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Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that conspiracies were being hatched to mislead the people by spreading disinformation in various ways.

Addressing the third plenary meeting of office-bearers of Press Center Nepal today, he said the media has a key responsibility to stop the propaganda and provide true information to the people.

The PM alleged that elements that do not like the federal democratic republic have been spreading fake, unfounded and misleading propaganda against the government and its leadership in recent times, urging the media to counter this by giving true and factual information.

Stating that the Prime Minister has been carrying out works in favor of the nation, people, constitution and democracy with determination, PM Dahal said the powers that are growing nervous from the pro-people works initiated by the government were unnecessarily spreading misinformation.

Prime Minister Dahal said that he came to know about the sale of shares of Ncell, the private sector telecommunication service provider, in course of the UN Climate Summit, COP 28, organized in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and had immediately directed the bodies concerned to carry out an investigation in that connection.

"I heard of the transaction of Ncell's shares when I was in the UAE. I cautiously conducted a probe into this. On the next day after I returned back to the country, I instructed the officials, including the Chief Secretary, to carry out a study on what impact it (the sale of Ncell's shares) will have on Nepal's tax system, on foreign investment and on the provision of the Government of Nepal taking ownership of the company after some years," he said.

He said that he also held discussions within the ruling coalition on this topic considering the sensitivity and seriousness of the transaction of Ncell's shares which seemed unusual. "I put forth a proposal during the discussions that there is fault in the buy-and-sell of the shares and it should be investigated, the truth found out and we should move ahead with determination for the interest of the nation, people and the country's economy," he added.

According to him, all parties in the ruling coalition agreed in the discussion that the government should investigate the sale of shares.

On a different note, PM Dahal asserted that the present ruling coalition will last for its full term and also reiterated his commitment to move forward with a new strategy for the upcoming year, making an assessment of the current one year.

Maoist Center Vice-Chairman and spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota, Press Center leader Maheshwor Dahal, PM's press advisor Govinda Acharya, among other leaders, attended the meeting.

The Supreme Court bench on Monday directed the Election Commission to conduct elections of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by September 30, 2024, Outlook reported.

The five-judge Supreme Court bench delivered the verdict on petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud during the verdict said that they have directed that restoration of statehood in the Union Territory of J&K be done at the earliest.

CJI reportedly said, "We direct that steps shall be taken by the Election Commission of India to conduct elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir constituted under Section 14 of the Reorganisation Act by 30 September 2024; restoration of statehood shall take place at the earliest and as soon as possible."

House of Representatives Secretary Padma Prasad Pandey has been recommended for the post of General Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat.

Pandey has been recommended as the General Secretary after Bharat Gautam tendered his resignation on Sunday.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina recommended him as the General Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat.

Parliament Secretariat General Secretary Dr Bharat Gautam tendered his resignation.

With just eight months of his term remaining, he submitted his resignation to President Ram Chandra Paudel, the Federal Parliament Secretariat said.