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The government has appointed Baikuntha Aryal as the Chief Secretary on Thursday. A Cabinet meeting held in Singha Durbar this morning promoted Aryal to the post of Chief Secretary. He was serving as the Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Aryal was appointed as the Chief Secretary after incumbent Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi was compelled to resign from his post. He was transferred to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers from the Ministry of Information and Communications in April. It has been learnt that the government has also decided to appoint Bairagi as the advisor to National Security Council.  

The National Concerns and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly directed the government to review the proposal to scrap the district election offices. A meeting of the committee held in Singha Durbar on Wednesday directed the government to consult with the Election Commission and review the proposal to scrap the district election offices and bring the offices under the jurisdiction of the district administration offices. The meeting also directed the government to provide necessary support to the Election Commission to hold the election in a free, fair and transparent manner, Committee President Dil Kumari Rawal said. She further said that necessary instructions will be given to the government by holding a meeting again on security and other issues. During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha said that the government has no intention to scrape the district election offices. He said that the government is clear that such decisions should not be taken without consulting with the Election Commission. On a different note, Minister Shrestha said that it will be easier for the government to take the next step if the court takes decision on the issue of citizenship at the earliest. Meanwhile, he said that police are carrying out investigations into the fake Bhutanese refugee scam in a transparent manner.    

Police have arrested Nepal Student Union (NSU)Morang President Saroj Pokharel for his alleged involvement in smearing black soot on the face of Purbanchal University Service Commission Chairman Mahesh Dahal. A joint team of Sunsari and Morang police apprehended Pokharal from Budhiganga area of Morang on Wednesday. Police have taken him to Sunsari to proceed with the necessary investigation and action. Sunsari Police Chief SP Prabhu Prasad Dhakal said that Pokharel has been arrested for smearing black soot on the face of Purbanchal University Service Commission Chairman Mahesh Dahal. “Investigation has been started from various angles after the incident of smearing black soot on the face of the University Service Commission chairman by a group of 10-15 persons came to light. A person leading the group has been arrested,” he said, adding, “A team has also been mobilized to nab other persons involved in the incident. “ On Tuesday, a complaint was filed at the Area Police Office, Itahari of Sunsari against those involved in the incident. The team led by Pokharal smeared black soot on the face of Purbanchal University Service Commission Chairman Dahal at around 9:30 am on Monday. The NSU has been claiming that the black soot was smeared on the face of Dahal at this residence after he was not found at this office. Issuing a statement, NSU President Dujang Sherpa, however, made it clear that the NSU will not own up the responsibility of the incident.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the government's positive initiatives in favor of the people have created a fear among anti-people forces. While receiving a memorandum from a delegation of the Press Centre Nepal at his official residence in Baluwatar today, the Prime Minister stressed on the need of resisting the culture of protesting government's 'commendable actions'. Initiations to provide direct services to the people, to promote rights of Nepali who are abroad, to end malpractices and misconducts and steps taken during the recent India visit have contributed to building a positive atmosphere, causing panic among reactionary and regressive forces, according to him. He said, "Anti-people forces are now without any agenda and are well exposed to the people.  Endeavors taken by bracing the odds have made the government further strong." Through the memorandum, the Press Centre has drawn the government's attention towards several issues facing the country, people and the working journalists. The Centre stressed the need of further institutionalizing the right to Press and the right to opinion and the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution, underlining the need of unity among progressive forces towards that end.