Lawmakers demand formulation of laws related to fundamental rights
Lawmakers have demanded formulation of laws for implementation of fundamental rights including right to employment, food security and housing. During the deliberations on the budget headings of Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development under the Appropriation Bill-2080 at the House of Representatives today, they mentioned that it was the matter of concern that laws required to realize the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution have not been formulated even eight years after promulgation of the Constitution. Lawmaker Arjun Narsingh KC said the government should pay attention as two types of human resources have been produced due to lack of amendment to the Education Act-2028. Stating that guardians are complaining that Budhanilkantha School has become a place of corruption, he drew the attention of the education minister in this regard. Lawmakers—Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, Prakash Adhikari, Sher Bahadur Kunwar, Abdul Khan, Arun Kumar Chaudhary and Yogendra Mandal among others expressed their views on the headings of Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. They stressed that the Sports Council should not be developed as a political center.
Pokhara International Airport was constructed under BRI project: Chinese envoy
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song said that the Pokhara International Airport was constructed under the BRI project. Speaking at a program organized after the Sichuan Airlines plane from Chendu landed for the first time at the Pokhara International Airport on Wednesday, the Chinese ambassador claimed that the airport was built under the BRI project. Ambassador Chen said that the Pokhara International Airport was designed and constructed by the Chinese company. “The Pokhara International Airport was constructed by China. This was constructed under the BRI project,” he said. Although Nepal signed the BRI project in 2017, it has been controversial as it is not clear whether it is a grant or a loan. Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba during a meeting with China's State Councilor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had said that it would not be acceptable for Nepal if the projects under the BRI are loan. The Nepal government has been urging the Chinese government to clarify whether the BRI Project is a loan or a grant. Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu had claimed that the Pokhara International Airport is a project under the BRI.
“Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has already been directed to send report on map placed in Indian Parliament building”
Foreign Minister NP Saud said that the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has been directed to send a report on the map placed in the Parliament building of India. Speaking at a meeting of the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives held in Singha Durbar on Tuesday, Minister Saud said the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has been directed to send a report on the map by inquiring with the India side. He also informed the Committee about the caption written in the mural placed in the newly constructed Indian Parliament building which states the expansion of the empire during the time of Emperor Ashoka. “The Committee is aware of the official opinion from the government of India that this is not a political issue. The Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has already been directed to send a report on this issue by holding discussions with the Indian side,” he said. Saying that the government’s attention has been drawn towards the mural placed in the Indian Parliament building, Minister Saud said that the committee, committee members and the government all are clear and firm on Nepal's international borders. He also made it clear about the interview he had given to an Indian media about the mural during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent visit to India. “I also want to make clear what I spoke on this issue during an interview with an Indian media a few weeks ago. At that time, the information related to the mural was not fully received. In the lack of clear information, it was not the right time to make concrete comments on the issue,” he said. Minister Saud said that the government is fully committed not to let any encroach upon even an inch of Nepal’s land.
KMC asks IRD to return house rent taxes to local level
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has written to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) demanding that the latter provide house rent taxes collected to the metropolis. It is within the jurisdiction of the metropolis to collect house rent taxes. But the Department is collecting institutional house rent taxes. The Department should return the taxes collected to the metropolis, according to a letter written by the metropolis Mayor Balen Shah to the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission. "The metropolis is only collecting private house rent taxes," he said. Stating that the metropolis has to bear a loss of Rs 1.43 billion in the course of collecting institutional house rent taxes by the Department, the Kathmandu Mayor also requested the Commission to compensate for the loss. "I make a humble request to the respected Commission to take required initiatives for the Department to return the house rent taxes collected so far to the metropolis and ensure the jurisdiction of the local level to collect house rent taxes. This interference by the Department is not acceptable to the metropolis," reads the letter.



