Parliament meeting to unveil budget postponed for 3 pm
A joint meeting of both the Houses of federal Parliament scheduled for 1 pm to unveil the annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year has been postponed for 3 pm today.
The Parliament Secretariat said that the meeting was postponed due to a 'special reason'.
Finance Minister Barshaman Pun will present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year in the joint meeting of the Parliament today.
Govt committed to concluding remaining tasks of transitional justice: PM Dahal
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the government is committed to taking the peace process to a logical conclusion as well as concluding the remaining task of transitional justice.
At a special function organized at Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel today on the occasion of Republic Day, Prime Minister Dahal said that most of the tasks related to conflict management and establishment of peace have been completed to address the sentiments of the Constitution.
"The government is committed to take the peace process to the logical conclusion and complete the remaining tasks of transitional justice", he added.
“Nepal’s practice in conflict management and establishment of peace has been established as a new example in the world,” PM Dahal said.
He explained that allowance has been distributed to the people injured and mutilated during the armed conflict and people's movement.
The PM clarified that the three-tier elections held in a free, fearless, and impartial manner have strengthened the federal governance system in the country, adding the three-level governments function for the welfare and prosperity of the citizens.
"The government is committed to advancing the country towards its national aspiration for prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali along with the establishment of political stability, good governance, development, and social justice as it yearns for achieving a socialism-oriented socio-economic transformation as per the need of the nation and the citizens," the Prime Minister said.
He said that the effective implementation of the constitution, strengthening of federalism, economic reform and recovery, promotion of good governance, improvement, and simplification in the public service delivery system, the establishment of civic-friendly governance, and the prevention of corruption are the top priorities of the government.
According to him, those communities who were pushed into exclusions for ages to age now have their rights and participation in the decision-making levels at the state's various bodies following a revolutionary change in the nation.
Communities that endured centuries of oppression, including those subjected to untouchability, now hold positions in 6,743 wards and other State bodies.
The women community who are referred to as 'half the sky' were largely confined to the domestic roles. But with the historic transformation in the country, they lead the 753 local levels as the mayors or the deputy mayors.
Stating that women's participation has been ensured not only in the public sector but also in the political and social sectors, the Prime Minister said various constitutional commissions are working to promote the rights of those communities’ facing exclusion and to mainstream their participation in each body of the State.
"We are commemorating Republic Day as a milestone in Nepal's journey towards prosperity, symbolizing the eradication of social, cultural, and economic disparities that have long plagued Nepali society," the Prime Minister said.
Congress ready to form committee without mentioning Home Minister Lamichhane’s name
The main opposition Nepali Congress has agreed to form a parliamentary probe committee without mentioning the name of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.
The Parliamentary Party meeting held on Tuesday decided to form a parliamentary probe committee without mentioning the name of any particular person in the cooperative fraud scam.
After the meeting, Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said that the task force would give the final shape.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of former General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula after party President Sher Bahadur Deuba was not feeling well.
Lekhak said that the names of additional members will be sent to the parliamentary secretariat after the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee is finalized.
Currently, Deputy General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki are in the task force from Nepali Congress.
Leader Lekhak claimed that a proposal will be tabled in the Parliament meeting at 4 pm today to endorse the agreement along with ToR.
The Congress has long been obstructing the House proceedings demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee by mentioning the name of Home Minister Lamichhane in the cooperative fraud case.
Now, the House obstruction will be cleared from today after the Congress expressed its readiness to form a parliamentary committee without mentioning the name of any particular person.
Gold price increases by Rs 400 per tola on Tuesday
The price of gold has increased by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 137, 600 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 137, 200 per tola on Sunday.
Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 136, 590 per tola. It was traded at Rs 136, 550 per tola.
Meanwhile, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,920 per tola today.
PM underlines need for national cooperation and collaboration for agenda of change
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the republic is the result of collective political efforts launched to build a prosperous Nepal where social justice prevails.
It is the aspiration of change, PM Dahal said while addressing a special function organized at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel on the occasion of the Republic Day this morning.
"We, the political parties aspiring for change, established a republic with common efforts so that a discriminatory social structure was wiped out and federalism and new constitution achieved," PM reminded, adding that it abolished the unitary and feudalistic dynasty rule.
According to him, a stage of political revolution was over with the establishment of a federal democratic republic. He warned that any effort that tries to foil this achievement would not be successful. Dahal underlined the need for national cooperation and collaboration for the agenda of change.
"Historically, backsliding of systems is not seen. Nepal moves ahead now. However, additional achievements are needed to substantiate inclusion, proportional representation and freedoms," he opined.
According to him, the country has been making a significant stride in people's lifestyles. Government is firm on protecting national interest with independent and balanced foreign policy, PM Dahal added.
He further explained that the relations with neighboring countries and international agencies were improved, thereby ensuring Nepal's graduation to the status of developing countries by 2083BS. Campaigning is underway to achieve SDGs by 2087BS.
He also shared that financial and monetary policies were enforced in congruity to recover national economy from slowdown; necessary laws and policies revised to create investment atmosphere; state coffers utilized for people's benefit; farmers' rights addressed gradually; construction of infrastructures intensified; and efforts made for national unity to ensure self-reliant socialism.
Republic is not only a system but a lifestyle. It is getting established at civic level, Dahal stressed.
The special program was attended by the President, Vice President, Chief Justice, Speaker, Chairman of National Assembly, Deputy Prime Ministers, former prime ministers, ministers, and chiefs of diplomatic missions in the country.
The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force conducted march-past and cultural pageants on the occasion.
A Nepal Army helicopter displayed a banner reading 'Republic Day, 2081' and cascaded flowers in Tundikhel.
Government unveiling annual budget today
The government is unveiling the budget for the fiscal year, 2081/82 BS today.
Finance Minister Barshaman Pun is scheduled to present the budget in the joint meeting of the federal Parliament at 1 pm today.
He is presenting the details on estimated annual spending and revenue, according to the Parliament Secretariat.
As per Article 119 of Constitution of Nepal, 2072, the government is obliged to present the annual budget in the joint meeting of the federal Parliament.
Schools to remain closed for three days to avoid sweltering heat in Bardiya
Three local levels in Bardiya district have decided to close schools for three days owing to sweltering heat.
Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality, Gulariya Municipality and Madhuvan Municipality are closing the schools for three days from May 28 to avoid scorching heat.
Satish Yadav, chief of education section at Gulariya municipality, informed that they took a decision for schools’ closure citing complaints from guardians, students and teachers that scorching heat had caused sheer discomfort in teaching learning activities. The municipal education committee held a meeting and took this decision.
Although teaching learning activities are halted, other administrative works would remain as usual, he added.
Similarly, education supervisor at Madhuvan Municipality, Khagendra Prasad Khanal, viewed that the teaching and learning activities could be continued in case of normal weather.
The rising temperature has caused patients' flow in the district hospital and medical shops.
Medical superintendent at District Hospital, Dr Subash Pande, informed that the growing number of patients have crowded the hospital; more beds are needed.
The rising temperature coupled with the heat wave has caused illness among people.
Diarrhoea, skin disease, rashes and other infections are reported among the patients, Dr Pande added.
Republic Day being celebrated today (With photos)
The 17th Republic Day is being celebrated across the country on Tuesday.
The Republic Day Main Celebration Committee is holding a special function at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. The Day is associated with people's movement and aspiration for change.
All three tiers of government are conducting the programs to commemorate the historic day. It is the day the country was declared a Republic.
The government has decided to observe the day for three days- from May 27 to 29. The government offices in the country and diplomatic missions abroad would conduct programs along with illumination.
After the then CPN (Maoist) armed conflict and seven parties' peaceful movement, then King Gyanendra Shah restored the House of Representatives (HoR) on April 24, 2006, thereby returning the rule to the people's representatives.
Two years later, the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2008, declared the country a Republic.
The Republic Day Main Celebration Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to celebrate the Republic Day, 2081 in a grand manner this year.
