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Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s political advisor and a close confidante during the decade-long insurgency and after, Haribol Gaurel, has resigned in the wake of “some serious differences” with the head of the government. Gajurel said he put in papers a week ago after the PM turned down his suggestions on politics and governance. 

The Cabinet is yet to endorse his resignation, though. 

Multiple sources informed that Gajurel resigned after PM Dahal did not heed his suggestions on issues related to governance and politics. A source said Gajurel resigned as holding on to the job was likely to give rise to more disputes with PM Dahal.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has claimed that nearly 200 Nepalis, who had gone to Russia on student and tourist visas, have joined the Russian army to earn money.

Addressing the office-bearers meeting of the Press Center in the Capital on Monday, the Prime Minister said that he got the information that 200 Nepalis have joined the Russian army.

He further said that some Nepalis serving in the Russian army are under the control of Kyiv’s forces.

Prime Minister Dahal went on to say that he has even got the information that some Nepalis have also joined the Ukrainian army and the government is studying about the same.

Six Nepalis serving in the Russian army had died during the Russian-Ukraine war.

The government has already sent a letter to the Russian government to hand over the bodies to the Nepal government.

The government has also urged the Russian government not to recruit its citizens into the Russian army.

Meanwhile, police have arrested 12 persons for their alleged involvement in sending people to Russia illegally.

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."