‘CPN-Maoist will revolt if sidelined’

Secretary of CPN-Maoist Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ has warned that his party will launch another revolt if “attempts are made to draft the new constitution by sidelining the party. “We will institute an alternative power and wage a revolt if we feel that the achievements of the decade-long people’s war are at risk,” he said while speaking at a press meet in Dhankuta on January 13. Chand said that the agenda of his party, which boycotted the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election, is to draft the much awaited new constitution for the country through an all-party round table conference. “But if there is an agreement on ensuring the rights of oppressed, marginalised, and victimized people and workers as well as identity-based federalism then we are ready to accept the soon-to-be formed CA as it is,” he said. 

 

‘NC-led Govt soon’

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala has said that a new NC-led government is going to be formed soon by incorporating all the political parties. Speaking at a programe in the Capital on January 14, Koirala said that talks were underway among the top leaders of the major political parties regarding government formation and that a breakthrough was expected within a few days. Koirala, who is tipped to become the next prime minister, said that the country will have a new constitution within a year. Speaking at the same programme, senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel refuted rumors about bitter dispute inside the party on the prime ministerial candidate.

 

Dahal for Fresh Presidential Poll

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (January 16) proposed a new election of the President and Vice-president respecting the fresh mandate of the November 19 Constituent Assembly (CA) election. Presenting a political document at the party’s Central Committee (CC) meet at the party headquarters Parisdanda, Dahal broke the party’s silence on the presidential election. Meanwhile, Dahal in his 12-page political document, has expressed great dissatisfaction at the growing instance of “sexual perversion” and other maladies among the party leaders and activists. “Party leaders and activists are becoming increasingly unrestrained due to sexual perversion and contradictory ideas about family, personal property and value system,” Dahal has said in his dossier, without naming anyone. It must be noted that Dahal’s own son Prakash had in 2012 abandoned his second wife and one-year-old son to ‘elope’ with a married woman. Following the episode, UCPN (Maoist) suspended Prakash Dahal from party membership, but later revoked the decision.

 

Gautam to Resign from Bardiya Seat

CPN-UML Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam, who was elected from Bardiya-1 and Pyuthan-1, has said he will leave the Bardiya seat. Gautam, however, expressed his commitment to remain in contact with the electorate and help them carry out development activities in the district. The UML leader was in the district to celebrate Maghi, the greatest festival of the Tharu community.

 

Writ against Docs’ Strike at TUTH

As the hunger strike by senior Dr Govinda KC entered its seventh day and doctors restrict services at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in support, a writ was filed at the Supreme Court demanding that the service be resumed. Arguing that halting the services of the hospital is against the Essential Service Act, Advocate Sunil Ranjan and Consumer Welfare Protection Forum filed the writ on January 17. The writ demands an interim order from the court to resume the hospital’s services.