation of next government, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht) [Going into
coalition with a PM who has repeatedly cheated the
Madheshis and plotted against the state and the
constitution is morally reprehensible!], Janata
Samajbadi Party PP meeting concludes, no new decision
taken to join govt (rep), Oli
strips leaders close to Nepal of responsibilities :
The move comes days after Nepal and other leaders were
forced to return to the CPN-UML after the court
revived it and the Maoist Centre, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp) [Under the
Oli-archy, the autocratic chairman enjoys absolute
decision-making power to punish his internal party
critics! This is democracy as Oli understands it!],
PM
Oli was confident of the tide turning in his favor,
by Ashok Dahal (ae), Oli
nominates 23 ex-Maoist leaders including Ram Bahadur
Thapa as UML CC member (rep) [Under
Article 89 (e) of the constitution, MPs lose their
parliamentary seat if their original party suspends
them, which is likely to happen in this case!],
Badi
people end protest after 16 day : Provincial
government of Karnali has pledged to address the
demands concerning their rehabilitation and
reintegration, by Kalendra Sejuwal (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/03/2021: It
is spring, and the political games have begun, again
:As parties start talks on government formation, they
are weighing each other up before forming an alliance,
by Anil Giri (kp), Speaker
under scrutiny as much rests with him to keep the
House in order : Parliament is set to turn into a
battleground and Agni Sapkota must demonstrate
tactical acumen to maintain the dignity of the chair
he holds, observers say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Turning
the tide : The fight now should be about how we can
stop making democracy a zero-sum game (kp), New
gender equality policy to end discrimination (ht)
[???], Fluid
politics : The most likely scenario is that the NC or
UML will try to form the next government with the
backing of two other parties (ht) [After
his attempted coup, Oli has no legitimacy to play a
leading political role!], Secular
stagnation : Ways to push ahead for Nepal, by
Sumit Pathak (ht), Dalit
Network urges govt to address Badi people’s problems
(kh), Possibility
of joining the govt. cannot be ruled out: Biplav
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/03/2021: Poll
body’s rush to enforce court decision raises questions
about its credibility : That the commission had shown
no urgency to resolve the NCP dispute leaves room for
suspicion, former officials argue, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Court
verdict on Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and possible
after-effects : The decision has revived the CPN-UML
and the Maoist Centre, thereby leading to a split in
the Dahal-Nepal faction and opening up myriad
possibilities (kp), What’s
Article 76 on which the House will focus now onwards :
The provision on government formation will come
into play as Oli will try to remain in power while
others to unseat him, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Changed
context catapults Janata Samajbadi Party into the
spotlight : Both UML and Maoist Centre are in a bid to
woo fourth largest party, for its 32 members in
Parliament now hold the key, by Anil Giri (kp) [The united NCP has repeatedly lied
and deceived the JSPN in the past. Oli was not
sympathetic to the concerns of the Madheshis as early
as 2015!], Restoration
of multiparty democracy : The new round of political
surprises can push forward political realignment,
by Ajaya Bhadra Khanal (kp), Making
the country safe for women : Many times people who
have been raped feel it was their fault and they end
up feeling disgusted for something which was not their
fault at all, by Nilima Adhikari (rep), Meeting
of House of Representatives adjourned till March 16
(rep) [?? Artificial extension
of the validity of ordinances initiated by PM Oli??],
PM
Oli in mood to split JSP for new power sharing
(kh) [A person without any
morals and political culture, who destroys the entire
state if necessary to safeguard his personal power
interests!], CPN
(Maoist Center) not to withdraw its support to the
government (kh), No
violence of any type exists in country now: PM Oli
(kh) [However, the violence of
the Oli-archy continues to prevail, seeking to destroy
all democracy and political culture!], अक्करमा
अड्किएको राजकाज : समसामयिक परिवेशमा प्रतिगमनलाई पनि
निर्वाचनको वैधानिकताबेगर बाँच्न कठिन हुन्छ । त्यसैले
सत्ता साझेदारीको जोड–घटाउबाट उम्किएर राजनीतिक दलहरू
जनताका घरदैलोमा पुग्नु बुद्धिमानी हुनेछ
[Government work formally stuck : Even in the current
environment, regression is difficult to survive without
the legitimacy of elections. Therefore, it would be wise
for the political parties to reach the doorsteps of the
people by escaping from the tension of power-sharing],
by CK Lal (ka)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
09/03/2021: What
next for NCP after the court verdict? If NCP Double is
to split along UML and Maoist Centre what will happen
to those MPs crisscrossing between Oli and Dahal-Nepal
camps?, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), A
setback for Dahal as his allies from CPN-UML decide to
return home : With 53 seats, the Maoist Centre is now
the third party in Parliament. And to make any
substantial move, the Maoist chair has to look to
Congress and Janata Samajbadi Party, Tika R
Pradhan (kp), Apex
Court Ruling : Headache For NCP Leaders, by
Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Review
petition likely against SC verdict, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht), Congress
revising strategy as court decision changes political
equations : With the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre
revived, the main opposition is exploring two
options—leading the government and going for early
elections, by Anil Giri (kp), Maoist
Centre to consult Nepali Congress and Janata Samajbadi
Party on government formation : The party, which was
revived on Sunday by the Supreme Court after scrapping
the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), has 53 seats in
Parliament, well short of the required number to form
a government (kp), Prachanda
and Deuba hold talks (kh), Political
uncertainty : Oli's chances of getting the support of
either the NC or the FSP is very slim due to his move
to dissolve the HoR (ht), Politicians
influencing constitutional body decisions comes to
light once again : As a minister implicitly admits the
Election Commission was ‘pressured’, analysts say
independent bodies are increasingly being brought
under the control of the executive, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Why
only a few came : There is a serious lack of
information about the vaccination drive (kp), Lost
in transition : Political beliefs and actions are
driven by whims rather than carefully judged thinking,
by Atul K Thakur (kp), Global
bodies' statements against country's sovereignty, says
NHRC (ht) [The
allegations of the NHRC prove that this commission in
its present composition, fabricated by PM Oli, has
lost all independence and is in thrall to the Oli
government!],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/07/2021: Harassment,
misogyny still all too common for women : The law has
ensured women’s representation in the political
sphere but attitudes have not changed, by Samiksha
Baral (kp), The
(NCP) party’s over : Now there is political mess as
the Supreme Court invalidates the Nepal Communist
Party (NCP) under Oli and Dahal and revives the
pre-merger CPN-UML and Maoist Centre, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), SC
deals legal blow to teetering ruling party, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht), Gopal
Kiranti-led CPN Maoist threatens to move Court
(kh), PM
Oli tells Rawal: Go to SC to ask which party I belong
to (kh) [This man knows
nothing but mockery, lies and authoritarian behaviour!
He should be aware that it does not require a formal
split of the CPN-UML to vote him out. It is not only
for moral reasons that such a vote out is urgently
needed!], Politics
of no confidence in House, boycott and sloganeering :
Dahal-Nepal faction walks out in protest, Nepali
Congress and Janata Samajbadi Party bar government
from presenting ordinances, as Parliament convenes
after it was reinstated, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Nepal's politicians once again
prove their lack of political and democratic culture!],
Ruckus
in House over ordinance : Opposition lawmakers demand
withdrawal of Constitution Council Amendment Ordinance
(ht), People
of Limi and Yari in Humla deprived of immunisation
against Covid-19 : Public health experts say the
government has failed to ensure equal health care
rights to all people, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Our
right to move : Restrictive policies have only served
to delegitimise women’s free movement, by Neha
Choudhary and Sandhya Sitoula (kp), Dip
in per capita income challenge to Nepal’s graduation
to developing country status, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Social
media is ‘dangerous’ to women journalists in Nepal,
by Anjali Subedi (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/03/2021: Many
Nepalis deprived of citizenship certificate (ht),
Civil
Society staging demonstration today in favor of
democracy (kh), Supreme
Court awards Nepal Communist Party to Rishiram Kattel
: The decision makes the Nepal Communist Party (NCP)
registered under Oli and Dahal in May 2018
illegitimate (kp), SC
recognizes Rishi Kattel’s party authentic NCP : Annuls
Prachanda-Oli’s NCP (kh) [This
means that the two divided factions of the ruling
party must immediately look for a new names. Both use
of the name NCP is illegitimate! The question remains
why the SC took so long to make this important
decision. The EC should never have recognised Oli and
Dahal's party as NCP under existing law!], House
of confrontation : As Parliament session begins, Oli
will try to prove his legitimacy while the Dahal-Nepal
faction, though still confused, prepares to nix his
plan, by Binod Ghimire and Anil Giri (kp), Nation
Awaits Political Cliffhanger, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(rn), Prachanda-Nepal
faction holding emergency PP meeting (kh), Badi
people’s sit-in continues for two weeks : Around 400
people of the Badi community have come to Surkhet for
the protest, demanding land plots, by Kalendra
Sejuwal (kp), As
chief ministers go troubleshooting for Oli, provincial
governance takes hit : Every time prime minister faces
trouble in the Nepal Communist Party, Pokharel and
Gurung rush to Kathmandu. They are now at the
forefront of efforts to save the party, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [Federalism Oli's
way! Centralism to keep the Prime Minister in power!],
Three
years of provincial governments : Despite the
challenges, all seven provinces of Nepal have made
many achievements, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), SC
verdict on NCP name dispute strengthens PM Oli
(kh) [Why? On the basis of the
judgement, the unification of the two parties never
took place. Oli, who lost all legitimacy anyway
because of his coup, therefore only has the 121 MPs of
the original CPN-UML on his side. Because of the
switch of many these MPs to the original CPN-MC, their
number is likely to be even much smaller!], NC
obstructs House session demanding withdrawal of
ordinances (kh), HoR
adjourned till 1 PM Wednesday (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/03/2021: Congress
lawmakers against backing Oli and rather for leading
new government : But with a formal proposal yet to be
made to the party and the Nepal Communist Party
besieged with legal complications, it is in no
hurry to make a decision, by Anil Giri (kp) [The problem here is not the NC
party, but its top politicians: Sher Bahadur Deuba,
who has already failed four times as PM, behaved in
2002 just as KP Oli does now, asking the then head of
state to dissolve parliament in order to prolong his
personal power, which heralded the end of the 1990
political system and the split of his party. In 2010,
Ram Chandra Poudel blocked the work of the first
Constituent Assembly for months simply because he
wanted to become PM, although he had no chance of
success. When will the political parties realise that
a younger and more open-minded generation is needed
immediately?], NC
leaders Deuba, Poudel and Shekhar not to run after
PM’s post (kh), Chand
commits to peaceful politics but many questions remain
unanswered : The three-point deal signed with the
government does not say much about arms
management and addressing the Communist Party of
Nepal’s political issues, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
In
his meeting with home minister, CPN Gen Secy Chand
seeks immediate release of jailed party leaders,
cadres (rep), Ill
practices, society's attitude root causes for sexual
violence (ht),
Experts slam government on restrictive approach on
governing women’s mobility : The government imposing
bans on women from migrating instead of making labour
migration safer for them only infringes on their
rights to mobility and employment, they say, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), All
eyes on House session beginning tomorrow amid
heightened dispute in NCP : PM Oli is likely to face a
no-confidence motion in the House session beginning
tomorrow (rep), Supreme
Court final verdict on NCP’s name row on Sunday
(kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/03/2021: Chand
party agrees to shun violence, government lifts ban :
Details of the three-point pact to be made public
today. It’s unclear what happens to the outfit’s
political demands like scrapping of parliamentary
system and a round-table meet, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp) [The question remains
whether in a democratic state the government is
allowed to ban another political party so easily! In
Western democracies, at least, this is an extremely
complicated and lengthy process in which the judiciary
plays a decisive role.], Hold
on to peace : The truce with the Chand-led party is a
much-needed flicker of hope for Nepalis (kp), Biplob
bungle : Why was the CPN banned if talks were to be
later held with no change in its violent modus
operandi? (ae), Chand
expresses commitment to abide by three-point agreement
: The Communist Party of Nepal leader, who made his
public appearance after two years, however, reiterated
that the existing political system is flawed (kp)
[You can't disagree with that!],
Nepal
witnessed economic recession but quick recovery
likely, economists say : There was negative growth in
the last quarter of 2019-20 and first quarter of
2020-21. In the final analysis year-on-year growth in
the last fiscal year was minus 1.99 percent, by
Sangam Prasain (kp), More
politician, less finance minister, by Bhoj Raj
Poudel (ae), Address
Badis' woes : It is the responsibility of the
government to provide basic amenities to the
underprivileged groups (ht), Of
trafficking and absurd rules : Long before, women
travelling abroad were routinely subjected to
humiliating questions about why and with whom they
were travelling, or how they could afford to do so,
by Bishal Thapa (ae), Two
decades of debate on female migration : A look back at
how we have come back full circle in 20 years about
the ban on migration. Or maybe we never left, by
Upasana Khadka (nt), Erosion
of elections : The idea of elections has changed from
an eagerly awaited event to an occurrence that could
be good or bad but necessary for the continuance of
the present political system, by Sambridh Ghimire
(rep), Security
of VIPs in Nepal: Need vs. Obsession, by Abhaya
Raj Joshi (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/03/2021: They
put excessive focus on stability. But they
failed to achieve it : Nepal’s lawmakers and
framers of the constitution wrote strong provisions to
end instability, but instead of helping politics move
ahead, the laws have made it hobble, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), The
president and the prime minister : Bidya Devi Bhandari
and KP Oli have ridden roughshod over accepted
political norms, by Deepak Thapa (kp), PM's
ire against the intelligentsia : Indicator of despotic
tendencies, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Indecision
in Congress, Samajbadi Party as Dahal and Nepal grope
in the dark : Former election commissioners call on
the Election Commission to resolve the Nepal Communist
Party dispute at the earliest to facilitate the
political process, by Anil Giri (kp), Govt
and Chand-led CPN reach three-point agreement, the
underground outfit to renounce violence to advance its
political goals (rep), Govt
and Biplav group seal 3-pt deal (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
03/03/2021: Linguistic
discrimination and conflict : As long as there is
unfairness, the goal of an inclusive and prosperous
Nepal is impossible, by Sangmo Yonjan-Tamang (kp)
The
court verdict is a temporary respite : The pyrrhic
victory of democracy has restored judicial supremacy
in place of Parliament’s sovereignty, by CK Lal
(kp), Oli
takes initiatives for talks with Chand party as he
struggles to stay afloat : The government forms a team
under Home Minister Thapa to hold dialogue with
Communist Party of Nepal, an armed outfit led by
Dahal’s one-time trusted lieutenant, by Anil Giri
(kp), Challenges
to manage sufficient doses of vaccine for the second
phaseManufacturer has refused to sell jabs at $4, the
price Nepal paid earlier, and WHO may not supply
vaccines on time. This could lead to shortages for
second dose for those above 55, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), While
focus is on vaccination, other strategies to fight
pandemic ignored : The European Union had offered help
to perform a seroprevalence study and strengthen
surveillance and early warning systems a year
ago but the government has not taken up the offer yet,
by Arjun Poudel (kp) [This too
is part of the utter failure and disinterest of the
Oli government!], Overcoming
The Trust Deficit, by Namrata Sharma (rn), NC
should join government: Shashanka Koirala (kh), Deuba
says he is ready to shoulder the responsibility as a
PM (kh) [It cannot be a
democratic solution if Deuba, who in 2002 putsched
against the state and democracy in a similar way as
Oli did recently, is now to be made his successor!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/03/2021: Political
flux and geopolitical manoeuvres : Despite the Supreme
Court decision, the murky political waters of Nepal
will not quieten anytime soon, by Achyut Wagle
(kp), House
braces for Nepal Communist Party factional infighting
: Half of the party still is ruling the country and
the other half is acting as the ‘opposition’ trying to
unseat Oli, raising risks of confrontation when the
House convenes, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Nepali
Congress mulls over at least four options amid rising
political uncertainty : Leaders say a deal with Oli
cannot be ruled out provided that he agrees to play
along, either to let the party lead the government or
create a situation for an early election, by Anil
Giri (kp), Plan
for Oli statue reeks of feudalism, analysts say :
Terming the prime minister as ‘Father of Industrial
Revolution’ his statue is to be put up at the
China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Jhapa,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [A
case of megalomania in its terminal stage!], Nepal’s
debt nearly triples in the last five and half years :
Experts, however, say the country still has room for
borrowing needed for development but insist that there
should be productive use of the borrowed funds, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Supreme
Court lenient on pressing contempt charge against
journalists, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [!!!],
Ready
to work with Oli-led faction if it accepts its
mistakes: Madhav Nepal, by Binod Subedi (rep) [??? Hopefully, the leaders of both
factions will then personally pay for the completely
unnecessary state expenditures that their irrational
power struggle has caused! Oli is unacceptable in a
constitutional state for all time to come!]
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/03/2021: Nepal’s
Human Rights Commission’s integrity in jeopardy, three
international human rights groups say : In a joint
statement on Monday, Human Rights Watch, the
International Commission of Jurists, and Amnesty
International said that lack of transparency in
appointments undermines effectiveness and public
confidence (kp) [see common statement of AI, HRW
and ICJ: Nepal:
Human Rights Commission’s Integrity in Jeopardy : Lack
of Transparency in Appointments Undermine
Effectiveness, Public Confidence], International
rights bodies demand withdrawal of ordinance (ht),
NBA
opposes recent appointments in constitutional bodies
(ht), Oli
does not want to quit on moral grounds but instead is
talking of horse trading : Implying elected
representatives are for sale is disrespecting the
House and electorate, lawmakers and analysts say,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Politics
becomes more complicated in ways that will exacerbate
gridlock : Oli refuses to budge as the Dahal-Nepal
faction explores options, only to realise that there
are none as of now, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Graduating
wisely : We need a solid post-graduation plan to enjoy
the perks of becoming a developing country (kp), Focus
on GNI : Nepal must do adequate homework to meet the
necessary threshold related to GNI per capita to
graduate from a LDC (ht),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/02/2021: They
spoke up and they are receiving threats : Harassment,
death and rape threats, and bigotry against women are
a silent epidemic affecting their right to speak up
against issues, women activists say, by Samiksha
Baral (kp), Nepal
needs strategy, robust trade deals to graduate from
poor club, experts say : As the United Nations
recommends Nepal’s graduation from least developed
country after 2026, challenges are of sustained growth
since nation will lose existing support, by Anil
Giri (kp), Oli’s
unconstitutional House dissolution leads to unwanted
burden on state treasury, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp) [Thank you, Mr Oli!
Nothing is too expensive for you to maintain your
power, but you, like the other top politicians, do not
care about the country and its people!], COVAX
jabs supply to fall short of forecast : WHO likely to
provide only 380,000 doses of 2.25 million it was
expected to deliver to Nepal in the first phase of
scheme, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Road
upgradation continues amidst tight security (ht) [What does the Oli government care
about Supreme Court directives!], Tharuhat-Tharuwan
National Front's special convention begins in Kailali
(ht), Triumph
Of Constitutionalism, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Olitics-politics
and ethics : Prime Minister Oli is very much the part
of the problem. Therefore, cannot be part of the
solution, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), NC,
JSP not to support no confidence motion sans agreement
prior to HoR meeting (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/02/2021: Who
owns the constitution anyway : As those elected to
protect the charter assaulted it and those with
reservations emerged as the vanguard, analysts call
for work towards its wider ownership and acceptability,
by Binod Ghimire (kp) [In any
case, the constitution was not created as the interim
constitution had prescribed. It is the work of the
traditional male elite from the so-called high Hindu
castes and continues to safeguard their interests in
particular!], What
if Supreme Court gives Nepal Communist Party to
Kattel? The decision could make Nepal Communist Party
(NCP) null and void, taking the warring factions to
the state prior to May 2018 when UML and Maoist Centre
had merged, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Diplomats
are meeting political leaders but Foreign Ministry is
unaware : The interest that foreign envoys show in
Nepali politics during political instability is the
result of political leadership giving them unhindered
access, leaders and experts say, by Anil Giri
(kp), A
year of pandemic teaches a lot, but lessons not
learnedPublic health experts say the Covid-19 crisis
exposed a lot of weaknesses, which could be used as an
opportunity to improve and prepare for the future,
by Arjun Poudel (kp), Civic
Activism Of Civil Society, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/02/2021: Narrow
the gap : Although the constitution has not
discriminated its citizens based on gender, the laws
need to be amended to see this in practice (ht) [The constitution, too,
discriminates against women, for example with regard
to citizenship law!], Supreme
verdict : Nepal’s Supreme Court has put the derailed
political and democratic process back on track
(ae), Cabinet
decides to summon HoR meeting on March 7 (kh), House
restored but poll body still has to settle ruling
party dispute : Experts say the Supreme Court verdict
may have taken some pressure off Election Commission
but it cannot sit on the case forever, by Prithvi
Man Shrestha (kp), Janata
Samajbadi Party seeks clarity from Dahal and Nepal as
they approach it for supportThe party asks which party
the leaders head and if they are ready to address its
demands, including charter revision, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), Nepali
Congress to wait and watch developments in the Nepal
Communist Party unfold : Following the two warring
factions’ approach to help it form a new
government, a meeting of top Nepali Congress
leaders decides not to take sides for now, by Anil
Giri (kp), Obstacles,
confusion galore over the election of new Nepali PM :
Neither NCP faction can claim government leadership
without the support of Nepali Congress. But the jury
is still out on whether NC will support an NCP faction
or itself claim leadership, by Ashok Dahal (ae) [Given what Oli has done, he and
his party do not deserve to be part of the next
government. However, Dahal and Deuba also have plenty
of negative responsibility! Ke garne? Nepal
desperately needs a new generation of political
leaders!], Calm
before another storm in Nepal : A day after Supreme
Court verdict political forces jostle to form new
government (nt), House
of cards : We are just reshuffling the cards. We may
need a new deck (nt), Parliamentary
arithmetics, by Mukesh Pokhrel (nt),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
25/02/2021: Citizens’
manifesto : The Citizens’ Movement has called for
freedom from political regression and justice for the
marginalised, by Pramod Mishra (kp), Congress
weighs options as both Oli and Dahal-Nepal factions
make overtures to it : The party has emerged as a
clear beneficiary but its leaders are hesitant
to make any move until a formal split of the Nepal
Communist Party, by Anil Giri (kp), How
KP Sharma Oli’s authoritarian politics bid boomeranged
on him : House dissolution move turned out to be a
trap for Oli, as he is set to lose prime minister’s
post and even likely to be reduced to playing second
fiddle either to Deuba or Dahal, by Binod Ghimire
(kp) [After his grave breach
of the constitution, perpetrated out of pure greed for
power, Oli has no legitimacy whatsoever to play any
kind of fiddle anymore!], Sapkota:
The fate of no-confidence motion against Oli depends
on the party that registered it : The House speaker on
Supreme Court verdict, how the parliamentary process
will move ahead, his relations with Prime Minister Oli
and his petition in the court (kp) [interview], Prisoners
of uncertainty : We can’t afford to return to the old
days of horse trading (kp), Sales
of masks, sanitisers drop as people become carefree :
The pandemic is not over yet, and people should take
precautions even if they have been vaccinated, health
experts say, by Krishana Prasain (kp) [Highly
responsible for this aberration are Oli, Dahal, Nepal
Deuba and all the other so-called top politicians who
lure the people en masse to the streets for their
political power games and make them believe that there
is no pandemic in Nepal!], Give
this constitution a chance : The only democratic way
forward, by Raghav Gautam (ht),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/02/2021: House
reinstated : Constitution has prevailed, parties and
analysts say, by Tika R Pradhan and Anil Giri
(kp), In
landmark verdict, SC reinstates Lower House : Orders
government to call new session of Parliament within 13
days, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), The
constitution wins : Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli must
step down on moral grounds (kp), Supreme
Court may have brought politics on track but experts
say crisis hasn’t ended : The Nepali Congress, with 63
seats in the House, will be the kingmaker. But if it
chooses to stay out of the fray, Parliament may
struggle to give a new government, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), With
court verdict reinstating the House, alliance talks
begin : Gyawali says House meeting will be called
within 13 days. Both factions of the Nepal Communist
Party reach out to the Congress (kp) [The
Oli faction lacks any moral basis to be involved in
the next government. In particular, KP Oli personally
must never hold public office again!], Prime
Minister Oli, resign immediately : If KP Sharma Oli
has an iota of respect for the people and the
democratic processes, he should resign immediately and
pave the way for forming a new government
(rep), PM
Oli says he is not in the mood to resign soon
(kh), SC
issues interim order against Jalahari installation at
Pashupatinath (kh), President
Bhandari reaches Pashupatinath to begin installation
of golden ‘Jalahari’ (kh) [???],
A
season of revolutions : Neither elections nor
revolution is a solution to the current problems,
by Ajaya Bhadra Khanal (kp), Haliyas
declared free on paper but their plight remains same :
The former bonded labourers say the state has done
little for their rehabilitation, by Jyotee Katuwal
(kp), Curtailing
women’s liberty : The rule proposed by Department of
Immigration tries to force the patriarchal vision of
society onto women through the fabric of legislation.
This policy is based on classification of sex, by
Niyati Adhikari (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/02/2021: SC
reinstates House of Representatives : Orders
government to summon House session within the next
13 days (kh), House
of Representatives reinstated with the verdict of
Supreme Court on Dissolution case (ht), In
a landmark verdict, Supreme Court reinstates House
of Representatives (Read the verdict) (rep), Supreme
Court scraps all appointments made by govt to
various constitutional bodies after Dec 20 (rep),
Addressing
HR violations : Nepal Police needs to reform, by
Mohna Ansari (ht), Six
held for seeking justice for Nirmala (ht) [It
is a crime to demand justice for rape victims when His
Majesty the Prime Minister is in town!], Execute
penal code : The government should take corrective
measures to make improvements in the criminal justice
system (ht), Army
chief’s meeting with chief justice stokes speculation
of political message : The meeting between Thapa and
Rana comes at a time when the nation is awaiting a
verdict on House dissolution, which could determine
the country’s future course, by Anil Giri (kp), Security
Council discusses lifting ban on Biplav outfit
(kh), Cabinet
meeting to follow National Security Council meeting,
today (ht), Initiating
development projects after poll notice is abuse of
resources, analysts say : Week-long plan of laying
foundations of five industrial estates begins even as
progress of ongoing projects is poor; Oli has warned
of agitation if the court decides against
dissolution of Parliament, by Prithvi man
Shrestha (kp), HoR
dissolution case on SC’s cause list for today
(kh), Provincialising
instability : Balloting alone can be inadequate to
gauge the aspirations of the people (kp), EC
undecided which NCP faction legitimate (ht), Congress
A Mute Spectator?, by Narayan Upadhyay (ht), Members
of Badi community stage sit-in protest in front of
Karnali Chief Minister’s Office (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/02/2021: Oli
faction cripples provincial assemblies to save two
chief ministers : The Nepal Communist Party feud is
having an impact on provinces, which will be
detrimental to democratic principles and the
constitution, analysts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
[Oli destroys the state and
the constitution out of pure greed for power and calls
this the preservation of democracy! The other top
politicians also have little interest in the latter,
but Oli's behaviour is unbelievable and should be
punished most severely!], SC
order on corrective measures for prisoners remains
unimplemented, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [Supreme
Court decisions are binding law, but the Oli
government sees it completely differently!], Secretariat
member of Chand-led CPN Bastola arrested again,
despite SC order to free him (rep), Nutrition
deficiency still prevalent despite country spending
billions to address the issue : Distribution of
complementary foods and micronutrients alone will not
address the problem, nutritionists say, by Arjun
Poudel (kp), Government
to respond to Chand’s call for talks after next
Cabinet meeting : If the dialogue takes a positive
turn, jailed leaders and cadres of the outfit will be
released gradually as demanded, officials say, by
Tika R Pradhan (kp), What’s
in a language : The government should learn from the
past blunders of promoting one language (kp), Bhojpuri
language not developed thanks to govt apathy (ht),
Stronger
laws needed : Merely handing down prison terms and
fines is not going to deter people from engaging in
human trafficking law (ht), Army
chief Thapa meets Chief Justice Rana (rep) [Contempt of court??], How
Oli government botched COVID-19 response, by Ashim
Neupane (rep), Manifestation
of misogyny : If the government really wants to
‘protect’ women it needs to make the country safe from
violence, prejudices, practices and laws that harm and
humiliate women, by Grishma Bista (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/02/2021: Nepal
needs to amend human trafficking laws to fully enforce
Palermo Protocol, experts say : Existing laws define
the crime in a narrow sense and fail to protect the
victims, they argue, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp),
'Trafficking
is crime of moral turpitude', by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht), Chand-led
party expresses willingness to hold dialogue with the
government : The announcement, two years after the
party’s activities were banned, comes amid a changing
political scenario in the country since the
lower house was dissolved, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Deuba
reluctant to organise protests against House
dissolution : Some Congress leaders suspect a tacit
understanding between Deuba and Oli could be the
reason, by Anil Giri (kp) [Two
autocratic opportunists show their anti-democratic
sentiments. For Deuba, too, it is only about personal
power, not about law and constitution!], Wisdom
of the crowds : The only definite way of gauging the
will of the people is through an election, by
Sambridh Ghimire (kp) [There
may have to be early elections in the near future, but
not now. At the moment, the only question is whether
Oli was allowed to dissolve parliament in order to
prolong his personal power or whether he had to abide
by the internationally customary democratic rules of
the game: resignation or a vote of confidence in
parliament. Only then, if no new government can be
formed, may there be new elections!], Nirmala’s
mother watches Bhagarathi case unfold, wants Dilip
Singh Bista to be investigated (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/02/2021: To
reclaim democracy, citizens hold Tundikhel march :
Brihat Nagarik Andolan vows to fight to protect the
country from falling into an abyss, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), With
hearing over, justices will now study legal briefs and
discuss case before verdict : More than 100 lawyers,
including amicus curiae members, spoke on the legality
of Oli’s move. Arguments on both sides were weak and
repetitive and waste of time, analysts say, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Ensure
Fair Distribution Of Responsibility, by Dev Raj
Dahal (rn), Biplav
outfit “positive” for dialogue with government
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/02/2021: End
of war is not peace : A generation later, the legacy
of war is seen in residual violence and impunity,
extortion and murder, rape and torture (nt), The
lingering trauma of war : 15 years after opposing
sides in Nepal’s conflict made peace, a victim’s fight
for truth and justice continues, by Pratibha
Tuladhar (nt), From
the frontlines of Nepal’s war : Five reporters
remember their coverage of the people caught up in the
Maoist ‘People’s War’ (nt), Nepal’s
democracy challenges : Analysts say the major
impediment to democratic process in the country is a
lack of political culture among leaders and
their failure to put people first, by Anil Giri
(kp), Civil
Society to unveil its manifesto today (kp), Intra-Party
Feud Causes Instability, by Bhupa P. Dhamala (rn),
Hearing
In HoR Dissolution Case Ends (rn), Hearing
on writ petitions against HoR dissolution concludes,
verdict awaited : The apex court is expected to issue
the verdict anytime after Feb 23 (rep), President
removes Tilak Pariyar as Province 2 governor, appoints
Rajesh Jha : Pariyar was appointed in November 2019
under the former Maoist quota (kp), Why
Pushpa Kamal Dahal repeatedly finds himself alone :
Dahal’s critics say his first preference while making
important appointments are his immediate family
members, by Ashok Dahal (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/02/2021: People
are fed up : Undemocratic practices have been the
hallmark of politicians across parties (kp), In
a state of confrontation : Oli’s moves, especially the
ordinance on Constitutional Council Act and the
House dissolution, set off events which have
created hostility among key state organs, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Dumping
federalism : The discriminatory immigration rule
targeting women reflects the values of an illiberal
government, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Food
availability in Nepal : Challenges faced with
urbanisation, by Sauravi Regmi (ht), How
proposed immigration policy on women is deeply flawed
: Limiting women’s education, employment and movement
hinders their economic empowerment and freedom thereby
perpetuating their dependency on men, by Tara
Kanel (rep), Is
parliament dissolution constitutional? Prime Minister
Oli has not been able to prove how exactly the House
of the Representatives did not cooperate with him in
carrying out his duties, by Neha Sharma (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/02/2021: Contempt
of conscience : Let freedom of speech and divergent
views flourish (kp), Temptations
of saffron secularity and hybrid democracy : The
political call for a Hindu Rashtra poses a mortal
threat to the very idea of an inclusive Nepal, by
CK Lal (kp), A
constitutional crisis in the offing : Without some
sort of settlement, Nepal cannot be rescued from the
present imbroglio, by Narayan Manandhar (kp) [All those responsible for this
must ultimately be held legally accountable!],
House
dissolution hearing in final leg as amicus curiae
starts presenting brief : The first of the five
friends of the court in his arguments wavers talking
about ambiguities in the constitution rather
than the legality of KP Sharma Oli’s move, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Cabinet
clears way to procure 2 million vaccine doses : Nepal
is buying the jabs from the Serum Institute of India
at $4 per dose, for which the government, changing
existing guidelines, has given the nod to 80 percent
advance payment—around Rs749 million—to the
manufacturer, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Government
seeks logistical support from India, China even as
poll uncertainty continues : Poll body has yet to
resolve dispute in Nepal Communist Party, a must for
holding elections, but it has expedited other works,
by Anil Giri (kp), Dahal-Nepal
camp drafting white paper to convince otherparties,
civic groups to join stir : Members of the civil
society have been questioning the faction’s
commitment to democracy, rule of law and social
justice, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), NHRC
urges govt to save Ganga Maya (ht), Enact
the law : It is hard to define what constitutes
contempt of court when the parliament has not enacted
a law to this effect (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/02/2021: Former
chief justices reply to the court, reasserting why
free speech matters : In saying House dissolution is
unconstitutional, they say they used their right to
freedom of expression and that does not amount to
contempt of court, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Oli
says he was not allowed to work. But he flaunts his
achievements : Analysts and leaders say prime minister
is making contradictory statements to justify House
dissolution, by Anil Giri (kp), Ramechhap
earthquake survivors have no proper homes even six
years after disaster : Three integrated settlements
remain incomplete as the National Reconstruction
Authority has not issued funds, by Tika Prasad
Bhatta (kp) [The early
elections ordered by Oli, which are completely
unnecessary, are certainly considerably more
expensive!], Nepal
at risk from new virus variants, experts warn : The
government’s focus on vaccination while ignoring
importance of testing, contact tracing and genome
sequencing could prove costly, they say, by Arjun
Poudel (kp) [The completely
wrong and conceptless handling of the pandemic is
undoubtedly one of the biggest areas of failure of the
Oli government!], Create
more jobs : The scheme of a minimum of 100 days of
work is, at its best, a complementary project
(kp), Failure
on the economic front : A thorough evaluation shows
that this government has more severely failed Nepal on
economic matters, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Intellectual
property versus consumer rights : Regulators must come
between the act of cheating and the violation of
consumer rights, by Roshee Lamichhane (kp), Abduction
and murder case filed against 42 members of the
Communist Party of Nepal, including its leader Chand :
They have been charged with kidnapping and killing a
teacher in Morang on December 4 (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
15/02/2021: He
was chosen to strengthen the charter. He has left it
weakened : In three years, Oli took measures to impair
federalism until he dealt a blow to the constitution,
throwing stability dream down the drain and inviting
uncertainties, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Misreading
the provinces : Attempts to further weaken the
provincial sphere will result in the scrapping of
federalism, by Ajay Das (kp), Vaccination
begins for third group, but experts say target will be
missed again : Around 300,000 local representatives
and staffers and those working at financial
institutions are on the list, but without proper
planning, it’s unclear if all will be covered, by
Arjun Poudel (kp), Ensure
right to speech : It is sure to backfire on the
government should it introduce the directives aimed at
curtailing the freedom of speech (ht), Poll
body steps up preparations, but indecision on Nepal
Communist Party legitimacy continues : Amid concerns
over spring elections, Dahal-Nepal faction says
preparations lack meaning without resolving party row,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Mudslinging
in Nepali politics : Going from bad to worse, by
Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), For
a pinch of salt : The government must ensure that
essential commodities reach rural areas efficiently
(kp), Former
chief justices respond to the Supreme Court, say their
statement does not amount to contempt of court : The
court had sought reply in writing from four former
justices over their January 8 statement in which they
called Oli’s House dissolution move unconstitutional
(kp) [But the statements of
Oli and his henchmen do this in an extremely diverse
way!], We
are still determined that House dissolution was
unconstitutional: Four former chief justices (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/02/2021: Broken
promise : The Nepal government has failed to live up
to its commitments on transitional justice, by Ram
Dayal Rakesh (kp) [Oli has
implemented almost nothing of what he had announced
three years ago. All Nepali politicians think and act
similarly, but Oli's failure is particularly extreme!],
Bardiya
municipalities unite to keep memories of war victims
alive : Local and provincial governments can now do
their bit to provide relief for victims of the
conflict, experts say; Governments formed after the
peace accord have failed to bring justice to
victims, by Binod Ghimire (kp), More
women joining protests in capital (ht), NHRC
introduces policy to ensure gender equality (ht),
Oli’s
large-scale secretary transfers in lead-up to
elections come into question : More transfers of
bureaucrats as well as of police officers are on the
cards, officials say. Past experience shows that
officials have a role in influencing elections, by
Anil Giri (kp), 'Reject
contitutional appointments bypassing parliamentary
hearing' : Rights activists are very certain that the
National Human Rights Commission will not be able to
do its job effectively as it lacks legality and
validity (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/02/2021: ‘Justice,
justice, justice’ : Fed up with inaction, women march
to demand end to impunity, by Samiksha Baral (kp),
Hundreds
rally in capital for women’s rights (ht), The
legacy of the decade-long ‘people’s war : ’Former
fighters don’t deny the gains of the sacrifices but
wonder whether the political achievements have indeed
brought socio-economic transformation in the country,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Draft
directives to regulate social media give authorities
power to define decency : Provisions of the
directives, to be enforced by the Department of
Information Technology, are from the controversial
Information Technology Bill which is in Parliament.,
by Bijay Timalsina (kp), New
directives to control online media worry free speech
proponents (ht), Two
years after shortening public holiday list, government
starts adding to it again : Officials are calculating
potential political benefits while taking decisions on
holidays, critics say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Constitutional
Imperative Of Civic Education, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), Nepal’s
constitutional crisis and mounting security challenges,
by Abhaya Raj Joshi (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
12/02/2021: Nepal’s
‘inferior’ women : Nepal is still a highly patriarchal
society that looks upon women as second-class citizens
(ae), History
of female (im)mobility in Nepal : Immigration Dept
proposal is just the latest proof of a misogynist,
bungling bureaucracy, by Upasana Khadka (nt), ‘Women’s
March’ in Kathmandu to demand an end to violence
against women and impunity : People from various walks
of life are participating in the march from Basantapur
to Singha Durbar gate (kp), In
Jhakri’s arrest, analysts see Oli government’s intent
to curb free speech : The leader was charged with
crime against the state, before she was released, for
her remarks on the President, but legal experts say
police stretched the law a bit too far, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), Jhakri
arrested for remarks against prez : Freed more than
five hours later following protests led by parties,
civil society (ht), Proposed
travel rule change may not help control women’s
trafficking, experts say : Immigration official tries
but fails to convince protesters that the government
is not trying to curtail anyone’s rights, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal and Samikshy Baral (kp) [But
it helps the patriarchy to control women even better!
According to the thinking of Hindu fundamentalists
like Oli, this is perfectly fine!], Day
trippers : Organisers and demonstrators must be
mindful that the risk of coronavirus transmission
looms large (kp) [The
responsibility lies mainly with top politicians like
Oli, Dahal, Nepal and others, who call people to the
streets in large numbers almost every day for
demonstrations, where most of them turn up without
mouth-nose masks!], KP
Oli has assassinated democracy, claims Democratic
Thought Society (kh), Revolution
and counter-revolution : Why have the Maoists
run out of steam, and their vision become nearly
void?, by Hisila Yami (kp), Most
businesses still operating in the red despite end of
lockdown, report saysA survey conducted by the
Ministry of Industry showed that 10.81 percent of
firms have shut down, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Oli’s
follies : Deceit and thuggery have gone to such an
extent that in one moment PM says one thing and in the
next moment does opposite of what he just said, by
Narayan Manandhar (rep), Is
KP Oli staying on, or will the SC verdict be his final
farewell?, by Ashok Dahal (ae),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/02/2021: New
rule on foreign travel for women under 40 draws ire as
patriarchal and preposterousIn what is described by
public and rights defenders as a regressive move,
government says women under 40 years of age must take
consent from family to fly abroad on visit visas,
by Chandan Kumar Mandal and Samiksha Baral (kp), Women
under 40 require a letter, and permission from family
to travel abroad: DoI Director Paudel (with
audio), interview with Teknarayan Paudel, director of
DoI (rep), DoI
expresses concern over news reports on alleged
requirement of letter from local govt and permission
of family to woman under 40 to travel abroad
(rep), Girl
abducted and raped in Morang, by Chuman Basnet
(rep), Smash
rape culture : Impunity is one of the reasons why
sexual violence continues to thrive (kp) [The
Oli government and political parties care more about
their sympathisers, even if they are perpetrators!
They also regard women as inferior creatures,
subordinate to men in every way!], Children
becoming victims of sexual exploitation due to
internet misuse (ht), Youth
revolt: the battle for democracy and
transparency; For the freedom-loving, educated in
Nepal, Oli and company represent regression and
hypocrisy, by Pramod Mishra (kp), Dahal
seeks international community’s support to save
democracy in Nepal : It’s nearly two months since Oli
dissolved the House, but major countries, including
India, the US, the UK and China, have opted not to
speak up on the political situation here, by Anil
Giri (kp) [This may also be
due to the person of Dahal, who claimed responsibility
for the death of 5,000 people during the time of the
insurgency, but did not draw any further legal and
political consequences from it!], Hearing
on House dissolution to take at least one more week to
conclude : The bench is yet to hear from lawyers
representing Speaker Sapkota, counter-argument from
plaintiff and statements from the amicus curiae—a
process that could go on till February 17, a court
official says, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This
long duration of the trial is irresponsible in view of
the immense damage already done to the country!],
Govt
attorneys conclude debate in writs against HoR
dissolution (kh), Rallies
may be by Oli or Dahal but it’s always citizens who
suffer : Political parties and their leaders are
interested in mass protests, but the people, including
the participants of such demonstrations, say
they are not., by Anup Ojha (kp), Government
yet to respond to Biplav group’s call for talks :
Since the split in Nepal Communist Party, both
factions are trying to woo leaders of the banned
outfit. The ruling faction’s efforts, however,
seem half-hearted as it fears they might support the
rival camp once they join the mainstream, by Tika
R Pradhan (kp), Pliant
Cadres Fail Democracy, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Leader
Ram Kumari Jhakri Arrested (rn), NCP's
Dahal-Nepal faction leader Jhakri arrested from home
for "committing a crime against state" (rep), Dahal-Nepal
faction protesting outside Jhakri’s residence as
police prepare to arrest her (rep), NC
leader Thapa takes strong exception to Jhankri’s
arrest (kh), Dr.
Koirala condemns Jhakri’s arrest, demands immediate
release (kh), Habeas
corpus petition filed at SC against Jhakri’s arrest
(kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/02/2021: Lactating
mothers, newborns in the far-west forced to stay in
cowsheds after childbirth, by Prakash Singh (ht),
Eliminating
gender based violence : The way political leadership
is working to end gender-based violence in our country
is not inspiring enough. There should be greater
commitment and more actions, by Mandip Lamichhane
(rep), New
rule requiring women under 40 to take approval from
family, local ward office to go abroad draws criticism
: Social media users call it a regressive move, saying
the decision deprives women of their agency and limits
their right to free movement (kp) [Oli,
the misogynist!], New
directives to regulate media, social networking sites
in offing (ht) [Media
censorship in preparation!], Is
Oli right to say he dissolved the House, just the way
UK prime minister did?No. In October 2019 Boris
Johnson invoked the Fixed-term Parliaments Act-2011 as
per which his election motion was endorsed by more
than two-thirds of Members of Parliament (kp), Oli
asking poll body not to get into any party disputes
raises concerns : As polls are not possible until the
Nepal Communist Party issue is resolved, analysts
wonder if the prime minister has a different game plan
to drive his opponents into a corner, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp), Cabinet
decides to hold Secondary Education Examinations
centrally : The decision is against the spirit of
federalism envisioned in the constitution, provincial
officials say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Ministry
mulls vaccinating workers who come in frequent contact
with public : Bankers, transport staff and public
utility workers, among other priority groups, to get
the vaccine, by Arjun Poudel (kp),
Lack of strategic thinking : The constitutional mess
in Nepal could lead to political and security dilemmas,
by Binoj Basnyat (kp), Time
will soon come to gherao Singha Durbar and Baluwatar,
Prachanda warns (kh) [Now,
at the latest, Dahal is also playing the Trump. Of
course, he is not one bit better than Oli. It's enough
to give you the heebie-jeebies!],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening (Nepali)
09/02/2021: Three
incidents of rape and attempted rape reported in five
days in Gorkha (rep), Why
women should be given equal rights in citizenship :
Nepal’s sovereignty will be stronger if we empower our
women and children and weaker if we disenfranchise the
children of Nepali mothers. A nation that treats its
citizens unequally is doomed from within, by Riti
Prasai (rep), Poor
planning responsible for low Covid-19 vaccination rate
in first phase, experts say : Studies were needed to
inform policy on who to get the vaccine and when, they
suggest, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Conduct
sero survey : We cannot afford to let our guard down
yet (kp), Why
are more than 245,000 frontliners refusing to get
COVID-19 vaccine? : Though the government had planned
to vaccinate at least 430,000 frontline workers, only
184,857 people chose to get the shot (rep), Effects
of the dissolution : Two dozen bills will lapse or
have their enforcement processes halted until the
House resumes, by Sushrey Nepal (kp) [The
responsibility for this lies with the power-hungry KP
Oli and the president who blindly supports him!],
Politics
of convenience of Nepali Congress : Nepali Congress is
putting its feet in two boats in its response to House
dissolution. In other words, Congress is playing a
politics of convenience but will it help?, by
Rajaram Bartaula (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/02/2021: Amend
the laws : Amending the laws as per the protocol would
ensure adequate compensation to the victims and tough
punishment to the traffickers (ht), What
if polls fail to happen even if way for it were
cleared : Country could face constitutional and
political vacuum of an unprecedented proportion, and
the constitution and hard-earned gains could unravel
as a result, observers say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp)
[Oli has already destroyed so
much with his inimitable greed for power, arrogance
and incompetence that it can hardly be repaired. The
rest will be done by the other top politicians, who
are no better in their attitude!], Amid
global powers’ vaccine diplomacy, analysts say Nepal
should make the most of it and tread carefully : After
India gifted 1 million doses, China is offering half a
million shots, and there are other countries too
joining the fray, by Anil Giri (kp), Heed
the protocol : The government has consistently failed
to set the priorities right amid a public health
emergency (kp), Number
of new Covid-19 cases has come down dramatically and
experts wonder howFewer tests, virus variants becoming
weaker and already infected population are some of the
hypotheses, but doctors say no one should be
complacent and warn of a resurgence, by Arjun
Poudel (kp) [The figures
reported by the Oli government are completely
unrealistic. Those who do not test do not detect new
infections. At the same time, Oli and the opposition
he has aroused call masses onto the streets every day,
mostly without mouth-nose masks or not wearing masks
correctly. Nepal seems like the only wonderland in the
Corona crisis: the Oli government does nothing to
contain it and yet the disease is visibly disappearing
even without vaccination.], Political
leaders on ribbon-cutting spree in Lumbini in a bid to
woo voters : Residents say they want leaders to work
on improving education and health sectors instead of
engaging in publicity stunts, by Durga Lal KC (kp)
[Once and again: Forget this
whole generation of current so-called political
leaders!], Pandemic
offers rare opportunities for sustainable
transformation, study says : While the Covid-19
pandemic affected people and pushed back achievements
of the past, the crisis also offered lessons for the
future., by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), Defending
lawyers told to end arguments by Feb 12 (ht), Hearing
on HoR dissolution: Chief Justice Rana turns strict on
time limit : Orders advocates to end debate instantly
(kh), Show
cause notice to govt on new appointments (ht), ओलीको
श्रीपेच–सपना र मार्क्सवादी हिन्दुत्व : जनता र मुलुकका
प्राथमिकताहरूतिर पिठ्युँ फर्काएर सोच्ने प्रत्येक
अधिनायकवादी शासकको सबभन्दा स्वाभाविक आकांक्षा नै
श्रीपेच लगाउने हो [Oli's Crown of a King dream and
Marxist Hindutva : The most natural aspiration of every
authoritarian ruler who turns his back on the priorities
of the people and the country is to wear a crown], by
Achyut Wagle (ka),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/02/2021: Attack
on federalism unacceptable : It is important for the
Nepali people to raise their voice strongly against
this move, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Human
trafficking laws need to be amended, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht), With
extended vaccination deadline for frontliners over,
only about half took the jabs : Lack of proper risk
communication, overestimating the number of health
workers and geography are the reasons, by Arjun
Poudel (kp), Govt’s
COVID vaccination target falls short by half (kh),
Dahal,
Nepal desperate for joint movement but no one,
including civil society, is keen : As court verdict
nears, shows of strength seem to be modus operandi.
While other parties continue to be suspicious of the
Dahal-Nepal faction, civil society asks why join hands,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), 25
percent startups have folded up since pandemic began :
Other than the lack of proper business plan and
demand, they collapsed after the government failed to
provide subsidised loans, experts say, by Krishana
Prasain (kp), How
Nepali migrants suffered during the pandemic : In the
immediate aftermath of the pandemic, job loss created
a financial hardship to low-skilled migrants. It cut
off the survival lifelines of the family members back
home, by Dinesh Prasad Joshi and Laxmi Kumar
Parajuli (rep), Public
prosecutors’ debate likely to end today, time limit
set to 15 minutes (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/02/2021: Speaker
moves court bringing key institutions of state in
confrontation : Agni Sapkota files petition against
the constitutional body appointments made by the
Constitutional Council where prime minister is the
chair and chief justice a member, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Oli
counts his achievements as if in a poll rally and
defends move of dissolving the House : Addressing a
mass gathering, prime minister expresses his
commitment to the federal democratic republic, by
Tika R Pradhan (kp), Oli’s
show of strength strikes different notes with
different people : While commuters see it as a traffic
nuisance, supporters rally behind the prime minister,
by Anup Ojha (kp), Committed
to democracy, claims Oli : 'No one can reverse
republican order. Polls will decide who forms govt'
(ht) [No, Mr Oli, you commit
yourself to a coup against democracy. Only the
representatives of the sovereign people elected for
five years decide who forms a government! There is no
need for new elections and no right of the PM to
dissolve parliament prematurely as part of his
intra-party power struggles!], Home
minister announces ‘third people’s movement’, but many
wonder what it means : In a bid to win Oli’s favour,
Thapa warns his former comrade Dahal that if his
agitation turns violent he, as home minister, will
lock up the former rebel leader in the zoo, by
Anil Giri (kp) [Sick brain??
This statement alone is a proof!], Professionals,
workers organise symbolic protest against HoR
dissolution (kh), Government
has not procured essential drugs for over 18 months :
The essential drugs provided for free are key to
preventing deaths by non-communicable diseases,
doctors say, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Traders
say China imposing ‘undeclared blockade’ : Shipments
are still being held up at the northern border for
over 16 months now on the pretext of Covid-19
pandemic, much to importers’ chagrin, by Krishana
Prasain (kp). Polarised
Politics Jeopardises Democracy, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn)
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/02/2021: Tenure
of two transitional justice bodies to be extended but
it is not enough, conflict victims say : Law that
allows amnesty for rights violators must be changed
first, victims and activists demand., by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Seeking
to change narrative, Oli resorts to show of force :
Despite leading the government, Oli is holding a mass
gathering in front of Narayanahiti, once the seat of
kings, raising concerns if the communist prime
minister is taking the country on a regressive path,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Confrontational
politics could lead to uncertainty and
instability : The way Nepal Communist Party factions
are at each other’s throat bodes ill for all, analysts
say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), General
strike affects life nationwide : Five trucks were
vandalised in Chitwan on Thursday; vehicular movement
disrupted in many other places, by Ramesh Kumar
Poudel (kp) [Since 1991, the
cadres of the political parties do not understand what
the fundamental right to strike and demonstrate
entails. In any case, vandalism and coercive methods
against civil society are not part of it!], Banda
for what? People are not going to tolerate it when any
political group declares shutdowns and restricts their
mobility (rep), As
citizens bear the brunt of strikes, they ask who
politicians are servingSix vehicles were vandalised in
the Capital during Thursday’s general strike called by
the Dahal-Nepal faction. Their fault—going about their
lives to feed their families, by Anup Ojha (kp), Anarchy
let loose : Their intent does not seem to be to bring
the democratic process back on track (kp), NCP’s
Oli-led faction staging a mass gathering in the
capital today (rep) [And
what is he trying to prove? Does he want to prove the
constitutionality of his coup by the mass march of his
cadres who blindly obey him, because he cannot find
anything in the constitution?], All
eyes on Nepali Congress for joint agitation, but it’s
not ready to commit : Parties opposed to Oli’s House
dissolution move are prodding the Congress to
jointly launch protests, but they are perplexed by
Deuba’s reluctance, by Anil Giri (kp) [Sher
Bahadur Deuba is keen to become Prime Minister for a
fifth time. So cooperating with the coup leader Oli
seems to be the quickest and safest way. The
unconstitutionality of Oli's actions interests him, as
it does Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, only marginally!],
Nepali
Congress takes undemocratic road : Nepali Congress
leaders choose to undercut their own leadership,
undermine judicial independence and even hamper party
unity, by Kalyan Man Shrestha (ae), Speaker
Agni Sapkota files writ petition at Supreme Court
against appointments made at constitutional bodies
(rep), SC
issues show-cause notice over appointments to
constitutional bodies (kh), Clear
the way for elections : It is important to create
broad political consensus on viable election dates and
remove the disquieting state of uncertainty (ae),
A
state of permanent revolution : Democracy today is not
threatened by those who oppose a government, but by
the government itself, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), The
ongoing political chaos may leave serious negative
impacts on the country’s economy, by Rajesh Khanal
(rep), Healing
political hopelessness in Nepal : Healing the mass
pessimism requires political forces to adopt policies
that provide sustainable solutions to everyday
problems of people, by Ambika P Joshi (rep) [Please do not take anything
positive from the current political leaders!],
Lawmaker
Pal advises PM Oli to do away with federalism (kh)
[One cannot simply change the
fundamentals of the constitution, even if Oli would
very much like to do so. Ms Pal should remember :
parliamentarians who had previously sided with the
coup-plotting king were expelled from parliament in
2005 when the latter was reinstalled!]
see also news programmes of
Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/02/2021: New
appointments yet another Oli bid to wield control over
key institutions : Analysts say Oli’s actions are
making a mockery of the rule of law, as agencies
meant to keep the government in check are being
hugely compromised, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Appointments
to constitutional bodies receive widespread flak :
Questions raised over Nepali Congress’ role as party
supporters feature on list of appointees, by Anil
Giri (kp), Supreme
Court moved to quash appointments (ht), Dahal-Nepal
faction supporters hold protests in major cities
across the country : Five trucks were vandalised in
Chitwan on Thursday; vehicular movement disrupted in
many other cities, by Ramesh Kumar Paudel (kp), Taxi
set on fire, vehicles vandalised; over 70 arrested in
Kathmandu during Dahal-Nepal faction general strike :
The Dahal-Nepal faction is protesting against
Wednesday’s appointments and House dissolution
(kp) [Demonstrations and
strikes against Oli's coup are necessary, but
vandalism is a crime for which the organisers must be
accountable!], Police
arrest 157 strike enforcers, 11 incidents of vandalism
reported (rep), Police
arrest scores of NCP cadres including Standing
Committee member Shakya as they try to enforce general
strike (rep), Ex-minister
Jha injured in clash between police and agitating
Dahal-Nepal faction cadres in Janakpur, by
Mithilesh Yadav (rep), On
the eve of Friday’s mass gathering, youths, students
close to Oli-led NCP hold march-past in capital
(rep) [The question is not
whether Oli can bring followers onto the streets in
support of his coup, but whether his actions are
covered by the constitution. He still fails to prove
the latter!], Nepal-India
ties: Expectations and reality; It is imperative that
the two sort out their problems to reduce other
geo-political tensions, by Lok Raj Baral (kp), National
Development Agenda Obscured, by Mukti Rijal (rn),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/02/2021: Comedy
of errors of communist rule : The very party chief who
boasted so much about having two-thirds majority
dissolved the parliament and called for next
elections, again, to secure the two-thirds majority,
by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Police
likely to take strong action against “forceful
enforcers” of general strike (kh), Attorney
general flounders as he defends Oli’s House
dissolution move : Legal experts closely following the
hearing say Agni Kharel focussed more on political
than constitutional grounds to justify why prime
minister was right to dissolve the House, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Nepal
failed to stand up for democratic values while
reacting to military coup in Myanmar, analysts say :
It took a whole day for the Foreign Ministry to come
up with a statement where it called for immediate
release of elected leaders but stopped short of
showing concern over the risk of reversal of
democratic reforms in the Southeast Asian country,
by Anil Giri (kp) [How can the
Oli government criticise what is happening in Myanmar
when it is taking its own country back to the
democratic stone age?], The
stable sterility of ‘ethnocratic’ regimes :
Ethnonationalism and democracy are incompatible
principles, by CK Lal (kp), Misplaced
trust in a sovereign : The youngsters have little
knowledge and experience of the tyrannical monarchy
days, by Narayan Manandhar (kp), Is
Nepal’s judiciary independent? The influence of
political parties is the most common threat Nepali
judiciary is facing. When judges are appointed based
on political affiliation judiciary will be politically
influenced, by Abesh Adhikari (rep), Govt
moves ahead with appointments in constitutional bodies
despite objection from Speaker Sapkota (rep), CIAA
chief Rai among others take oath of office and secrecy
(rep), Vice
President Pun, Speaker Sapkota boycott swearing-in
ceremony of newly-appointed office bearers of
constitutional bodies (rep), Writ
filed at SC against newly-appointed office bearers of
constitutional bodies (kh), Flood,
landslide-displaced Baglung villagers still wait for
new houses : The displaced families say government
authorities and the people’s representatives are
indifferent towards their problems, months after they
were forced to abandon their homes, by Prakash
Baral (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/02/2021: Artists,
writers and cultural activists announce protest
against House dissolution : PM Oli’s ‘regressive move’
undermines the achievements of the 2006 people’s
movement and pushes the country towards
authoritarianism, they say (kp), How
Oli’s actions put heads of two houses at odds :
Speaker and National Assembly chairman spar over
Constitutional Council’s December 15 recommendations,
in a brazen display of their partisan allegiance,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Provinces,
Local Levels Are Government's Organs, Minister Says
(rn) [Nepal is and remains a
centralised state. The citizens have misunderstood the
idea of federalism! In general, the constitution is
completely overrated!], Dr.
Govinda KC announces 20th Satyagraha (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/02/2021: Speaker
sends back constitutional body recommendations : The
Council, headed by prime minister, had appointed
office bearers to various constitutional bodies on
December 15 after introducing an ordinance, by
Tika R Pradhan (kp), Assessing
constitutionality of parliament dissolution :
Dissolution of the House of Representatives is the
last resort, only when all options mentioned in
Article 76(1), (2), (3) and (5) are exhausted, by
Sneha Shrestha (rep), Electoral
eyewash : With polls in mind, Prime Minister KP Oli
has been crossing the moral boundaries of democratic
politics (kp), Don't
murder constitution: Pahadi tells PM (ht), PM
elected from two-thirds majority can dissolve
parliament: Attorney General Kharel (kh) [Apart
from the fact that there is nothing about this in the
Constitution, a House of Representatives that is 100
per cent elected by the sovereign people cannot be
dissolved by a Prime Minister whose power depends
solely on this very Parliament!], It
may take years to inoculate everyone against Covid-19,
experts say : Health Ministry officials say only
preparations to start a mass vaccination campaign may
require three months, by Arjun Poudel (kp), The
electric vehicle tax : The government has taken all
the wrong steps in trying to curb air pollution,
by Kritagya Shah (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
31/01/2021: Disappearance
commission starts issuing ID cards : Kin of victims
say cards not associated with any facility from the
state are of no use when officials are reluctant to
address their concerns, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Writ
petitioners’ pleading over, govt side to plead against
writ petitions starting Monday (rep), Oli,
despite leading caretaker Cabinet, on spree to
inaugurate and award projects : Inaugurating them is
an attempt to influence elections which the poll body
should look into and awarding them risks future
governments not owning them, observers say, by
Anil Giri (kp) [The minimum
punishment for a coup plotter should be that he should
never again be allowed to participate in elections or
hold public office!], Addressing
amnesia in Nepal : In Nepal, political parties are
plunging headlong into a culture of post-truth, by
Abhi Subedi (kp), Hundreds
participate in peaceful protest led by Wagle, KC
(ht), Litmus
Test Of Constitutional Bodies, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(rn), ‘No
parliamentary hearing can be held on political
appointments made by Constitutional Council in absence
of lower house’ (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
30/01/2021: Nepal
Communist Party dispute risks further delay in justice
for war victims : As Oli is wooing former Maoist
combatants for his political gains, Dahal is warning
that the peace process could be derailed because of
the House dissolution move, by Binod Ghimire (kp),
It’s
time for parties to register for polls but Oli-Dahal’s
legitimacy row remains : Election Commission this week
decided not to give legitimacy to either faction of
Nepal Communist Party. But with elections nearing, it
will have to make a choice, experts say, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Wouldn't
it be time for an interim order by the Supreme Court
to halt election preparations pending a final decision
on the constitutionality of the dissolution of
parliament? Nepal is facing irreparable damage!],
CJ
Rana asks lawyers' organizations to help safeguard
independence of judiciary (rep), Amid
political uncertainty, Congress seems to have
forgotten about its general convention : Deuba faces
charges within the party of putting excessive focus on
power games rather than holding the convention which
must be held by September if the House is restored,
by Anil Giri (kp) [Deuba, who
has failed several times as prime minister, is eager
to become prime minister again. He does not need a
party convention that might elect a new party
president. In this context, it must be remembered that
Deuba's internal power struggles in 2002 made
Gyanendra's subsequent coup and the demolition of the
1990 constitution possible at all. Deuba acted in 2002
in a similar way to Oli today!], Shortcomings
Of Patrimonial Regime, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
29/01/2021: House
dissolution: A step towards the constitution’s failure
in Nepal?, by Ashok Dahal (ae) [Nepal's
seventh constitution in 70 years also has numerous
shortcomings. Every time there are idiots who exploit
them mercilessly for their personal interests. The
multi-ethnic state of Nepal needs a secular
constitution that gives equal rights and participation
to all genders, ethnicities, castes, religions and
social classes without restrictions!], Civil
society activists stage protest near statue of martyr
Shukraraj Shastri (rep), Back
in the streets (nt), Court
orders Oli to be present with written reply on
contempt charge : The bench has given the prime
minister seven days to furnish clarification why he
should not be punished for making disparaging remarks
against the judiciary, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), PM
Oli suffers from ‘parliament phobia’: Senior advocate
Bidari (rep), The
fate of elections is up in the air, but Oli already
seems to be in campaign mode : Analysts say Oli’s
gatherings targeting polls need scrutiny given the
chances of misuse of state resources as his House
dissolution move is still being tested by the court of
law, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Article
93 of constitution : Flouted clause in HoR dissolution,
by Pushpa R Joshi (ht), Lack
of probe into deaths at hands of police concern for UN
: Four special rapporteurs on human rights remind
Nepal of its obligation to look into such cases,
punish perpetrators. Officials say they are unaware of
such correspondence, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Pork
barrel politics : Spend the Rs6.56 billion on
vaccines, not some dubious partnership programme
(kp), Forced labour, bonded labour and
child labour prevalent in country’s brick kilns
sector, new report says : Organisations call for
concerted efforts by all key stakeholders–government,
industry employers and workers–to work for a decent
work agenda in the country’s brick production industry
(kp) [see UNICEF
report], KP
Oli goes to Pashupati : Nepal has had its share of
conflicts of late. The last thing it now needs is a
religious strife (ae), Nepal’s
geopolitical nightmares : During such heightened
uncertainty in the region, Nepal does not even have a
permanent government, by Biswas Baral (ae),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
28/01/2021: Threat
to Nepal’s hard-fought democratic ideals : The civil
society movement not only must insist on punishing
Oli, but also push for a new political culture, by
Pramod Mishra (kp), Political
turbulence amidst the coronavirus pandemic : Nepal is
facing growing humanitarian losses and serious
socio-economic consequences, by Ram Sharan Mahat
(kp), Supreme
Court summons Prime Minister Oli within seven days
with written response in contempt of court case : The
court has also summoned former Speaker Daman Nath
Dhungana and four former chief justices for speaking
up on the House dissolution case which is being heard
by the Constitutional Bench (kp), Advocates
continue pleading against PM's move (ht), Poor
HR record : Making amendments to the TRC Act and NHRC
Act are a must to gain support from the international
community (ht), Clarification
on alleged extrajudicial killing sought (ht), Four
UN special rapporteurs on human rights seek details on
investigations into deaths in custody and police
actions : In a correspondence addressed to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the four special
rapporteurs have said that non-investigation into such
deaths is against international conventions Nepal is
party to (kp), Despite
concerns, government releases budget for projects
chosen by lawmakers : Rs6.56 billion has been released
for Local Infrastructure Programme even as House has
been dissolved and polls announced, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp) [Taxpayers'
money to former MPs of a parliament now dissolved by
the PM, who were once handpicked as candidates by the
party leadership in a non-inclusive manner :
Corruption cannot be practised any better!], Civil
Service, Politics And Politicians, by Mukti Rijal
(rn), Public
perception of corruption rises further in Nepal; the
country becomes fourth most corrupt country in South
Asia (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
27/01/2021: Do
not suppress dissent : The attack on citizens’
peaceful protests is unacceptable in a democracy
(kp), Assault
on civil liberties : Monday's use of force against
civil society activists and intellectuals is a fresh
reminder of how the Oli government is inching toward
an authoritarian rule (rep), Justice
Malla asks writ petitioners: How long should this case
go? (kh), Nepal
Communist Party legal dispute may invite more
political chaos : With poll body’s lukewarm approach
to the two factions’ legitimacy claims, elections,
even if court clears way, may be pushed back creating
political and constitutional vacuum, by Prithvi
Man Shrestha (kp), Can
the Hindu movement become an alternative political
force? : The appeal of monarchy and Hindu forces can
backfire, as they disavow principles of inclusion and
democracy, by Ajaya Bhadra Khanal (kp), Contempt
of court case filed against four former chief justices
(rep) [If anyone deserves a
contempt of court charge, it is KP Sharma Oli. His
daily declarations alone that his actions are
constitutional and that the elections will take place
as scheduled clearly violate the ongoing court case!!],
PM
Oli vows to roll out COVID-19 vaccine for free to all
Nepali nationals within three months (kp) [What
a lucky country Nepal is. They have a putschist as
prime minister who guarantees that all 30 million
Nepalis will be vaccinated within the next 3 months.
The Europeans should take a leaf out of their book. To
give just one example: In Germany, they say that
another 14 weeks are needed to vaccinate the over-80s
alone. Oli is simply a brilliant loudmouth!!],
Is
this the time for election? Government’s effort should
have been centered on reviving the economy and
protecting people from the huge financial and mental
loss. Nepal cannot afford costly elections at this
moment, by Bikram Thapa (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
26/01/2021: Contempt
of court case against Oli filed at Supreme Court : Two
advocates have filed separate petitions, saying the
prime minister disparaged the court and legal
practitioners (kp), Nepal
has made little progress on transitional justice,
Amnesty International Nepal says : The rights group
says despite making numerous commitments at
international forums, the country achieved little in
terms of real delivery (kp), Campaigners
decry use of force by police on peaceful civic protest
against the House dissolution move : Unwarned,
protesters were hit by water cannons and beaten
up as they marched towards Baluwatar. Earlier in the
day, rights activists were rounded up from same area,
by Anup Ojha (kp), [The police
action as now ordered by the Oli government is
criminal and a serious violation of basic human
rights. The behaviour of the police has not changed
since the end of the authoritarian royal Panchayat
system!], Rights
activists protesting HoR dissolution arrested from
Baluwatar (ht), Police
use water canons, baton charge citizen protesters in
Baluwatar (ht), Oli’s
temple visit carries an underlying political message,
leaders and observers say : Prime minister’s puja at
Pashupati comes at a time when calls are growing for
restoration of a Hindu state with monarchy and the
country has been pushed towards uncertainty, by
Anil Giri (kp) [After
destroying the constitution and democracy, Oli is also
trying to eradicate the remnants of social harmony in
the multi-ethnic state of Nepal by once again proving
himself to be a Hindu fundamentalist!], Arguments
against prime minister’s move continue, by Ram
Kumar Kamat (ht), How
India is using vaccine diplomacy to recalibrate its
neighbourhood first policy : Foreign policy watchers
and experts say the jabs could prove for Delhi, which
is in a bid to win over its neighbours, a shot in the
arm, by Anil Giri (kp), For
a few dollars more : We must begin to ask ourselves if
the foreign labour market is worth dying for (kp),
Leaders,
mind your language : Nepali political leaders have
stooped so low in accusing the opponents by using
uncivil, socially offensive and rude language, by
Chiranjibi Paudyal (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
25/01/2021: Decoding
controversies surrounding writ petitions, by
Narayan Manandhar (rep), In
mocking lawyers and judiciary, Oli is making a mockery
of rule of law : Legal experts say ever since he
dissolved the House, the prime minister has been
making attempts to justify his move and in doing so he
has turned the whole situation into a farce, by
Tika R. Pradhan (kp), Former
presidents of NBA condemn PM’s remarks (ht), Ethical
question raised against Attorney General Agni Kharel
(ht), Oli,
Nembang and Kharel might have a different version of
constitution: Senior advocate Thapa (rep), Several
protesters injured as police use force on participants
of Baluwatar March : Writers, poets, artists,
intellectuals and members of the public were
participating in the rally (kp) [Even
more than the protests of the parties, these
intellectuals endanger Oli's ambitions for power and
must be silenced, he thinks!], Rights
activists protesting HoR dissolution arrested from
Baluwatar (ht), Baluwatar
wears tense look as police obstruct march by civil
society members (with photos), by Monika Malla
(rep), Slowly
recovering economy could be stalled again by political
instability : As Nepal marks a year since the first
Covid-19 case, latest indicators have been encouraging
but as far as tourism is concerned, it will take years
to get to pre-pandemic levels, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha and Sangam Prasain (kp), Poll
body refuses to give legitimacy to either faction of
Nepal Communist Party : Factions led by Oli, and Dahal
and Nepal have failed to follow procedures, officials
say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), ‘मांसाहारी’
राजनीति : दाहाल र उनको गुटका कसैले पनि बहुदलीय
लोकतन्त्रप्रति इमानदार चिन्ता प्रकट गरेको कतै सुनिएको
छैन । उनीहरूले सडकमा गर्ने भाषणमा ओली लोकतन्त्रवादी
नभएको होइन, कम्युनिस्ट नभएको र पार्टीको आदेश नमानेको
आरोप बढी लाग्ने गरेको छ । ['Non-vegetarian'
politics : No one from Dahal or his faction has been
heard expressing sincere concern for multi-party
democracy. In his street speeches, Oli has been accused
of not being a democrat, not a communist and disobeying
the party's orders], by Achyut Wagle (ka),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
24/01/2021: Govt
urged to implement NHRC recommendations (ht), Our
troubled democracy : Unless the bleeding of democracy
stops, the resto-ration of the House alone is not
going to save it, by Naresh Koirala (kp), NC,
JSP-N not keen on joint struggle : NC says it’s
protesting, JSP-N blames NCP of betrayal (ht), Petition
filed at Constitutional Bench seeking examination of
authenticity of House dissolution notice published in
Nepal Gazette (rep), SC
will not be influenced by external factors: CJ Rana
(kh) [Nobody tries to
influence the SC's decision like KP Oli. The SC must
finally silence him and stop his unjustified election
preparations! The rule of law and democracy are on the
brink of extinction in Nepal!], Former
Nepal Bar Association chairs condemn Oli’s ‘shameful
attack’ on legal profession : They say the prime
minister should apologise for slandering the country’s
most senior lawyer and the legal profession (kp),
Covid-19:
The year of living dangerously : One year since Nepal
reported its first case, government response has been
dismal. Vaccines are likely to be available sooner or
later, but the path to inoculate all is not clear,
by Arjun Poudel (kp), Poverty
and lack of awareness and access forcing many to
resort to unsafe abortion : Even 19 years after
legalisation, women’s struggle for safe abortion
continues. As a result, they put their health at risk
and are unable to exercise their rights, experts say,
by Samiksha Baral (kp), Health
workers deprived of risk allowance warn of halting
serviceAs many as 53 frontline health workers at
Dolakha District Hospital in Jiri have been
deprived of the Covid-19 risk allowance for months,
by Anish Tiwari (kp), With
political instability, market prices soar : When
elections approach, market monitoring gets lax and
prices remain high, activists and experts say, by
Krishana Prasain (kp), Dr
KC objects to recommendation for increasing medical
education fee (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
23/01/2021: Nepal
yet to ensure transitional justice: Officials have
been repeating same commitments at international fora,
but have done little to implement them, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [The statement
read out by the foreign minister sounded in part like
a fairy tale story! Promises made for years, but not
kept, were presented as if they would be implemented!],
NHRC
urges govt to ensure implementation of its past
recommendations (rep), Urge
to implement NHRC recommendations (kh), PM
Oli assures ex-Maoists commanders of finding solution
to their problems (kh) [And
what about the problems of the victims of the
insurgency and their families, Mr Oli??], Kalikot
teens run successful campaign against Chhaupadi :
Campaign inspires girls and women to abandon period
sheds, by Tularam Pandey (kp), When
will Dalit lives matter? Despite voices being raised
in the Capital and across the country against the
injustices inflicted on Dalit people, their plight
remains the same. The Post takes a look at the
events that took shape last year and why they were not
enough, by Srizu Bajracharya (kp), A
scrambling Oligovernment produces gazette before
court, but it’s backdated : Hiding information and
distorting it have been the hallmark of the Oli
government and not publishing the House dissolution
notice is a major procedural lapse, experts say,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Confusion
and dilemma in Nepali Congress continues, now with
eyes on leading government in provinces : Views
differed in the party over House dissolution. Now
there are questions whether it should join hands with
Oli or Dahal-Nepal faction in Bagmati and Province 1,
by Anil Giri (kp) [It is
becoming clear that the feigned outrage over the
dissolution of parliament is sheer mockery. Oli's coup
is gladly accepted if it means that one can regain
power oneself. What rotten politicians!], Protest
against Oli’s decision draws huge response in capital
(ht) [The term "decision"
trivializes Oli's constitutional breach!], A
motley crew of people and political talk at Capital
protest : Thousands attended Friday’s rally called by
Dahal-Nepal faction of Nepal Communist Party against
Oli’s House dissolution move. But not everyone was
there to protest, by Anup Ojha (kp), Civil
society group to stage protest outside PM's residence
in Baluwatar against parliament dissolution (rep),
Dr
KC staging protest against HoR dissolution today
(kh), Lawyers
spell out flaws in PM’s move, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht), PM
Oli makes mockery of legendary lawyer whom judicial
sector respects as ‘Guru’ : ‘Calling hearing a
spectacle contempt of court’ (kh) [!!!???],
Nepali
women migrants repatriated from Beirut : Migrant
workers, mostly women, have been hit hard in the West
Asian country reeling under multiple crises, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), Is
foreign employment a choice or a compulsion? Labor
migration is not safe for innocent Nepali migrant
workers. The government should ensure that every
single Nepali worker in foreign land is paid decent
salary and treated with dignity, by Bipana Thapa
(rep), The
Alchemy Of A New Class, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Pressure
cooker bomb planted by Biplab-led group defused in
Banepa (rep), Biplav
outfit torches Bolero van in Makwanpur (kh), BP
Highway disrupted following explosion; bomb planted on
Arniko Highway defused (kh), Three
cadres of Biplav outfit arrested in Tikapur (kh),
Joint
meeting of Dahal, Dr Bhattarai with Vice Prez sparks
speculations in political circle (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
22/01/2021: Universal
Periodic Review: Nepal quizzed on transitional
justice, rights, Tibetan refugee issue : Foreign
Minister Gyawali reiterates Nepal’s commitment to
human rights, deflects US queries on Nepal-China
agreements as a bilateral matter, by Anil Giri
(kp), United
Nations urged to tell Nepal government to protect
civic freedom : Physical attacks on journalists,
rights activists continue to undermine civic space
(ht), Why
KP Sharma Oli is behaving as though he is the state :
Ever since Oli dissolved the House of Representatives,
all his statements have revolved around ‘I, me and
myself’, as he has shown utter disregard for the
checks and balances enshrined in the constitution,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Rs
100 billion: The cost of Nepal’s next parliamentary
election, by Ashok Dahal (ae), Nepal
to rely mostly on foreign aid to buy Covid-19 vaccines
for its people, officials say : Rs48 billion has been
estimated for vaccines. Government, however, says it
won’t have a resource crunch for midterm elections,
which will cost it as much as Rs 20 billion, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Who
gets to write our history? The nationalist narrative
conveniently sets aside other histories that don’t see
Nepal as a great nation, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp),
Sugarcane
farmers to resume protest to get paid in
full : Both the government and the sugar mills are
refusing to disclose the details of the payments
made so far, by Krishana Prasain (kp), NHRC
urges govt to save Ganga Maya’s life (ht), Failure
of Nepali communism : The most understated reason for
the failure of Nepali communism is their new penchant
for central planning and development without the
capability to deliver on them, by Bishal Thapa
(ae), Messing
up the system : When a government elected with an
overwhelming majority dissolves the House due to the
failure and inability to manage intra party wrangling
and discord, it could become a bane for democracy,
by Rajaram Bartaula (rep), Polluted
politics : If driver exhalation is checked for
alcohol, why not vehicle exhaust for pollutants?
Governance failure. Corruption (nt), Breathing
is hazardous to health : Only public pressure on
politicians will clean up Kathmandu’s hazardous air
pollution (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
21/01/2021: Oli’s
legacy of shame : KP Oli put Nepal’s young democracy
to the test, and the political class helped him do it,
by Deepak Thapa (kp), All’s
not well inside Janata Samajbadi Party : While
Bhattarai and Yadav want to protest against the
dissolution of the House, Thakur and Mahato have other
plans, by Anil Giri (kp), After
House dissolution, questions raised over local
infrastructure programme, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), CJ
fixes 30 minutes for lawyers to plead their case
(ht), Relief
for the returnees : There should be no delay in the
disbursement of financial relief to migrant workers
(kp), NHRC
urges govt to pay sugarcane farmers pronto (ht), Way
to address the concerns of sugarcane farmers, by
Ayushma Maharjan (rep), Politics,
Polls And Power, by Mukti Rijal (rn), President
should roll back govt's decision to dissolve
parliament: Advocate Aryal (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
20/01/2021: Inoculating
the masses against demagogic populism : The
challenge for Nepali society is to work
for a relatively peaceful transition, by CK Lal
(kp) [The best way would be to
replace the entire patriarchal old Tagadhari
leadership of all political parties with a younger,
open-minded and socially inclusive generation!],
‘Constitution
gives prime minister no right to dissolve HoR’
(ht), Advocates
demand SC to curb PM Oli’s statement that the
parliament cannot be reconstituted (kh), In
attacking Oli, Dahal ratchets up incendiary rhetoric,
only to draw flak : Civil society members say Dahal’s
inciting of violence is more abhorrent and could put
the country on slippery slope, by Tika R Pradhan
(kp), Nepal
set to get Covid-19 vaccine from India within days,
officials say : Health Ministry and Indian Embassy in
Kathmandu are expected to jointly announce the details
of the supply of vaccines, including the number of
doses, to Nepal today, by Arjun Poudel and Anil
Giri (kp), One
million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to arrive in Nepal
from India on Thursday : The announcement was made at
a joint press conference by the Health Ministry and
Indian Embassy in Kathmandu (kp), Five
signatories withdraw from no-confidence motion against
Rai, by Deonarayan Sah (kp), Having
returned empty-handed, workers seek compensation for
losses : A large number of migrant workers have
returned home with hefty loans after losing their
overseas jobs. Migrant rights activists say they
should receive compensation for their ordeal, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
19/01/2021: What
is legislative intent and why lawyers want the
Constitutional Bench to look to it : Advocates bring
an interview and video clip of Subas Nembang to
justices’ notice to argue the point that
constitutional provisions be followed not only in
letter but in spirit too, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),
Arguments
put forth against House dissolution (ht), Has
Oli captured the state? Whether the Constitutional
Bench upholds House dissolution or not, Oli has
his tentacles all over, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Amid
political uncertainty, Dahal-Nepal faction seems to be
completely lost : While Oli’s party appears confident
about polls and forces like Congress and Janata
Samajbadi Party are weighing their options, the
Dahal-Nepal camp is groping in the dark, by Anil
Giri (kp) [This is due to the
fact that the Dahal/Nepal faction is primarily
concerned with taking power from Oli, both within the
party and nationally. Oli's coup is merely a means of
argumentation to an end.], As
Nepal prepares for Covid-19 vaccination drive,
challenges are huge, experts say : From transportation
to chain of command issues, from training of health
workers to surveillance of the population as each
needs two doses, much has to be considered, by
Arjun Poudel (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
18/01/2021:
At House dissolution hearing, advocates prod bench to
look to legislative intentStating that constitution
does not provide room for the prime minister to
dissolve Parliament, lawyers demand debate transcripts
and records of charter drafting process, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Was
poll body consulted on midterm elections, Dahal-Nepal
faction asks : The law states that government must
take the Election Commission into confidence before
announcing poll dates. But an official says there is
no written record of consultation between the two
sides, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Oli
should be banned from politics : The prime minister’s
hunger for power is likely to push the country into
political chaos, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), PM
has no right to dissolve House, SC told : ‘Lawmakers
even supported the prime minister’s absurd claims’,
by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [And
the President has to protect the constitution even if
the PM wants to smash it to preserve his power!],
CA
Chairman Nembang’s statement that “PM cannot dissolve
parliament” recited during hearing at Supreme Court
(rep), Hearing
on writs against HoR dissolution likely to be
protracted : Only six out of 188 advocates debate till
Monday (kh), Media
fails to uphold its role as watchdog : The government
tried to stop criticism by threatening and
spreading fear among journalists, by Bhanu Bhakta
Acharya (kp), ‘Govt
working to end discrimination against women’ (ht)
[This claim is a farce as long
as the political patriarchy that dominates all parties
is not willing to treat women as equal to men in every
way, that is, in the constitution, laws, citizenship,
and any kind of inclusion and participation. And none
of the autocratic male Tagadhari politicians are
willing to do that!], 90pc
VAW cases settled thru reconciliation (ht) [This cannot be called justice. It
overwhelmingly proves the unequal legal position of
women. VAW is a serious crime and must be dealt with
and punished by public courts. In case of legal
loopholes, the courts must bindingly oblige the
legislator to adjust the laws immediately!], Nepal
likely to get COVAX vaccine after four months, by
Pabitra Sunar (rep), Nepal
is falling into a trap of India, China and the US :
America might use its weight to obligate Nepal to
honor TPSA and get the MCC endorsed. India might stand
behind. China might warn Nepal against doing that,
by Mahabir Paudyal (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
17/01/2021: Has
Oli accepted the constitution has flaws and it needs
amendments? In his House dissolution recommendation,
Oli has said snap polls are required to revise the
charter. But analysts wonder if he has any other
sinister motive, as there’s no certainty that
elections, if they happen, will give him such a
majority , by Binod Ghimire and Tika R Pradhan
(kp) [Oli is constantly
talking only about his critics being against
elections. Yet elections are not the issue to begin
with. At the beginning, there is the question of Oli's
constitutional legitimacy to dissolve parliament
prematurely. No such legitimacy is apparent. The
Supreme Court should finally decide to redeem Nepal
from this superfluous crisis!], Hearing
on writs against HoR dissolution to continue on Monday
(kh), Gyawali’s
overhyped Delhi visit turns out to be a damp squib :
There were no concrete outcomes from the visit on the
border row or vaccine procurement. It just marked a
resumption of bilateral engagements between Nepal and
India, by Anil Giri (kp), More
than 50 different items are needed for polls, Election
Commission says as preparations begin Even if Supreme
Court decides Oli’s dissolution was constitutional,
dispute in Nepal Communist Party has to be settled
before polls are possible, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp) [And what about the
voting rights of expatriate Nepalis, especially the
millions of migrant workers? The Supreme Court's
ruling in this regard is binding law, but the
incompetent Oli government has done nothing so far!!],
Clash
of dreams in politics : There are silent communities
in Nepal whose dreams are ignored in the hegemonic
structure of power, by Abhi Subedi (kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
16/01/2021: Constitutional
Bench to continue hearing petitions against House
dissolution : The five-member bench led by chief
justice rejects calls for sending the writ petitions
to an extended full bench, saying the issue warrants
serious constitutional interpretation, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), With
a different letter than one sent by the Cabinet,
Oli adds to the confusion : While the House
dissolution decision signed by the chief secretary
does not cite articles, the one undersigned by Oli
includes those, thereby creating grounds to suspect
foul play, by Tika R Pradhan and Binod Ghimire
(kp), Oxford-AstraZeneca
jab gets emergency use nod : Government should fulfil
its promise to inoculate all eligible citizens, only
allow private players to import if authorities can’t
do so, experts say, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Building
Resilience At Critical Moment, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), People
will take to the streets against court if it uploads
House dissolution: Dr. KC (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
15/01/2021: Lost
and never found: Hundreds of children, more girls than
boys, go missing every year The majority of children
who go missing are eventually found but
stakeholders fear all those who go missing are
vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation, by
Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), Vaccine
for allThe government cannot evade its primary
obligation to the citizens (kp), Are
we poised for Jana Andolan III? The bigger the
political void and uncertainty, the greater the
chances for a people’s movement, by Narayan
Manandhar (kp), Nepal
approves ‘Covishield’ for emergency use (kp), Constitutional
Bench to continue hearing writs against HoR
dissolution : Continuous hearing from Sunday (kh),
PM
Oli recommended House dissolution “without mentioning
article of the Constitution” : Petitioner questions
alleged meeting between PM and Justices (kh) [???], Whose
Nepal Communist Party is it anyway?, by Ashok
Dahal (ae), NCP's
race to the bottom (ae),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
14/01/2021: Constitutional
Bench still unsure which bench will hear House
dissolution case : While government wants
Constitutional Bench to hear the case, petitioners say
full bench must look into it, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Govt
claims it’s working to address woes of conflict
victims (ht) [Measured
against the government's inaction for years, this
statement sounds like a mockery!], Money
should be no issue for government to procure Covid-19
vaccines, experts say : Public health experts react
after government publishes a notice seeking
contributions to vaccinate Nepalis saying saving lives
is its legal and moral responsibility, by Arjun
Poudel (kp), Why
national unification day and Prithvi Narayan Shah
should not be celebrated, by Binayak Sundas (rep),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
13/01/2021: Parliament
dissolution is constitutionally wrong, politically
illegitimate : If a majority government does not wish
to run the government only sensible way out is to
resign and pave the way for others to form the
government, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Sapana
Pradhan Malla replaces Hari Krishna Karki, as
Constitutional Bench is set to hear House dissolution
case : Karki had recused himself from the bench on
January 6 after questions that his presence
constituted a conflict of interest (kp), Petitioners
to press for grand full bench, by Ram Kumar Kamat
(ht), Attorney
General At Odds With Demand On Extended Full Bench On
HoR Dissolution Case (rn), Hearing
On HoR Dissolution Writ Petition Goes Short Of Time;
Next Hearing On Friday (rn) [With
the state and democracy at stake, clarification by the
Supreme Court must be a top priority and much faster!],
SC
keeps HoR dissolution case in ‘on-hearing’ status :
Next hearing on Friday (kh), All
democratic forces urged to unite to protect federalism
(ht), Political
instability as usual : The best among the worst
choices is to seek a fresh mandate by holding an
election, by Ajay Das (kp) [Presumably,
new elections will hardly be avoided if there is to be
a majority government without opportunists again.
First, however, the Supreme Court must uphold the
constitutional violation by Oli and Bhandari. Coup
plotters must answer to the courts and never again be
allowed to run for state office!], Has
Oli killed two birds with one stone - or two
interviews for that matter : He has earned praise for
a nationalist stance, but some say he managed to
distract Nepalis from ongoing crisis while sending a
message to Delhi he is ready to play along, by
Anil Giri (kp) [Like his great
inner-party rival Dahal, the Hindu fundamentalist Oli
loves to fly his flag according to the wind. He takes
the truth just as seriously as his role model in the
White House!], Despite
rhetoric of nationalism, Oli more dependent on foreign
forces : When political leaders lack concrete
ideology, they often take recourse to ideas of
stability, by Ajaya Bhadra Khanal (kp), Nepal
Communist Party has been cleaved in two, but a
formal—legal—split seems to be heading to stalemate :
The Election Commission says neither the Oli faction
nor the Dahal-Nepal camp has presented the
necessary paperwork for it to be recognised as
the legitimate party. And neither seems to want to
take the blame for split, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), Heed
their plight : It is not easy catering to tens of
thousands of applicants, representing different
sectors of the economy, all at once (ht),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
12/01/2021: Why
the Congress is hemming and hawing, failing to make a
firm stance : The party that had been licking its
wounds after the 2017 electoral defeat is suddenly
licking its lips at the thought of returning to power
whichever way the situation unfolds, by Anil Giri
(kp) [The answer is quite
simple: Just like the top politicians of the NCP,
those of the NC are only concerned with personal power
and access to coffers, not with the state and the
people, and certainly not with the rule of law!],
Vaccine
diplomacy and Nepal : Leaders are busy negotiating
when they should be focusing on public health issues,
by Bikram Timilsina (kp), Govt
agencies directed to stay alert over possible second
wave of COVID-19 (rep), Three
strikes on democracy : If President Bhandari had
downplayed her party affiliation, revisited the list
of her duties as a President and sought counsel,
instead of rushing to satisfy Oli, she could have
reached a different conclusion, by Mukesh Baral
(rep), Civil
society holding protest rally against HoR dissolution
today (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
11/01/2021: Oli
resorting to vituperation turns the conversation ugly
and nasty : The prime minister lately has launched
acerbic attacks on his opponents and all those who
criticise him, overstepping the bounds of propriety
and decency, observers say, by Binod Ghimire (kp),
House
dissolution a political issue: PM, by Ram Kumar
Kamat (ht) [Any "political"
action by the government must be based on the
Constitution, Mr Oli! How stupid do you think the
people of Nepal are?], Civil
society members call for HoR reinstatement (ht), With
upper house prorogued, two key aviation bills
left in the lurch : Experts say it may now take
another four to five years to get Nepal removed
from the European Union air safety list, by Sangam
Prasain (kp) [Thanks be to PM
Oli, the greatest democrat in the world, who truly
selflessly does everything only for the good and in
the interest of his country!], Supporters
of monarchy and police clash in front of Singha Durbar
: Hundreds of people had gathered to garland the
statue of the late king on the occasion of Prithvi
Jayanti when clashes erupted (kp) [Oli
is not the only one trying to destroy the state and
democracy!], Beyond
the death penalty : Anti-rape activism needs to expand,
by Meghna Adhikari (ht), Army
chief inaugurates Prithvi Narayan Shah Study Center at
army HQ (rep) [Is the
army still royal or is it now loyal to the sovereign
people?],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
10/01/2021: Observers
call Oli’s bid to woo Madhes with ‘dhoti rally’ a
farce : If Oli, whose scorn for Madhesis is no secret,
is thinking about winning over some constituencies in
the plains, he has completely lost the plot, leaders
and analysts say, by Anil Giri (kp) [A
putschist must never run for public office again!],
PM
Asks Former Justices To Respect Judiciary (rn) [Only I, the godlike PM has every
right to break the Constitution and give opinions on
ongoing Supreme Court litigation, but not the
extremely concerned constitutional experts of the
country!], Chief
justice mandatorily chairing Constitutional Bench
exposes a major oversight by charter drafters :
Recommendations of Constitutional Council meeting
attended by Rana have been challenged at the
Constitutional Bench. Can he sit on the bench which
has to decide on a case which has his involvement?,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha and Binod Ghimire (kp), Half
of Covid-infected not maintaining social distancing at
home, study finds : Public health experts say the
findings are alarming as the second wave of infections
may start soon in the country, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), For
the region and beyond : Nepal’s institutions have a
historic opportunity to make Nepali democracy a model,
by Dnyanesh Kamat (kp), Clearing
Fallacies About PN Shah, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn) [This article is a prime example of
the view of the elite that has dominated and
controlled Nepal since Prithvinarayan's conquests:
What about experiences of those sections of the
population who have since been marginalised and
excluded? Deprived of their traditional culture,
languages and way of life? Who have been imposed laws,
ways of thinking and living based on Hindu state
thinking? Who do not find themselves included at all
in Nepal's national identity? Yes, Prithvinarayan Shah
unified Nepal and thus secured its place in history,
but that does not change the fact that his action was
a conquest that primarily served to satisfy his own
power and economic interests. No conquest in the
history of mankind has been done with the noble
foresight in the exclusive interest of his "subjects"
to which Prithvinarayan has been so fondly attributed!],
How
the country can be kept safe is my biggest worry at
present: Former King (rep) [Tell
the confused followers of monarchy and Hindu state
that they are clinging to failed and outdated aspects
of Nepali history. After that, you had best leave the
country and never return. Oli and the other so-called
top politicians are well on their way to destroying
the country. But they are only completing what the
monarchy could not complete before. Only a younger
charismatic generation of politicians from among
Nepali citizens with a commitment to inclusion,
democracy and secularism and an aversion to theocracy
and overrated political ideologies can save the
country!], Winter
session of National Assembly concludes (rep), PM
Oli draws flak for spitting inside NA (kh) [This illustrates Oli's disrespect
for institutions of democracy such as the National
Assembly. Why was it convened for only one week in the
first place? Of course, the all-powerful PM can
regulate laws much better by ordinance, which are then
signed by the president. Democracy works in Nepal,
doesn't it?],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
09/01/2021: Seven
held from Oli’s event for wearing t-shirts with
slogans demanding justice for Nirmala Pant : People
who attended the function say they were not allowed to
wear anything black, even caps or masks, by Mohan
Budhaair (kp) [Many
authoritarian politicians are prone to such
misbehaviour. Moreover, he must once again put up with
the question of whether he personally is deliberately
trying to prevent the crime against Nirmala Pant from
being solved!], Oli
throws caution to the wind as he addresses a mass
gathering : Once again ignoring the fact that his
December 20 move is sub judice in court, Oli
says the House cannot be restored and urges all to
prepare for elections, by Anil Giri (kp), Former
chief justices speak out against dissolution of House
(kp), Congress
in driver’s seat as power play begins in provinces :
Both factions of Nepal Communist Party need backing of
opposition party to further their cause in the
provinces, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This
means a redistribution of power among politicians
without charisma and morals who have long since failed
repeatedly and who have no interest in the country and
its citizens!], Women
hit by pandemic, domestic violence at high risk of
traffickingTraffickers have been using the Jamunaha
border in Banke to smuggle girls and women to India on
the pretext of sending them abroad for jobs,
anti-trafficking officials say, by Madhu Shahi
(kp), Performing
Intricate Balancing Act, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
08/01/2021: Four
former Chief Justices term HoR dissolution
unconstitutional (kh), With
their tactical plans, parties reluctant to join hands
against Oli in upper house : Though they had agreed to
jointly table a resolution motion against the
‘unconstitutional’ lower house dissolution, they now
seem to be taking possible polls into consideration,
by Binod Ghimre (kp) [The
interests of the top politicians of all parties are
similar: personal power and direct access to state
privileges and coffers. The course must now be set for
this. The criticism of the destruction of democracy
and the state now initiated by Oli serves at best as a
means to an end!], Nepal
keeps mum as world leaders condemn attack on US
democracy : Foreign Ministry chose to remain silent,
with officials saying they have received no
orders from ‘higher political authority’—whether to
say something or not say anything, by Anil Giri
(kp) [Oli's attitude and
self-aggrandising way of thinking resembles that of
his great role model in the White House. So what is he
supposed to criticise?], No
permanent friends, only permanent interests : How does
Oli’s dissolution of Parliament affect our neighbours
and other powers like the US?, by Amish Raj Mulmi
(kp), Families
displaced by Bheri-Babai diversion project deprived of
compensation, by Chandani Kathayat (kp), Don’t
rely on one country for Covid-19 vaccines, experts say
: Nepal and India are likely to sign an agreement on
procurement of vaccines during Minister Predeep
Gyawali’s visit to New Delhi next week, by Arjun
Poudel (kp),
Dirty politics = Dirty air, by Sonia Awale (nt), Drawing
a line in the sand : A year after Dilip Mahato was
killed by the sand mafia, his family still seeks
justice, and illegal mining continues unabated, by
Bhrikuti Rai (nt), Youths
demanding justice to Nirmala Pant arrested from PM
Oli’s mass assembly (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
07/01/2021: What’s
stopping joint political movement against Oli’s move?
Observers and parties say the nature of split in the
Nepal Communist Party is still unclear. Should the two
factions decide to unite, the movement will be a dud,
they say, Anil Giri (kp) [First
of all, the dissolution of parliament is a legal
issue. It is incomprehensible why the Supreme Court
does not come to a decision as soon as possible. On
the political side, the party leaders' power ambitions
are always in the foreground, cleverly exploiting the
ambiguity of the legal question!], Karki
recuses himself after lawyers question why he was on
bench : Next hearing on writs against House
dissolution on January 13 will focus on whether
the five-member Constitutional Bench should hear
them or send them to extended full bench, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), SC
justices advise CJ to send House dissolution case to
extended full bench, by Shova Sharma (Setopati), Why
is everyone talking about Subas Nembang? Nembang, who
led Constituent Assembly, is heard in a 2019 video
clip saying constitution does not allow House
dissolution. But he hasn’t called Oli’s move
unconstitutional, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Hard
life for the disabled : Nepal is failing to adequately
protect persons with disabilities from discrimination
and marginalisation, by Dev Datta Joshi (kp), COVID
pandemic worsens citizens’ right to employment
(ht), Polluted
air likely to worsen COVID situation (ht), Air
pollution more dangerous than coronavirus (rep), Clear
the air : Unlike other cities of the world with poor
air quality, Kathmandu’s pollution is caused largely
by emissions from vehicles (ht), FNJ
flays journalists’ arrest in Kathmandu (ht), House
Dissolution Triggers Debate, by Mukti Rijal (rn),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
06/01/2021: House
dissolution: Final hearing begins today with arguments
in favour of writs : The supremacy of the constitution
is at stake and it is up to the five-member
Constitutional Bench to safeguard constitutionalism
and set a good precedent, experts say, by Binod
Ghimire (kp). All
eyes on the Supreme Court : The role of the Supreme
Court now is to provide a fair interpretation which
must protect the spirit of the current constitution,
by Abesh Adhikari (rep), Petitioners
seek full bench of Supreme Court in the hearing of
house dissolution case (rep), Advocates,
Justices fall out over modus operandi of hearing writs
(kh), Justice
Karki announces exiting Constitutional Bench (kh),
SC
to conduct next hearing on HoR dissolution on Jan 13
(kh) [The SC should wait with
its decision until the power-addicted politicians have
finally destroyed the democratic state!], NC
leader Thapa raps Nembang for keeping mum on HoR
dissolution (kh), Gandaki
chief minister says assembly can’t be dissolved :
Gurung, however, defends prime minister’s move to
dissolve House of Representatives, by Pratiksha
Kafle (kp), Winter
of despairEven as Nepal faces another wave of
infections, leaders continue to slug it out (kp),
Worsening
air quality raises public health concerns amid
pandemic : As air pollution soars to a record high
level, making Kathmandu the most polluted city in the
world, doctors and government urge members of the
public to exercise caution, by Arjun Poudel (kp),
Despite
quotas, hill Brahmins disproportionately land civil
service jobs : In fiscal year 2019-20, 28 percent of
applications for civil service jobs were from the
community but 45 percent of those recruited were from
it. This has been a trend for past few years, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [If
one also takes gender into account, the
disproportionality in favour of male Bahuns is even
much greater!], Torments
of an ideological vacuum : Doctrinal vacuity could
have survived political scrutiny had Oli been able to
deliver development, by CK Lal (kp), EC
amends rules to recognise NCP split : Will decide
which faction of the party should use original party’s
name, flag, and election symbol during polls (ht),
Families
of flood victims still living in tents (ht), Capital
Budget Spending Stuck At 12.2%, by Modnath Dhakal
(rn), Democracy
is the defense of Nepali sovereignty, by Robert A
Portada and Uttam Paudel (rep), Regular
power outage raises fear among Kathmanduites : Former
NEA MD Ghising says it’s not the time for power cuts,
by Amrit Raj Kafle (kh), May
such day never come again!, by Madhu Paudel (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
05/01/2021: Save
Ganga Maya, ensure justice for her, says NHRC
(ht), Worries
grow as NCP rival factions issue veiled threats to
influence Supreme Court verdict on parliament
dissolution (rep) [The
judgement should be made quickly and it must be based
on the constitution and be binding! Every day that
goes by unused will be used by the irrational
squabblers to further inflame emotions!], Oli’s
claims House can’t be restored objectionable, analysts
say : Since dissolving Parliament, Oli has in almost
all his public appearances said it cannot be revived,
even though the Supreme Court is hearing the matter,
by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Oli
continues to play little Trump!], Letting
provinces hold grade 10 exams is just delegation of
administrative task, experts say : Until provincial
governments are allowed to prepare their own
curricula, there is no devolution of powers as per a
federal dispensation, they argue, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Bhandari
removed as NCP chief whip in Province 1 : The
Dahal-Nepal faction of the Nepal Communist Party also
relieved Shankar Pokharel and Prithvi Subba Gurung as
the party’s in-charge of Lumbini and Gandaki provinces,
by Deo Narayan Shah (kp), Lift
restrictions in all sectors, says COVID-19 Crisis
Management Centre (ht), Experts
warn reopening cinemas and schools now is inviting
second virus wave : Prime minister and ministers have
been attending meetings and gathering crowds
ignoring the risks, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Government
mute as Kathmandu air deteriorates to ‘hazardous’
levels : Air Quality Index crosses the 600 mark,
raising public health concerns amid the Covid-19
pandemic, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp), China’s
foreign aid agency is all set to make foray into
Nepal’s northern region : China International
Development Cooperation Agency to fund 15 pilot
projects in 13 of the 15 districts that border Tibet,
by Anil Giri (kp), Why
Indo-US policies failed in Nepal : The two powers have
often bet on the wrong side, attempting to fulfil
short term interests, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Eschew
Demeaning Language, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), When
women are not paid : Until and unless Nepali women are
relieved of their burden of unpaid domestic works,
gender equality in workforce will remain a mirage and
the goal of women empowerment elusive, by Roshani
Giri (rn),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
04/01/2021: SC
issues show-cause notice against Cabinet expansion
(kh), Oli
argues House dissolution a political move, not a
matter of judicial review : Constitutional experts say
the prime minister either doesn’t understand the
constitution or he is twisting facts and
constitutional provisions to defend his action, by
Tika R Pradhan (kp), Incidents
of sexual assault rampant in camps for flood displaced
in Surkhet : A few cases get reported but a majority
of them are settled within camps, families displaced
by the 2014 floods say, by Chandani Kathayat (kp)
[Further proof of the Oli
government's lack of sense of responsibility! Oli
always speaks only of his rights, not of his duties!],
New
variant of coronavirus is travelling but authorities
are watching arrivals only from UKNepal had directed
all airlines not to bring passengers from the UK or
those transiting through the country but people are
still arriving in the country through transit flights,
by Arjun Poudel (kp), Just
transition : Policymakers seem unaware that their
decisions are capable of causing
indescribable suffering, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp),
Nepal
: Politically Volatile, by S. Binodkumar Singh
(SAIR), Provincial
assemblies, too, can be dissolved: Minister
Tumbahangphe (rep) [In
other words, the supposedly best constitution in the
world is not even worth the paper it is printed on and
only serves to maintain the power of the once elected
executive!],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
03/01/2021: Deuba
eyes leading government as Oli hints at an
understanding : After holding one round of protest
against House dissolution, the Congress party has
decided not to go for joint agitation amid talks of a
power-sharing deal between Deuba and Oli, by Anil
Giri (kp) [The two most
incompetent prime ministers in recent history among
the numerous power-hungry and self-serving politicians
at the helm of political parties are poised to deal a
death blow to democracy, the Constitution, their
parties, indeed the entire state! Deuba must take note
that Oli will never give up his personal claim to
power. For this he is ready for everything!], NC
announces nation-wide protest against house
dissolution (rep), New
Year with a bang : Lust for power will govern the ways
of the politicians and the passion of Statism in the
years to come, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Dahal
and Nepal on receiving end of PM Oli’s satire (ht)
[To resolve power issues
within his party, Oli gives himself the right to break
the constitution and abolish democracy! How sick is
this person? Even if the power ambitions of Dahal and
Nepal are equally reprehensible, sovereignty lies with
the people, whose representative is the elected
parliament, not the PM!], Home
Minister Warns Of Action Against Those Speaking
Indecent On President (rn) [The
President is not above the law! Politely presented
factual criticism is allowed if she does not fulfil
her constitutional obligations!], Defendants
furnishing reply to SC over HoR dissolution (kh),
Non-cooperation
to the government led to dissolution of HoR: PM Oli
tells SC (kh) [A
democratic PM resigns if he has no longer the majority
support in party and parliament! At least he asks for
a vote of confidence!!],
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
02/01/2021: Religious
minorities, marginalised people more vulnerable to
humanitarian crisis (ht), Hearings
on Constitutional Council ordinance, appointments get
deferred : The deferral comes when questions are being
raised over the alleged influence of the executive
over the judiciary, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp),
Large
number of people could be disenfranchised if polls are
held as planned : The government has announced midterm
elections on April 30 and May 10 but experts say there
isn’t enough time for new voters to get registered,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), National
Assembly session begins but experts worry it could end
soon : With no lower house, upper house is the only
legislative body to hold the government to account,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Prime
minister draws flak in Upper House (ht), Nepali
Congress’ refusal to join protests raises eyebrows :
Dahal-Nepal faction reached out to it but Deuba wants
to wait for verdict on House dissolution before
deciding on protest, by Anil Giri (kp) [In
the hope of coming to power again as soon as possible,
Deuba, who has failed four times as PM, willingly
accepts the destruction of democracy and the
constitution by KP Oli!], Protests
called for release of eight people convicted in 2015
Tikapur incident : The individuals who have been
jailed for life are ‘political’ prisoners, struggle
committee says, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Supreme
Court orders sugar mills to pay farmers within a month
(kp), Reckoning
Stability Of Regime, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Nirmala
Panta's Case Revisited : Apathy delays justice
(rep), Human
rights matter : Recent events show how important it is
for the countries in the world to uphold human rights,
by Simone Galimberti (rep), Coronavirus-effect
all over, by Narayan Pangeni (kh), Stooping
too low!, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
01/01/2021: With
no House, amendment to transitional justice law, as
per court order, remains uncertain : The government is
preparing to extend the terms of the commissioners
assigned to look into conflict-era cases once again.
Why not bring an ordinance to amend the law as ordered
by the Supreme Court in 2015 instead, victims say,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Ruling
party’s split continues to fuel conflict in provinces
: Province 1 Chief Minister Rai suspends 15 party
members after they file a no-confidence motion
against him, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The
members of the provincial parliament are the
democratically elected representatives of the
sovereign people. The Chief Minister has been elected
by these MPs and is responsible to them. Since none of
the reasons mentioned in Article 180 are applicable,
which, by the way, is not for the Chief Minister to
decide, his action is to be judged as similarly
criminal as the dissolution of parliament by Oli and
Bhandari at the central level!], Plea
For Accommodative Leadership, by Mukti Rijal (rn)
[This problem affects all
major parties and their factions. The failed old
politicians should leave the political stage
immediately and make way for a younger, hopefully
charismatic generation. Only then would new elections
really make sense!], All
positive samples of people returning from UK to be
sent for whole-genome sequencing : So far at least
seven have tested positive and their samples will be
handed over to the World Health Organization to
send them to a laboratory abroad for testing.
Despite arrival ban from the UK, people are still
coming in, officials say, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Unfilled
local government vacancies affect service delivery in
KarnaliAs many as 81 posts of people’s representatives
are currently vacant in eight districts of Karnali
Province. Dolpa district has the highest number of
vacancies; By-elections have not been held to fill
vacancies caused by death or resignation, by
Chandani Khatayat (kp), Cane
farmers complain about delayed payment from mills :
The government made a deal on Monday and said their
payments were being processed, by Krishana Prasain
(kp),
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning
(English), evening
(Nepali)
|
|
Unprepared
and Unlawful: Nepal’s Continued Failure to realize the
right to health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Briefing paper by International Commission of Jurists,
13 September 2021
Democracy
and constitutional crisis in Nepal, by Karl-Heinz
Krämer. Nepal Observer 71, 20 August 2021
Nepal
Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021, by NPC et
al., 18 August 2021
Violations
in the name of conservation : "What crime had I
committed by putting my feet on the Land that I own?"
Amnesty International, 9 August 2021
Nepal:
"Struggling to breathe". The second wave of
Covid-19 in Nepal, by Amnesty International
(14/06/2021)
HRW
report “I Must Work to Eat” - Covid-19, Poverty, and
Child labor in Ghana, Nepal, and Uganda, by Human
Rights Watch (26/05/2021)
Youth
Anxiety, Aspiration, and Activism: Survey Report,
by Niti Foundation and ILO, April 2021
Nepal
Child Labour Report 2021, by International Labour
Organisation and Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal
Nepal
2020. Excerpt from Amnesty International Report
2020/21 (07/04/021)
2020
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nepal.
US Department of State, 30 March 2021
Annual
Report 2020, by NHRC. Lalitpur, February 2020
Nepal:
Human Rights Commission’s Integrity in Jeopardy : Lack
of Transparency in Appointments Undermine
Effectiveness, Public Confidence, common statement
by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and
International Commission of Jurists, 1 March 2021
World
Report 2021 : Nepal - Events of 2020, by Human
Rights Watch, January 2021
Putsch at the top of the state, 60 years after
Mahendra's coup d'état, by
Karl-Heinz Krämer. Nepal Oberver
62, December 25, 2020
Nepal
Human Development Report 2020, UNDP and NPC,
13/12/2020
The
Government of Nepal has been using the Covid-19
Pandemic to Exercise Control, to Commit Human Rights
Violations and to Deny Justice to Victims of Human
Rights Abuses, by AHRC, 09/12/2020
राष्ट्रिय
मानव अधिकार आयोगको वार्षिक प्रतिवेदन (२०७६–२०७७),
National Human Rights Commission, 07/12/2020
No
Law, No Justice, No State for Victims : The Culture of
Impunity in Post-Conflict Nepal. Report by Human
Rights Watch. 20/11/2020
Nepal
: Justice stalled for conflict victims. Amnesty
International submission for the UN universal periodic
review, 37th session of the UPR working group, January
2021 (Amnesty International, 23/10/2020)
आयोगको
२० वर्ष आयोगका सिफारिशहरु र कार्यान्वयन अवस्था (२०५७
जेठ–२०७७ असार), National Human Rights Commission,
15/10/2020
The
NHRI Nepal Joint Submission for The Third Cycle Universal
Periodic Review of Nepal, 2020. Submitted by National
Human Rights Commission, National Women Commission and
National Dalit Commission, March 24, 2020 (revised
07/09/2020)
Human
Rights and the Rule of Law in a Federal Nepal:
Recommendations from an ICJ High-Level Mission, by
ICJ: Geneva, July 2020
Nepal’s
Universal Periodic Review: Human Rights Review Should
Address Broken Commitments, Impunity, by Human
Rights Watch, 16/07/2020), see submission
report by HRW (15/07/2020)
Lawyers
at risk: Law Society submits joint UPR report on Nepal,
by The Law Society of England and Wales, 13 July 2020
(see also factsheet
and submission)
2019
Trafficking in Persons Report: Nepal, by US
Department of State
2019
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, by US
Department of State, 11 March 2020
Rule
of Law Index Nepal 2020, by World Justice Project,
11 March 2020
Nepal
Human Rights Year Book 2020, by INSEC, Kathmandu
2020
Annual
Report: Synopsis 2018/2019, by NHRC. Kathmandu:
January 2020
Nepal
2019. In: Human
Rights in Asia-Pacific. Review of 2019. Amnesty
International, 29 January 2020
Nepal:
Recent Steps Undermine Transitional Justice, by
ICJ, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and TRIAL
International, 25 January 2020
Nepal:
Events of 2019, by Human Rights Watch, January
2020, pp. 418-422
Human
Development Report 2019: Inequalities in Human
Development in the 21stCentury. Briefing note for
countries on the 2019 Human Development Report: Nepal.
New York: UNDP 2019
Nepal: 13 Years On, No Justice for
Conflict Victims. Joint statement by ICJ, Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and TRIAL
International, 25 November 2019
Nepal:
New NGO Law Should Protect Rights
Government’s Recent Moves Have Restricted Activists,
by Human Rughts Watch, 14 November 2019
Nepal:
Release Report on 2015 Protest Violence:
Suppressing Lal Commission Findings Denies
Justice to Terai Victims, by Human Rights Watch, 1
October 2019
On
the Occasion of International Day in Support of
Victims of Torture, by Advocacy Forum - Nepal, 26
June 2019
The
Legal Stranglehold, by International
Federation of Journalists, 3 May 2019
Regressive
Laws, Mounting Violations, report by Freedom Forum, 3
May 2019
Nepal:
To End Hunger, Strengthen and Implement Right to Food Law.
Amnesty International 04 April 2019
Nepal
2018 Human Rights Report, by US Department of State,
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Human Rights Yearbook 2019, by INSEC,
17 February 2019
Fighting
inequality in Nepal: The road to prosperity. OXFAM
report, 11 January 2019
Media Freedom Deteriorating.
Annual media freedom report 2018 by Freedom Forum
Preliminary
Comments:
Draft Bill to Amend the Act on Commission on
Investigation of Disappeared Persons, Truth and
Reconciliation, 2014], by Amnesty International,
ICJ and TRIAL International, 20 July 2018
Preliminary
Comments
of Conflict Victims’ Common Platform (CVCP) on proposed TJ
draft bill to amend Commission of Inquiry on Enforced
Disappearances, Truth and Reconciliation Act, 2014, 17
July 2018
Nepal: Transitional Justice Reform an
Urgent Need;
Current Draft Law Does Not Meet International Standards on
Prosecuting Worst Crimes, by Human Rights Watch, 7
July 2018
Rule of Law Index 2017-2018 - Nepal,
by World Justice Project
Nepal
2017 Human Rights Report, by US Department of State,
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Amnesty International Annual Report
2017/2018 on Nepal, 22 February 2018
Nepal:
Transitional Justice Proving Elusive Term Extensions do
not Cure Act’s Fundamental Problems. Joint press
statement by ICJ, HRW and AI, 13 February 2018
Nepal: Events of 2017, by Human Rights
Watch, January 2018
Preliminary results of Nepal’s
parliamentary elections of 2017 (with some comparisons
to the CA elections of November 2013), by K.-H. Krämer,
Nepal Observer 44, 17 December 2017
Gender
and Nepal’s transition from war, by Jeevan Baniya,
Sambriddhi Kharel, Deepak Thapa and Alexander Ramsbotham.
Accord, 14 September 2017
Nepal’s
Transitional Justice Process: Challenges and Future
Strategy. A Discussion Paper, by International
Commission of Jurists, August 2017
Elections
in
Nepal: 2017 Local Elections, Frequently Asked Questions,
by International Foundation for Electoral Systems, 10 May
2017
“Building
inequality":
The failure of the Nepali government to protect the
marginalised in post-earthquake reconstruction efforts
(Amnesty International 25/04/2017)
"What
I
want is for the government to help". Nepal: Ensure the
right to adequate housing for the marginalised in
post-earthquake Nepal (Amnesty International
25/04/2017)
Two
steps
forward, one step back
The Nepal peace process, by Deepak Thapa and
Alexander Ramsbotham. Accord 26, March 2017
Serious
Crimes
in Nepal’s Criminal Code Bill, 2014. A Briefing
Paper by International Commission of Jurists (ICJ),
March 2017
Statement
on
renewed escalation in Tarai, by Surya Subedi (in
Nepali and English, originally: Kantipur, 9 March 2017)
Nepal 2016 Human Rights Report, by
US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor, 3 March 2017
Nepal
206/17, report by Amnesty International, 22
February 2017
Nepal:
extending
transitional justice commissions without granting real
powers betrays trust of victims, by International
Commission of Jurists, 10 February 2017
Nepal:
Decade
After Peace, Scant Progress On Justice; Political
Parties Fail to Deliver on Promises, by Human
Rights Watch, 18 October 2016
Statement
on
the CIAA and reports on investigation of Social
Science Baha (SSB) and Alliance for Social Dialogue
(ASD) (BNAC 01/10/2016)
“Our
Time
to Sing and Play”: Child Marriage in Nepal, by
Human Rights Watch, 7 September 2016 [see
also video]
Supporting
Safety
of Journalists in Nepal. Paris, August 2016
Nepal
-
Torture and Coerced Confessions, by Amnesty
International, 19 July 2016
The
Torture
and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (Control)
Bill, 2014. A Briefing Paper by International
Commission of Jurists (ICJ), June 2016
Nepal
2015
Human Rights Report, by US Department of State, Bureau
of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, 14 April 2016
International Crisis Group: Nepal’s
Divisive
New Constitution: An Existential Crisis, Asia Report
N°276. Brussels, 4 April 2016
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