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.
CPN (MC) denies financial irregularities in PLA cantonments
The CPN (Maoist Centre) has denied any financial irregularities in the payment of the then members of the Maoist People's Liberation Army and other managerial works in the cantonments. Organizing a press meet at the party central office Parisdanda today, the party said the Office of the Auditor General had already cleared the matter and there were no irregularities in the budget meant for the supervision and management of ex-Maoist armies took place in the presence of government bodies. Party Vice Chair and Spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara said a letter about the budget allocation to the cantonments and its expenditures was sent on June 1, 2012 to the Office of Cantonment Management Central Coordinator in Singha Durbar. The annual report of the Office of the Auditor General-2069 BS (page number 259) has mentioned about the audit of the cantonment expenditures, it has been learnt. The government on April 26, 2012 took a decision to convert around Rs 460 million allocated in advance for the supervision and management of the then Maoist armies in course of implementing the peace process to grants. The decision was based on the recommendations of the parliamentary Public Account Committee and the then Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction. Stating that the payments of salaries were made to the beneficiaries by issuing receipts, then the deputy commander of the Maoist Liberation Army and the CPN (Maoist Centre) Chakrapani Khanal accused the attempts of picking up an issue unnecessarily as 'the matter has been already concluded legally and practically'. There were not any financial irregularities in the cantonments and it could not be, he claimed. The Maoist Centre has asked the government to take a stern action against those involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam stating that its move in proceeding with investigations into the case undeterred has helped save the prestige of the state, and created encouragement and morale among people. The party has especially requested the government to do its maximum part and not to compromise on booking those involved in the scam, said Mahara. The Maoist Centre has emphasized on the need of effective implementation of the government policies and programs, noting that they include topics as realizing self-reliance by increasing production and productivity in agriculture and promoting employment. The governing party has expressed happiness stating the policy and program document incorporated creating at least 500,000 jobs, extending electricity to every household and completing the peace process, among others. The Maoist Centre said the government has tried to give positive message to the Nepali people by starting the process of initiating action against the people implicated in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, formulating laws for providing justice to the loan-sharking victims, enlisting the Nepalis in foreign employment in the social security fund. It also mentioned that for the first time the school students have got textbooks on time and planned initiatives have been undertaken for improving the economy. The Maoist Centre has called attention of the government to carry out additional positive and pro-people works ahead.



