Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar offers pooja at Pashupatinath temple

Visiting Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar offered pooja at the Pashupatinath temple on Friday.

Minister S Jaishankar offered special pooja and also planted Rudrakshya sapling at the premises of Pashupatinath temple.  

The Indian External Affairs Minister arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday to attend the 7th Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting.

He also held meetings with the top political leadership on Thursday itself.

 

India to provide Rs 10 billion in assistance to Nepal for reconstruction of structures damaged in quake

India is to provide Rs 10 billion in financial aid to Nepal for the reconstruction of structures damaged in the earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

During a meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission organized in Kathmandu on Thursday, it was agreed that India would provide Rs 10 billion in assistance for the reconstruction of quake-damaged structures in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Amrit Bahadur Rai said that a four-point agreement was signed on the occasion.

Among which, Nepal would export 10,000 megawatt electricity to India in 10 years and the satellite made by Nepal would be launched with the help of India.

Spokesperson Rai said that three 132 KV international transmission lines were inaugurated in the meeting.

 

 

Electricity export agreement a milestone in power trade: PM Dahal

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has claimed that the long-term agreement between Nepal and India on electricity export was a milestone from power trade perspective.

Inaugurating the administrative building of Sunapati Rural Municipality of Ramechhap on Thursday, PM Dahal expressed the hope that the long-term pact on power trade signed during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Nepal would help the country to make a significant shift in power trade.

Sharing that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on exporting 10,000 MW electricity to India in 10 years during his visit to India last year, PM Dahal further said the signing of the long-term agreement has opened up avenues for power trade.

"This is an achievement in itself. Doors have been opened for power trade with India and Bangladesh", he said, adding, "Electricity will also be exported to Bangladesh by using the Indian grid".

On a different note, PM Dahal said the ruling coalition has realized the need of national consensus to ensure effective operation of the parliament and conclude the transitional justice related works.

"The incumbent coalition was not founded on tiny efforts. We are committed to consolidate the coalition", he said, adding, "However, national consensus is necessary in some pertinent agendas. We want national consensus for smooth parliamentary operation and concluding remaining tasks of transitional justice".

Saying that Sunapati Rural Municipality has made remarkable progress in physical development, he appealed to the people's representatives to focus on improving the status of service delivery, education, health, agriculture, tourism and employment sectors at local level.

Meanwhile, Dahal, also the chairperson of CPN (Maoist Centre), said forms of revolution have changed with the peaceful transformation. At a program organized at Bethan Panighat in Ramechhap, "We are still in revolution as it has not yet ended. But, forms of revolution have transformed".

Chair Dahal argued that the incumbent government was moving ahead with the priority of social justice, good governance and prosperity for the establishment of socialism.

On the occasion, Dahal inaugurated the Martyr Monument.

NA election: EC reshuffles election officers

The Election Commission has reshuffled a team of election officers it appointed earlier in view of the National Assembly election scheduled for January 25.

Most of district judges assigned prior to this to take charge as the NA election officers have been appointed as High Court judges while one has been unwell, prompting the Commission to reshuffle the team.

As per the today's decision of EC, Bishnu Prasad Gautam (Koshi Province), Chitra Bahadur Gurung (Madhesh), Shreeprasad Sanjel (Bagmati), Rhishiram Acharya (Gandaki), Kul Prasad Pandey (Lumbini), Manoj Shrestha (Karnali) and Bishnu Prasad Awasthi (Sudurpashim) have been designated as the NA election officers in the respective provinces. 

As per the election schedule, candidacy nominations for the election will be registered on January 8.