Cabinet expanded with
eight Ministers of State
Kathmandu, Aug 20: Prime Minister
Sher Bahadur Deuba has expanded the Cabinet, inducting eight Ministers of State
today. With this, the Cabinet has grown to 31 members (three Deputy Prime
Ministers, 19 ministers and eight state ministers).
The newly appointed State Ministers
include Mohammad Jakir Hussein (Ministry of Women, Children and Social
Welfare), Ram Singh Yadav (Ministry of Health), Shyam Kumar Shrestha (Home
Ministry), Shambhu Lal Shrestha (Ministry of Energy) and Karna Bahadur BK
(Ministry of Supplies).
Other newly inducted State Ministers
are Chham Bahadur Gurung (Ministry of Urban Development), Goma Kunwar (Ministry
of Livestock Development) and Ongdi Sherpa (Ministry of General Administration.
All of them are from CPN (Maoist Centre).
PM Deuba administered the oath of
office and secrecy to the newly appointed State Ministers at the Office of
Prime Minister and Council of Ministers this noon. (Photo available)
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21- Participating in Dahal-led government
a blunder
Hetauda,
Aug 20: Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair
Kamal Thapa has said that his party's participation in the Pushpa Kamal
Dahal-led government was a great error.
In
a press meet organized here after concluding the central committee meeting
Sunday, Chair Thapa added that his involvement in that government resulted in
detrimental effect to the party.
Chair
Thapa further said that government failed to forward the constitution amendment
bill for restoring the Hindu Sate, which his party had advocated for.
Chair
Thapa who is also the former Deputy Prime Minister shared that the meeting
decided to vote against the constitution amendment bill forwarded by the
government. RSS
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22- Denying public
information sharing crime-like: NIC Chief Commissioner Baskota
Pokhara, Aug 20: Chief Information
Commissioner, Krishna Hari Baskota, has termed the tendency of public agencies
to hide or denying sharing information was crime-like act.
-: 12 :–
Anyone in public agencies denying
information may face action up to the fine of Rs 25,000 as per the new
constitution, he reminded.
The Chief Information Commission
however said the Commission takes responsibility in case any chief or
information officer at the public agency is booked merely for providing
information to people.
"Right to information is
fundamental rights of citizens," he argued during a programme organised in
Pokhara by the Community Information Society Pokhara on the occasion of
Information Day on Sunday.
On the occasion, news reader Kamal
Poudel at Sarankot FM was awarded with the 'Community Information Society
Journalist Award' for his contribution to the society through journalism. The
award carries a cash prize of Rs 11,111 and a letter of appreciation.
Information officer at the District
Education Office Dipendra Dhakal and Binod Giri, who has contributed to
information technology development, were also honoured. RSS (Photo available)
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23- Speaker Gharti praises
role of Nepal Police Wives' Association
Kathmandu, Aug. 20: Speaker Onsari
Gharti has praised the role of Nepal Police Wives Association in the field of
social services.
At a programme organized on the 33rd
anniversary of the Association in the capital city Sunday, she said that the
Association has played vital roles in social service, relief distribution
during the time of disasters, rehabilitation against drug addiction and many
others.
She also stressed the need for more
effective programmes in the days to come.
On the occasion, Speaker Gharti
facilitated former chairs and vice-chairs of Association for their service
during the time of disasters.
Likewise, Speaker Gharti released
the mouth piece of Association 'Sahachari 2074'.
Also speaking at the programme,
Inspector General of Nepal Police Prakash Aryal said that the social services
carried out by the Association have heightened the professional dignity of the
Nepal Police. RSS
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24- Lawmakers divided on
second amendment of constitution bill
Kathmandu, Aug 20: The lawmakers
have been divided on the Nepal Constitution (2nd Amendment)
Bill-2073 presented in the Legislature-Parliament after long political debates.
-: 13 :–
During the parliament meeting
Sunday, the lawmakers from opposition parties- CPN-UML, CPN-ML and Nepal
Workers and Peasant Party, and Janmorcha Nepal- severely censured the tabling
of the second amendment of the constitution, arguing that it was a misplaced
priority, while the lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist
Centre) and Federal Socialist Forum said the amendment was imperative to
address the aspiration of the people from Tarai/Madhes. (More…)
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25- Embossed number plate
to be introduced Monday
Kathmandu, Aug 20: Department of Transport has decided to
enforce the embossed number plate for the vehicles from tomorrow.
Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT)
had sought the suggestions from Ministry of Finance for the same last year and
after a long consultation it is coming into effect.
Enforcement of the machine-made number plates will help
the traffic police maintain uniformity in the issuance of vehicle numbers, manage
vehicular movement, maintain scientific record of vehicles and control auto
theft, among others issues, said Department Spokesperson Tokraj
Pandey.
With this new provision in place, vehicles could be
identified easily and their activities monitored from radio frequency from five
check points of the Kathmandu Valley and other five from outside the Kathmandu
Valley.
Transport Minister Bir Bahadur Balayar is scheduled to
launch the service amid a function at the Department Monday. RSS
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(20:00)
Lawmakers
divided on second amendment of constitution bill-II
The lawmakers
from the ruling parties underscored that time had come to amend the
constitution as per the changed context. Every democratic country amends
constitution from time to time, they added.
Taking part
in the clause-wise discussion on the bill, the lawmakers from the opposition
parties urged the government to withdraw the amendment bill.
UML lawmaker
Bharat Mohan Adhikari said the provision of representation in the House of
Representatives should not affect the structure of local, provincial and
central parliaments.
Bhim Rawal of
the same party said amendment proposal has enfeebled the spirit of the
constitution. It has suppressed the rights of people's representatives, he
added, arguing that the amendment proposal was against national interest.
-: 14 :–
Rabindra
Adhikari further said the amendment bill would not be passed from the
Legislature-Parliament, as it was brought forcefully.
Rameshwor
Phunyal said the amendment proposal was a misplaced priority. Similarly,
Krishna Bhakta Pokhrel urged the government to withdraw the amendment bill
because it would promote foreign language while shrinking the Nepali language.
CPN
(ML) lawmaker CPN Mainali said that the amendment proposal tabled in the
Parliament by the government should be withdrawn and discussions held in the
parliamentary committee.
Lawmaker
of Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP) Prem Suwal said that the amendment
proposal was completely faulty.
Anuradha
Thapa Magar of the same party said that the government was doing wrong thing by
bringing the amendment proposal at a time when all are supposed to stand firm
in defense of country's sovereignty.
Likewise,
lawmakers Kedar Prasad Sanjel, Guru Prasad Burlakoti, Sharada Kumari BK,
Rishikesh Pokharel, Anarkali Miya, Bhawani Khapung, Rajendra Pandey, Bikas
Lamsal and others of opposition parties voiced against the amendment proposal.
However,
lawmaker Lal Babu Raut of Federal Socialist Forum said that the proposal was
relevant and timely, adding that those opposing the proposal were not accepting
the agendas of changes.
Chief
Whip of the Nepali Congress Chin Kaji Shrestha added that the proposal was
brought with the pious purpose to address the demands of the Madhesi, Tharu,
Janajati and indigenous communities.
Likewise,
lawmakers Nagendra Kumal, Laxman Lal Karna and Ram Narayan Bidari said that
proposal was meant for ensuring rights to the people and terming it
anti-national was totally wrong.
The
next meeting of the House shall be held at 1:00pm in the afternoon on Monday.
RSS
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26- Commemorative book on
Swami Prapannacharya
Kathmandu, Aug 20: A memorial book
compiling articles penned by many scholars about the late Dr Swami
Prapannacharya, a Hindu scholar and sage, has been brought to readership. The
book concentrated on contribution of Swami Prapannacharya to the oriental philosophy.
Rastrakabi Madhav Prasad Ghimire
released the book amid a programme organised in memory of his 2nd
memorial day in the capital city Saturday.
-: 15 :–
Late Swami Prapannacharya had
authored many books on literature and culture, besides having many
research-based creations published in Nepali. Bed Ma Ke Chha (What is in Veda?)
is one of his popular creations. He was also the member of the then Raj
Parishad Standing Committee.
The book is edited by Hari Prasad
Sodari. Other editors include Basudev Prapanna, Dr Milan Kumar Thapa, Shankar
Poudel and Keshar Rai.
Speaking at the event, Ghimire
appreciated Swami Prapannacharya as an eminent Kirati figure for his
contribution to the Veda.
Other speakers like former Prime
Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, former Speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat, culture
expert Satya Mohan Joshi and Sodari also praised Swami Prapannacharya. RSS
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27- Dahal urges
ex-party leaders for unity
Kathmandu,
Aug 20: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa
Kamal Dahal has expressed his confidence that the leaders including Dr Baburam
Bhattarai, Mohan Baidya and Netra Bikram Chand, who had left the party, would
return to the mother party sooner or later.
While
speaking in a programme organized to welcome ex-party leaders Ram Chandra Jha
and Ram Kumar Sharma in the capital city Sunday, Chair Dahal urged other
leaders for the unity, reasoning it was people's expectation.
Leaders
Jha and Ram Kumar Sharma left the Dr Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party.
Chair Dahal
further argued that Dr Bhattarai has adequate knowledge but lacks discretion,
resulting in flopped leadership.
In
another context, Chair Dahal who is also the former Prime Minister shared that
his party now has revived the agenda of directly elected executive head of the
State as it would contribute to political stability in the country.
Speaking
in the programme, leader Jha said that Dr Bhattarai lacked political agenda, so
failed to have clear roadmap to run the party.
Similarly,
leader Sharma said Dr Bhattarai could not meet their aspiration from the new
party. Present on the occasion were
leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Ram Bahadur Thapa, among others. RSS
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28- Kushe Aunshi, Moti Jayanti today
(To
be disseminated on Aug 21)
Kathmandu, Aug 21:
Hindus in the country are collecting kush,
a holy grass used while performing various holy rituals as Shraddha [holy
rituals remembering the departed ancestors] and religious rituals, across the
country today.
-: 16 :–
There is a religious
belief that keeping kush cut by
the priests and anointed with sacred verses or mantras in the house brings
wellbeing to the household.
The Hindu community
regards kush, Tulashi (basil plant), peepal and shaligram (ammonite stone) as
the symbols of Lord Bishnu.
Also known as the day
of Gokarne Aunshi, the children feed their fathers with delicious food items
including sweets, and show reverence. It is also called Father's Day.
As per the religious
belief of 'pitridevo bhava' (respect to ancestors), the son and daughter receive
blessing from their fathers, and those whose fathers are already dead go to any
pilgrimage site and perform shraddha,
the holy ritual. Doing this, it is believed that, their lineage will remain
stable for ever.
Main pilgrimage sites
to perform shraddha are Gokarna of Kathmandu, Betrawati of Rasuwa, and
Bishnupaduka of Dharan.
Similarly, the 150th
birth anniversary of Nepali litterateur Motiram Bhatta is being celebrated
across the nation by organising different programmes.
Born on Kushe Aunshi in
1923 BS, Bhatta died on Kushe Aunshi in 1953BS at the age of 30. Despite his
short life, Bhatta had remarkable contribution to Nepali literature. RSS
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29- Floods claim 143 lives, Home Ministry
says
Kathmandu,
Aug. 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that the flood, landslides and
inundations occurred in the country claimed lives of 143 people.
Issuing
a press statement this evening, the Ministry said that a total of 30 persons
were still missing while 43 got injuries.
Likewise,
79,812 houses were completely damaged from the flood, landslides and inundation
while 144,444 houses were partially damaged in the disaster.
The
Ministry has also said that the relief distribution was going on in the war
footing in the affected districts.
The
Ministry added that a helicopter of the Nepal Army transported a total of 1200
kilograms of relief materials from Dhading district headquarters to Ruby
Valley.
Likewise,
relief materials and tarps were sent to Rautahat and Parsa districts in two
trucks of the Armed Police Force, Nepal from the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC),
Thapathali.
-: 17 :–
The
relief distribution was continuous in Mahottari, Sunsari and Siraha districts.
The
Ministry added that tarps, blankets, mattress, mosquito nets, cooking pots and
rice were provided to the affected families.
As
per the decision of the government, Rs 200,000 is being distributed to the
families of those killed in the flood, landslides and inundation. RSS
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30- Minister Thapa for implementation of humanitarian
law
Kathmandu, Aug
20: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Yagya Bahadur Thapa,
has said time has come to fully implement and internalize the humanitarian law
in view of the armed conflict and the growing natural disasters and armed
conflicts.
In the
inaugural of the 7th South Asian Conference on International
Humanitarian Law in the capital city Sunday, Minister Thapa said Nepal
government has highly valued the role the International Committee of the Red
Cross played.
He reminded
that conference that Nepal government has adopted a range of policy, legal and
institutional measures to ensure an effective implementation of international
conventions on international humanitarian law as well as other treaties to
which Nepal is a party. RSS
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31- FNJ convention endorses general
secretary's report
Kathmandu,
Aug 20: The report put forth by General Secretary of the Federation of Nepali
Journalists (FNJ) Ujir Magar and treasurer Surya Mani Gautam was discussed and
passed by the FNJ's 25th General Convention ongoing in the Capital.
A
21-point statute on contemporary issues related to press freedom was also
endorsed. A strategic viewpoint paper for the next two years was presented and
passed from the closed session of the Convention. Also, journalist security
policy has been endorsed. The closed session was chaired by FNJ's former
President Tara Nath Dahal.
Gobinda
Acharya and Tirtha Koirala are running for the post of President of the FNJ.
The
voting is scheduled on Monday RSS
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(Time-22:30)
Editors : Narayan Ghimire, Mahendra Subedi, Dipendra Adhikari
& Pritam Bhattarai
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