CPN (MC) decides to pull out of Madhes government

The CPN (Maoist Center) has decided to pull out of the Madhes government. The Parliamentary Party of the CPN (Maoist Center) has decided to recall Tourism, Forest and Environment Minister Sunita Yadav and state minister Rahabir Ansari. The CPN (Maoist Center), Janamat Party and Democratic Socialist Party Nepal are holding a meeting at present, Maoist Center leader and state minister Rahabir Ansari said.    

Lumbini Province CM Chaudhary expands Cabinet

Lumbini Province Chief Minister Dilli Prasad Chaudhary expanded his Cabinet. Raju Khanal has been given the responsibility of the Health Ministry. Similarly, Chandrakesh Gupta of the Janamat Party has been appointed as the Minister for Social Development and Sanosh Kumar Pandey of the Democratic Socialist Party as the Minister for Internal Affairs, Law and Cooperatives Likewise, Lal Ahir of the Janata Samajbadi Party has been appointed as the Minister for Agriculture and Land Management and Dharma Bahadur Chaudhary of the Nagarik Unmukti Party as the Minister for Physical Infrastructure. They were appointed as ministers today. Meanwhile, Dhan Bahadur Maski has been appointed as the Minister for Economic Affairs.

Policies and programs exclude plan to address economic crisis: RPP Chair Lingden

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman and House of Representatives (HoR) member Rajendra Lingden has said the government’s policies and programs failed to come with a policy to deal with the existing political crisis in the nation. Airing his views over the government policies and programs for the fiscal year 2023/24 in a meeting of the lower house today, the leader said the policies and programs were expected to reflect the country’s roadmap ahead, but this part was missing in the documents. He said that the policies and programs have failed to identify the problems and some issues are presented contradictorily. "Industrial promotion is possible when employment-based industries are opened, there is a subsidy in electricity, and unnecessary hurdles from trade unions are discouraged," he said. Describing Nepal as the place of origin of orientalism, he was of the view of not leaving the concept of religious tourism behind while promoting the tourism industry. Similarly, Rastriya Swatantra Party's Ganesh Parajuli said it should be greatly analyzed whether the government policies and programs tend to seek ways for resolving economic issues as claimed by the government. "Remittance-based economy is not a sustainable pillar of economy" he said, adding the people aspired for prosperity and development.  He urged all political parties to unite against corruption, advising any government employee to resign first before joining the politics.

Court extends remand of 16 people arrested in Bhutanese scam by three more days

The Kathmandu District Court has allowed those arrested in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam to keep in custody for three more days. The District Public Prosecutor's Office had taken the 16 individuals who were apprehended on different dates to the Kathmandu District Court to extend the remand. Police are planning to submit the report prepared by conducting a 55-day long investigation to the Public Prosecutor’s Office today. Joint Attorney Achyutmani Neupane said that case will be registered in the Kathmandu District Court by Tuesday after the police submits the report. Police had started carrying out investigation from March 26 on the basis of the statements given by the victims. Police had prepared the report based on the statements and interrogations taken from various people including the 16 arrested in connection with the scam. The Public Prosecutor’s Office will register the case in the district court after studying the report for 24 hours. Former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, Nepal Haj Committee Chairman Shumsher Miya, Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Tanka Gurung, Sagar Rai, Sandesh Sharma, Sandeep Rayamajhi, son to Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Indrajit Rai, aide of Bal Krishna Khand, Narendra KC, Ram Sharan KC and Govinda Chaudhary are in the custody. Niraj Rai and Pratik Thapa, who were involved in the same case, are on the run. Arrest warrants have already been issued against them. Pratik is the son of former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Niraj is the son of Indrajit Rai, who served as the security advisor of former home minister Thapa.