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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed commitment to making the coming fiscal year's policy, program and budget people-oriented.

During the meeting with a delegation led by CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar today, PM Dahal shared that he was hopeful that it would bring good results as the quality change is going to be made in coming year's policy, program and the structure, timeline and process of the budget.

On the occasion, the CPN-UML had submitted a memorandum before the government after incorporating the demands put forth by the people during 'Resolution Journey for Prosperity' campaign launched by the UML from Jhulaghat of Baitadi to Chiwabhanjyang of Taplejung from November 30 to December 17.

Receiving the memo, the Prime Minister said the attention drawn by the UML on the issues of development, construction of mid-hill areas, public service and prosperity would make significant contributions in the government's policy, program and budget making.

He further said the UML's campaign has significantly contributed in protection of and strengthening the federal democratic republic.

PM Dahal also expressed commitment that the government would be seriously involved to address the possible issues presented by the UML in the memo.

Sharing that the campaign made significant contributions to understand the life of mid-hill areas, development construction, people's psychology, the situation of political collaboration, aspiration of prosperity, and its possibilities, former Prime Minister and UML Chair Oli urged the prime Minister to help address the issues incorporated in the memo.

UML office-bearers as well as other leaders were also in the delegation.

The Election Commission has prohibited election publicity activities from 12 midnight today.

Voting is taking place on January 25 for 19 seats in the National Assembly, the upper chamber of the Federal Parliament.

The Commission stated that the political party office-bearers, candidates, the sister organizations of the parties and other persons, institutions or agencies that have to abide by the election code of conduct should not hold any form of discussions, interactions, assemblies, workshop seminars etc during the time election publicity has been prohibited.

Election Commission spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel urged all concerned to follow and have followed the code which bars soliciting votes and carrying out election publicity by any means, process or method and posting or sharing on social networking sites, online, print or any other media of any message, information or publicity materials in support of or against a political party or candidate during this period. 

The tenure of 19 members of the National assembly is ending on March 4. The law requires that elections should be held to the seats falling vacant before one month of the termination of the term.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has  pointed out the need of making legal and institutional arrangements to curb financial crime.

Addressing the Crime Investigation Review Seminar organized at National Police Academy, Maharajgunj, today, DPM Shrestha mentioned that necessary legal and institutional arrangements would be made as well as technical and capable human resources developed for the investigation of financial crimes. 

"Information has been received that the dealing of billions of rupees is being done through crypto. The government has considered it illegal. Transaction of foreign currencies is being done in a new way. A new trend to open letter of credit (LC) has been seen," he shared, adding it has created problems in the economy and use of crypto was also seen in the recent gold scam.

Underscoring the need to prepare capable human resources to investigate the crypto currency, the Home Minister said the government has realized the lack of legal provisions for the same. 

Cases of financial crime and cheating are increasing in the society after the cooperative turned into financial institutions being deviated from its main purpose, explained Home Minister Shrestha. He further said the government has made preparations to formulate laws to control cooperative fraud.

The Deputy Prime Minister informed that a process to take action against cooperative owners involved in financial crime and cheating and to give justice to cooperative victims, adding "The government to give justice to cooperative victims and cooperative will be forwarded as backbone of economy." 

Similarly, Attorney General Dr Dinmani Pokharel said a specialized structure should be made to investigate the financial crime at a time when cases of financial crime are increasing in recent periods. 

He laid emphasis on the need of strengthening investigation, prosecution and justice based on scientific, objective and reliable evidence.

Likewise, Inspector general Basant Bahadur Kunwar shared that police have started homework to establish a specialized bureau to investigate financial crime, adding Nepal Police was serious towards crime investigation.

Deputy-Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, stressed the need of capacity building of Nepal Police to face challenges created by digital crime.

She shared that the KMC is going to impart training on scholarship thinking that capable human resources related to cyber security should be developed.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire and Chair of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina have again requested President Ram Chandra Paudel to appoint general secretary of the Federal Parliament, stating that the absence of the office-holder for more than a month has been affecting the functioning of the parliament. 

The constitutional position has been lying vacant since Bharatraj Gautam tendered his resignation on Nov 10 last year.

Speaker Ghimire and NA Chair have tried to draw the president’s attention toward the matter through discussions with the latter’s legal advisor Baburam Kunwar.

Ghimire and Timilsina have recommended the appointment of Padma Prasad Pandey, secretary at the parliament, as the new general secretary.

Speaker Ghimire, after consultations with thematic committee chairs of the Parliament, told mediapersons: “I have already recommended the appointment of the general secretary and hope it will happen soon.” 

However, the Office of the President has not started the appointment process. The office has been arguing that it cannot initiate the appointment process as it is yet to accept Gautam’s resignation as HoR general secretary. 

President Paudel has also been facing charges of showing undue interest in the appointment.

Paudel, after consultations with Ghimire and NA chair Timilsina, had appointed Pandey as acting general secretary of the parliament on Nov 13 pending further arrangements.

But this appointment has not been without its share of controversies as Pandey faces charges of obtaining multiple citizenships. After receiving a complaint regarding the same, the parliamentary Public Affairs and Good Governance Committee has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the matter and get it the facts.