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The government is going to implement the agreements signed during the Tarai Madhes Movement. Unveiling the Common Minimum Program (CMP) of the government on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel said that the government will soon implement the agreements signed with the agitating groups. “The cases will be scrapped and arrested leaders and cadres will be released as per the agreements signed between the government and protesters during the Tarai Madhes Movement,” the program said. The CK Raut-led Janamat party and Resham Chaudhary’s Nagarik Unmukti Party had put forward this agenda as a condition to participate in the government. The both parties had also announced that they would not participate in the government until their demands are met. A leader of the ruling coalition said that the process to release the leaders and cadres of Janatmat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party will be started soon. Earlier on Sunday, Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party had reached a 12-point agreement for functional unity. The two parties had decided to mount pressure on the government to release Resham Chaudhary among others convicted in the Kailai carnage.

CPN (Maoist Center) Bagmati Province Parliamentary Party leader Shalikram Jamarkattel has been appointed as the Chief Minister of the Bagmati Province. He became the Chief Minister with the support of 37 lawmakers of the CPN-UML, 21 of the CPN (Maoist Center), 13 of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, seven of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and two of the Hamro Party. At least 56 seats are required to form a government in the 110-member Province. Jammarkattel, who had already become ministers of the Province twice, was elected from Dhading 1 (B). He was the Internal Affairs and Law Minister and Economic Affairs and Planning Minister in his previous term.  

The Rastriya Swatantra Party has directed its lawmakers to play an effective role in the meeting of the House of Representatives. During a Parliamentary Party meeting of the party held on Monday, party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane directed the lawmakers to show strong presence in the Parliament and to play an effective role in the Parliament to fulfill the commitment made with the people. The meeting has urged all the parties to give a vote of confidence in favor of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the Parliament on Tuesday, lawmaker Santosh Pariyar said. Pariyar said that the Rastriya Swatantra Party has just picked the Parliamentary Party leader and whip and chief whip will be nominated later.  

Media Action Nepal (MAN), an organization which has been working for the last eight years to promote freedom of expression and media development in Nepal, has established press awards to recognize the invaluable work of journalists, press freedom advocates and media educators. Named ‘Media Action Nepal-Press Awards’, MAN, a member of the Media Freedom Coalition-Consultative Network, has established the honors to acknowledge exceptional individuals active in the fields of journalism, media training and education, media development and protection of media rights. The awards will be conferred every year under three categories – journalism, press freedom and media education – on MAN’s foundation day, that is, December 21, and will carry a purse of Rs. 25,000 each. They will also include a certificate of appreciation. According to MAN Chairperson Laxman Datt Pant, this award is pertinent step to appreciate and encourage the development of a free and responsible media in Nepal. “At a time when independent journalism continues to come under attack from many visible and invisible forces and media’s credibility is regularly questioned by various elements of the state and society, we hope this award shines a light on the distinguished individuals doing their best to foster a media environment that can speak truth to power, is empowered with the rights it needs to ask the necessary questions and is accountable to the people,” he said. In 2023 however, as the first year of conferral, MAN will provide a single award incorporating all three categories. This year’s award will be conferred on senior advocate Borna Bahadur Karki. Karki is the former chairperson of Press Council Nepal and has been a champion of freedom of expression and media freedom for many years. During his time in the Press Council, as well as before and after that, he has contributed to the strengthening of Nepal’s media sector in many ways. He will be awarded amid a program to be organized in Kathmandu on Monday, January 10. Since its inception in 2015, MAN has been contributing to the cause of independent and responsible press through research, dialogue, advocacy, publication and documentation and capacity building of journalists in collaboration with national and international organizations. It is present in all seven provinces of the nation and has worked with over 5,000 Nepali journalists to date. It has also maintained an international presence, most notably through the Media Freedom Coalition and continues to present Nepal’s media perspective and raise its voices at the global level.