Submit your Article

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has commended the contribution and courage of the people of Rolpa district for a political change in Nepal.

Responding to queries raised by lawmakers in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, he said the government has focused on the development of the district. "The government has prioritized bringing the backward region in terms of development onboard the mainstream. The government has given priorities to social justice, good governance and public service."

On police investigations into various cases recently, the PM said the government had clearly directed the police administration to freely and impartially investigate the cases so the guilty should not escape and innocent must not be booked. "There is no need to halt investigations when it comes to investigating cases relating to the Prime Minister. Put aside my party in this regard," he said. Those found involved in corruption would face action, he added.

The government is committed to preventing any such activities that would disturb social unity, harmony and social coexistence, the PM said, adding the government would not give exemption in activities that disturb social harmony and go against culture and religion of each other.

While maintaining the coexistence of all of us, our national unity will be strengthened through the protection and preservation of our originality thus consolidating our nationality in a true sense, PM Dahal reiterated.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the basis for the county's transformation could be prepared only by transforming the Maoist party.

Addressing a program organized by the Valley Special Province Committee of the CPN (Maoist Center) in the Capital on Tuesday, Chairman Dahal said that transformation of the Maoist is a mandatory condition.

"A campaign with a new determination of the country's transformation has been initiated. We will move ahead further accelerating it. Transformation of the CPN (Maoist Center) is mandatory for the same," he said.

Stating that the government has forwarded a campaign of good governance with determination, Chairman Dahal clarified that the campaign would not be stopped. 

"The government will take action against all involved in illegal and criminal activities like fake Bhutanese refugee scam, gold smuggling and corruption. It will not be stopped. We will move ahead with strong determination," Dahal further said.

He pointed out the need of qualitative development for the country's prosperity, stressing the need of changing the model of development.

"The traditional development model cannot guide the country towards the path of prosperity. There is a need for qualitative transformation for the same. We cannot always carry the failed development model with us. We will move ahead with a new economic policy and plan by the time of the next budget," he said.

Moreover, Dahal said that the government has taken various steps in the interest of the country and the people, and the people will soon be able to reap the benefits.

The Patan High Court declared the letter issued by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to the Annapurna Media Network as illegal, invalid and malicious in a verdict delivered on Monday.

The court also issued a stay order, directing the concerned authorities to refrain from implementing the letter. 

The letter, which was issued beyond the jurisdiction of the civil aviation regulatory body, had sought clarification regarding the news published in the Annapurna Post daily, which is part of the AMN. 

Delivering his ruling, the single bench of Justice Ramesh Dhakal underscored the severity of CAAN's transgression, condemning its undue interference in matters of the press. “It is a direct interference in the constitutionally enshrined press freedom, and it is imperative to stop the implementation of the letter issued by CAAN.” 

The High Court’s ruling came in response to a writ petition filed by Simrik Air against both CAAN and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Senior advocate Sushil Kumar Pant and Narendra Prasad Gautam represented the petitioner’s side during the hearing. Notably, the court's ruling emphasized that the legal framework does not grant CAAN, or its Director General Pradeep Adhikari, the authority to oversee media content. 

If CAAN found published content objectionable, the appropriate recourse would be to request the publication of factual, accurate information. Similarly, if media outlets disseminated information detrimental to CAAN's reputation, the court posited that the Press Council Nepal should be the avenue for redress. As democratic norms dictate, oversight and critique of government agencies, including CAAN, are not only warranted but crucial. Stakeholders have the prerogative to express concerns and voice opinions on CAAN's directives, decisions, and policies. 

Ahead of implementation of Millennium Challenge Corporation which was endorsed by Parliament, some fringe communist parties have begun criticizing the agreement.

The meeting of the board of directors of the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Committee (MCA Nepal) held on August 16 decided to implement the MCC agreement. Senior MCC Officials have arrived in Kathmandu to witness the formal implementation of the MCC-Nepal compact.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, a former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) - a ruling partner, has called for more discussion on the 'interpretative declaration' of the MCC.

Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, Nepal said concerns that have been raised regarding the MCC must be addressed. "Issues related to nationality and other significant matters have come to the forefront. Similarly, concerns have been voiced on the implementation of the interpretative declaration of the MCC," Nepal said.

He said Nepal should move ahead in accordance with a policy of non-alignment and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.

Similarly, Jhala Nath Khanal, another former Prime Minister and senior leader of the Unified Socialist, termed MCC agreement an unfortunate development for Nepal. "The MCC agreement is not in Nepal's best interest, and some of our leaders have inadvertently damaged the country's reputation,” Khanal said.

Addressing a separate event in Kathmandu, Khanal said he had no information about parliament. “I knew it was signed in agreement after it was tabled in parliament. I raised serious concerns about the agreement when it was presented for endorsement.”

Similarly, Maoist Center General Secretary Dev Prasad Gurung said although parliament has attached an interpretative declaration to the MCC, the US government hasn't said anything about the agreement. "Since the US hasn't said anything about the declaration, this process cannot conclude," he added.

The official statement of MCC released after the MCC agreement was ratified by the parliament doesn't mention anything about the interpretative declaration. "The decision to ratify the Nepal Compact has always rested with the Government of Nepal as a sovereign democratic nation," the statement said.

In the meantime, the CPN (Maoist) led by Mohan Baidya has declared its intent to prevent the implementation of the MCC Compact.

CP Gajurel, a leader of CPN (Maoist), said that his party would organize protests in various parts of the country to oppose the MCC's implementation. He said that although the MCC agreement has been ratified by parliament, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be reconsidered. "While the parliament approved the MCC, it doesn't mean that it cannot be reversed. The government retains the authority to distance itself from the MCC. The authority rests with the people of Nepal," he added.

Gajurel reaffirmed his party's commitment to continue protests until the MCC agreement is rescinded.

MThe government is using the $500 million MCC Compact to upgrade a 77-kilometer segment of the East-West Highway and the construction of a 315-kilometer 400kV transmission line along with three substations.

The parliament ratified the MCC agreement on February 27, 2022.