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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has asserted that the government has left no stone unturned for the rescue and repatriation of Nepali citizens from the war-torn countries.

Speaking in a meeting of the Federalism Consolidation and National Concerns Committee today, he said that they have demanded the exact number of Nepalis working in the Russian Army, information on their status, repatriation of the bodies of those killed in the war, compensation to be provided to the victims' families and returning the Nepalis in the Russian Army by rescinding the agreement to that connection with the Russian government.

The DPM and foreign minister said the government has the information that the Nepalis are recruited in the Russian Army, several of them have been injured and are in distress, several Nepalis have been captured by Ukrainian Army and many have been killed, reiterating that the government was making all diplomatic efforts for their rescue and return to Nepal.

"By agreeing on compensation, the Russian government has now started the process for the same. We have already forwarded the necessary documents for that," he said, adding - "We have demanded that the Nepalis recruited in the Russian Army be sent back to Nepal at the earliest.”

Minister Shrestha said that he is in continuous talks with the Russian foreign minister and is also trying to talk directly with the Russian Defense Ministry. "We have also demanded the return of those who are held as POW by Ukraine. For this, we are talking with the Ministry of Defense along with the Foreign Minister of Russia," he said.

The DPM and foreign minister mentioned that every possible efforts are being made for the return of Nepali citizens from war-torn countries. "If necessary, we have even offered to go to Russia and hold talks," Foreign Minister Shrestha said.

Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha informed that Bipin Joshi has been captured by Hamas, but he has not been officially informed about Joshi's condition.

According to him, he is requesting the release of Joshi from the country that is mediating for peace between the war-torn countries.

"In the war between Israel and Hamas, our opinion so far is that Bipin Joshi is under the control of Hamas. But information about Joshi's situation has not been received formally and through official channels, and we have not been able to get him released," he said.

Responding to the questions raised during the meeting by the members of the committee about the Nepal-India border issue and EPG, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shrestha informed that the Susta and Kalapani border disputes are still under formal discussion.

He said that all dimensions of Nepal-India relations should be resolved through diplomatic discussions.

Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha informed the committee that homework is being done to open 14 trade checkpoints between Nepal and China and discussions are underway to create an economic corridor. "Relationships with China have progressed in the economic diplomacy realm, the basis of relations with China has become stronger," he said.

In the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha said that the government, public bodies, leadership and political parties have been requested to follow the diplomatic code of conduct. He also informed the meeting that it is necessary to enhance the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the meeting about Nepal's foreign policy, the works carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and subordinate agencies, economic diplomacy, and problems and future action plans, Minister Shrestha also said that they are going to create a separate department to emphasize on economic diplomacy.

He said that provinces and municipalities cannot establish foreign relations by themselves, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assigning its representative to the provincial government.

The Ministry has established diplomatic relations with 182 countries so far. Currently, Nepal has 30 embassies in different countries, and permanent missions in New York in the United States, Vienna in Austria and Geneva in Switzerland, and seven Consulate Generals.

Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal said that the party will not split on the basis of ‘illegal’ application.

The Janata Samajbadi made this thing clear by issuing a statement on Monday after Ashok Rai along with nine lawmakers filed an application at the Election Commission for the registration of a new party.

Party spokesperson Manish Suman said that the party’s attention has been drawn towards the news about the party split in the media.

He claimed that the majority of the central members of the party are together.

“At a time when the Parliament session has already been called and the ordinance pertaining to party split has also been scrapped and most of the central members are committed to the party, none can split the party on the basis of ‘illegal’ application in this situation,” he said.

He urged all the central members, leaders and cadres not to go after the rumors.

Earlier on Sunday, Rai along with Pradeep Yadav, Renu Yadav, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, Birendra Mahato, Ranju Kumari, Hasina Khan and Sushila Shrestha among nine lawmakers had filed an application at the Election Commission for the registration of a new party.

Lawmaker Pradeep Yadav said that the new party’s name has been proposed as Janata Samaj Party.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 15. 62 points to close at 1,958. 75 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 38 points to close at 347. 80 points.

 A total of 6,978,321-unit shares of 310 companies were traded for Rs 2. 89 billion.

Meanwhile, Bottlers Nepal (Terai) Limited (BNT) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 03 percent. Likewise, Pokhara Finance Ltd. (PFL) and Dolti Power Company Limited (DOLTI) were the top losers as their price fell by 5. 90 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 10 trillion.

The Newari and Tamang languages have been brought into use as the languages for official works within the Bagmati province.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal declared the launching of the Bagmati Province Official Language Act, 2080 today.

On the occasion, he announced that these two languages have been brought into use as the languages for official communication in Bagmati province. The government has declared the official languages as today is also the Language Day, 2024.

The Bagmati Province Government has also given a public holiday within the province today to mark the occasion. The province government had the Act certified on November 9, 2023.

A member of the Bagmati Provincial Assembly, Bahadur Singh Lama said that although there are some difficulties for the implementation of Tamang and Newari languages, which have been brought into use as the official languages from today, as the languages for official purpose, everyone's support and cooperation is necessary.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang and Minister of Youth and Sports Biraj Bhakta Shrestha were present in the program chaired by Chief Minister of the province Shalikram Jammakattel.

President of Newa Deya Dabu, Pabitra Bajracharya thanked the Bagmati province government for implementing Newari and Tamang languages as official languages.

He said that the Newari and Tamang were brought into use as the languages for official use due to the initiative of Prime Minister Dahal, the Bagmati Provincial Government, all members of the Provincial Assembly and the Chief Minister. Bajracharya mentioned that regulations, commissions, monitoring committees and other bodies have yet to be formed for the implementation of the Act.

President of Nepal Tamang Ghedung, Mohan Gole, expressed his happiness that the long-standing demand has been addressed.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Cooperatives of the Bagmati State Government, Shailendra Man Bajracharya, said that this day on which the official languages have been brought into use is an achievement of the federal system brought after the sacrifice of martyrs.

Prime Minister Dahal felicitated the poet Durgalal Shrestha by wrapping a shawl around his back as a mark of honor. On that occasion Janakavi Shrestha said that he will spend the rest of his life in the linguistic movement.

Nepal has appealed to the international community to provide concessional assistance.

Addressing the 57th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, Finance Secretary Madhukumar Marasini asked for the provision of concessional assistance as large capital must be mobilized to address the economy and development aspirations that have weakened due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He urged all development partners, including the Asian Development Bank, to increase financial and technical support, saying that Nepal has moved forward with the concept of green, resilient and inclusive development (GRID).

Secretary Marasini pointed out the need for collective efforts to make South Asia an area of emerging economic development and said that emphasis should be given for the same.  Pointing out the need for efforts, he said that emphasis should be placed on interdependence, innovation and digitization for the enhancement of interregional trade.

He said that after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nepali economy has been affected by global economic challenges and in recent days, due to the contraction in economic activities due to revenue deficit and increasing debt obligations, Nepal, like many others, is facing slow economic growth and economic stagnation. Cooperation with the private sector has become inevitable.

Secretary Marasini shared that after the Covid-19 pandemic, the third investment conference was organized in Kathmandu to create an investment-friendly environment in Nepali economy. He mentioned that he believes that ADB can play an important role in creating an environment for investment in areas of comparative advantage such as tourism, hydropower and information technology.

Recalling that the ADB has been continuously supporting Nepal, Secretary Marasini expressed his gratitude for being a reliable partner in the development journey. He said that in the last decade, Nepal has advanced social inclusion and economic development together.

A group of three unidentified persons robbed a man of Rs 8 million in Janakpur on Monday.

They robbed Birendra Mahato, an employee of Subha Savings and Loan Cooperative, by brandishing a pistol at Thumauna Pokhari in Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City-19 at 12: 40 pm while he was heading towards Dhanusha on a motorbike after withdrawing Rs 8 million from the Janakpur-based Himalayan Bank.

A team of the District Police Office, Dhanusha under the headship of Superintendent of Police immediately reached the site after receiving the information about the incident.

DSP Ranjan Awale said that they are investigating into the incident.

Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said that consensus, cooperation and dialogue will be necessary to protect the country from instability and to strengthen the federal democratic republic.

In a press conference organized by the Nepal Press Union Kanchanpur chapter in Mahendranagar today, he noted that there is dissatisfaction within the CPN-UML in the current government and expressed his own doubts about the present ruling power equation.

"There is a strong opinion within the Nepali Congress and UML that big parties should form the government together," he said, adding that people are also of the opinion that big parties should take the country in the right direction. However, there is no concrete progress about power sharing between Congress and UML, he said.

Even if it is not for running the government, cooperation and discussion between major parties is necessary for leading the country towards stability, to protect the constitution and to strengthen democracy, he said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'himself has expressed a positive opinion about investigation into cooperative sectors and said that the Congress is also positive about it.

NC leader Lekhak said that the Congress will always stand firm in its stance of forming a parliamentary probe committee to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

"We have not demanded resignation, but investigation,” he said, adding “He is confident that the matter will be addressed before the Parliament meeting scheduled for May 10.”

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has appealed to all the oppressed classes, ethnicities and communities to express their solidarity in implementing identity and the national issues.

At a program to declare the launching of the Bagmati Province Government's Language of Government Works Act, 2080 and the Language Day 2024 today, PM Dahal made this appeal, calling on the oppressed classes, castes and communities to protect their rights by identifying their true representative.

Referring to the establishment of a constitutional system with federalism, republicanism, secularism, inclusion and proportionality, the prime minister stressed that the solidarity of all should be expressed to complete the constitution.

"My party and I had waged a major struggle to establish identity and rights in the new constitution. We had played a decisive role for whatever rights were written in the constitution," Prime Minister Dahal said, "Therefore, I heartily appeal to all the oppressed classes, castes and communities on this historic occasion to recognize their real representatives and show solidarity in the implementation of the national issue of identity and rights."

Prime Minister Dahal expressed the belief that if sincere and continuous efforts are made, the remaining rights to be institutionalized in the constitution will gradually be established.

Stating that the constitution provides that in addition to the Nepali language, the province can decide on one or more other national languages spoken by the majority of the people in the province as the language for government works, the Prime Minister expressed his happiness that the Act passed by the Bagmati Provincial Assembly on the recommendation of the Language Commission to make provision for the provincial government's official language has been implemented.

Stating that he had decided to celebrate Nepal Sambat as a national calendar during his first term as Prime Minister, PM Dahal said it was decided to make Nepal Sambat mandatory in the official documents in his third term and clarified that the implementation of that decision is underway.

The Head of Government stressed on the need to strengthen internal nationalism along with establishing identity and rights, stating that today is a special day of pride for those who want independence, self-respect and prosperity of the country.

Prime Minister Dahal said, "This day has given important inspiration and energy to the aspiration and commitment to build a socialist-oriented advanced nation by ending the existing class, ethnic, regional, gender, and regional oppression in the country. Therefore, today is an important day for the oppressed castes like Newa, Tamang, etc."

Stating that he is constantly struggling for the identity and rights of all classes, castes, regions, genders and communities according to the characteristics and social structure of Nepali society, PM Dahal expressed the confidence this day will guide other provinces also towards addressing the linguistic, cultural rights by making the provincial laws as provided for in the constitution. It will also guide towards making the implementation of the Nepal Sambat further effective, he added.