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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that violence of the past will never happen and will not be allowed to happen again in Nepal.

Speaking during the launch of the book ‘Into the Fire’ by Capt Rameshwar Thapa, chairperson of Annapurna Media Network, in Kathmandu on Saturday, Oli also assured that Nepal will not go through the economic and political turmoil like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 

Oli was responding to a statement made by CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Parliament on Aug 26, where he suggested Nepal should learn from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Prime Minister Oli remarked, “Just because something happens in Bangladesh doesn’t mean it will happen here in Nepal,” claimed Oli. “Politics of lawlessness, chaos, and violence is no longer possible in Nepal. We will not let it happen.”

He added that Dahal, who led an armed insurgency that killed 17,000 people, is now loudly telling him to learn from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “Did I kill 17,000 people in the name of the People's War to gain something? Did I commit looting to gain something? I have nothing to fear.” 

Advocating for a peaceful society, Oli recalled how he resisted the Maoists' violence, even when he had no army or police, relying solely on moral courage.“When the Maoists were spreading violence in the name of people’s war, indiscriminately killing people, and looting, I strongly opposed it. I had the moral courage to stand on the side of truth.”

Prime Minister Oli also mentioned that he has no personal desire to cling to power and is prepared to smoothly transfer power to the Nepali Congress before his term ends. 

“My current term as prime minister has only 1 year, 10 months, and 15 days remaining. And I have said it in the past too that I will transfer leadership of the government a week before the term ends.”

Oli emphasized that the country cannot be ruled recklessly. “I have been committed to building this country for six years. I have never coveted others’ properties and will never do so. I have not engaged in corruption, nor will I allow others to do so.”

He also highlighted the country’s economic challenges, noting that revenue collection decreased by 24 percent last year. He assured that this situation would be resolved through actions, not just words. He also pledged to raise the living standards of the more than 20 percent of Nepalis who live below the poverty line.

Regarding Capt Thapa’s book, Oli claimed, “We have inaugurated in this book an important moment of history. ‘Barudmathi Udda’ was published six years ago, and its English translation ‘Into the Fire’ includes some additional details and information. I would like to congratulate Captain Rameshwar Thapa for this achievement.”

Oli praised Capt Thapa’s bravery, stating, “Capt Thapa risked his life to support Nepali security personnel in maintaining peace and order during the conflict. Though not a soldier, his bravery is no less than that of a military person. If he was after a salary, he could have earned an income doing other work, but he chose to prioritize the country’s security over his own.”

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba also attended the book launch and spoke highly of Capt Thapa. “I have known Captain Rameshwar Thapa for a long time. I have flown many times in his helicopter, both for party work and for other purposes. He has been a tremendous help to me personally and to the party.”  

Deuba added, “I regard him as a person who wishes well for everyone. He has played a significant role in Nepali politics by bringing major parties together and preventing political instability.”

Capt Thapa, in his speech, reflected on his journey. “I am the son of an ordinary farmer. I wish for the country and society to prosper through good deeds. I witnessed the 10-year conflict firsthand, surviving ambushes and bullets. These experiences need to be documented, and I will continue writing. During the conflict, I focused on minimizing human loss and material damage.”

He also recounted his contributions to relief and rescue efforts during the conflict, often flying his helicopter to remote villages. “At times, the courtyards were empty because there were no people left in the settlements. Only about 70 percent of these incidents are written in the book. Now, we must not let our relations deteriorate. Our country is beautiful, and no one dies of hunger here. This is the message my book conveys.”

Capt Thapa expressed his commitment to working for the country with courage and dignity, emphasizing that Nepal is a land of knowledge and spirituality. “I hope that now no one should be an enemy of anyone in the country.”

Kushe Aunshi, a Hindu religious festival, is being observed across the country on Monday by bringing kush, a holy grass used in the performance of various religious rituals, into their homes.

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.

The day is also celebrated as Father's Day or Gorkarna Aunsi.

People across the country celebrate this day by showing respect and reverence to fathers. On this day, children feed their fathers delicious food items including sweets and show respect to them.

Those who have lost their fathers take an early bath and visit nearby temples to perform shraddha (annual death rituals) in honor of the departed souls. Children also take blessings from their living fathers.

Meanwhile, people have thronged the Gokarneshwor Temple in the capital and other various Hindu temples across the country since this morning to perform the shraddha in memory of their late fathers.

I’m a married woman who wants to focus on her goals. There are many things I want to do that don’t revolve around taking care of my family. I try to inspire myself, make elaborate plans, but fail to implement them after a few days. Is this because of disturbed mental health? If yes, what should I do?

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

Your concerns are real. It’s not uncommon to feel motivated to set goals and then struggle to follow through on them. While this experience doesn’t necessarily indicate disturbed mental health, it can be influenced by various psychological factors that are worth exploring. Let’s look into some possible reasons behind this pattern and discuss individualized strategies to help you navigate it.

There can be many psychological reasons behind your condition. One could be role conflict and overwhelm which means that you might have to juggle multiple roles—such as a spouse, caregiver, employee, and more. These roles can create conflicting demands on your time and energy, leading you to feel overwhelmed. When you’re trying to balance these roles with personal goals, it’s easy to feel stretched too thin, which can result in difficulties following through on your plans.

Perfectionism and fear of failure might be another reason why you prevent yourself from taking action. You might start with enthusiasm, but as you progress, self-doubt and the fear of not meeting your own expectations can cause you to lose momentum.

You need to set realistic and specific goals with manageable objectives that you can work on incrementally. You should try sharing your goals with a trusted friend, family member, or coach who can provide support and hold you accountable. You have to be self-compassionate as you need to be ready to face challenges and setbacks which is okay. Be kind to yourself and view obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as failures.

For example, when you stumble, remind yourself that progress is not always linear, and refocus on your goals with renewed determination. It’s essential to remember that setting goals and achieving them is a process that takes time, patience, and persistence.

By understanding the psychological factors that might be influencing your patterns, and by implementing structured and supportive strategies, you can gradually build the momentum needed to turn your plans into reality. Don’t hesitate to seek additional support if needed. Sometimes, having someone to guide and encourage you can make all the difference.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 53. 63 points to close at 2,695.93 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 8. 91 points to close at 480. 88 points.

A total of 26,246,435-unit shares of 337 companies were traded for Rs 10. 51 billion.

Meanwhile, Super Mai Hydropower Limited (SMH) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Peoples Hydropower Company Limited (PHCL) and Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 28 trillion.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that leadership cannot be simply handed as a gift.

During a press meet organized by the Press Center Banke at Nepalgunj today, he said the party believes in the production of leaders through a system and practices it accordingly.

He said he is not an irreplaceable figure to hold the chair post within the party and is focused on preparing his successor through a system.

He also took the opportunity to assure that the party will remain united, dismissing rumors of a possible split.

The erstwhile Prime Minister also accused the two largest parties: the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML of forcefully toppling the government led by him, though he was performing 'well'.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 152, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 152, 900 per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 25 and is being traded at Rs 1,795 per tola today.

Captain Rameshwar Thapa's book 'Into the Fire' has been launched.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli launched the book during a program organized at the conference hall of Swoyambhu-based Armed Police Force.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Om Adi Bal Guru among others were present in the book launching ceremony.

The book “Into the Fire” is based on the experiences of Capitan Thapa, the first instructor of the MI-17 helicopter of Nepali Army, during the people’s war.

Kathmandu Post English Daily Editor-in-Chief Biswas Baral and journalist Vijay Kumar Pandey commented about the book.

They said that Capitan Thapa did not care about his life for the country during the war and that experience is depicted in the book.

“You have seen the war from very close. We can visualize only one side at a time. But you have seen it from all sides at once. You have endured those sufferings. You really have made a great contribution for the country,” journalist Pandey said.

Similarly, Prime Minister Oli and Congress President Deuba also said that they know Capitan Thapa closely.

Saying that they boarded the helicopter of Thapa many times, be it for the party or other works, the duo discussed the contribution of Thapa.

On the occasion, PM Oli said that no kind of violence is possible in Nepal.

Saying that he would not be afraid of the threat that Nepal would be like Sri Lank and Bangladesh, he said that any kind of violence is not possible now.

The Prime Minister accused those who raised their voices against democracy of making big talks.

He said that he has been falsely accused in various cases like Pashupati Jalhari because he has been engaged in the campaign to build the country for more than half a century.

PM Oli said that he has no greed for the post.

Prime Minister Oli, who is also the Chairman of CPN-UML, said that he would hand over the power to the Congress before the end of his tenure.

He said that the government will prevent any kind of activities that violate the rights of others in the democratic governance system.

Similarly, Congress President Deuba said that Captain Thapa played a vital role in the Nepali politics.

He said that Capitan Thapa made a great contribution not only in the people’s war  but also in preventing the country from becoming politically unstable.

The Food Technology and Quality Control (FTQC) Office, Hetauda has sued 44 business firms and individuals in Fiscal Year 2023/24 for various trade-related offences including selling substandard and date-expired food.

Cases have been filed against seven business firms and traders in Makawanpur, 24 in Kathmandu, five in Chitwan and eight in Dhulikhel based on varied offences established through lab tests of the samples collected by the Office and various division offices last fiscal year. Cases have been filed against them under the Food Purity and Quality Act.

Accordingly, cases have been filed at the District Court concerned against 32 business firms and at the District Administration Office concerned against 12 individuals for selling contaminated and date-expired food items, said Kashinath Ghimire, Chief of the FTQC Office Hetauda.

Ghimire said that the Office tested and analyzed 2,738 samples last fiscal year.