Book ‘Bishwomanchma Narendra Modi’ launched

A book titled ‘Bishwomanchma Narendra Modi’ was launched at an event in Kathmandu.

The book is a collection of speeches made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in various countries and international forums from 2014 to 2024.

Sagar Chand has translated the book, compiled by Bhupendra Bahadur Chhetri, into the Nepali language.

Saying that India is moving ahead in a new way in the international forum and Narendra Modi has been leading the country, Chand said that his 29 speeches of over the past decade have been translated into Nepali language with an aim to show India’s presence in the world forum.

“India is moving forward in a new way. The book will help understand Modi’s view of the world at a time when India has been presenting itself strongly in the international forums,” Chand said.  

India, which had embarked in the journey of globalization in the early 1990s, has now been presenting itself strongly in the various stages of the world.

According to a report published by the World Economic Forum in January 2024, India had contributed 16 percent to global growth in 2023.

With economic growth of 7.2% in 2022-2023, India ranked second among G20 countries.

Because of the infrastructure, internet access and relations with western countries, India has been emerging as a strong country in the world forums.

Increasing access to information, connectivity and prosperity worldwide has made India strong in the global forums.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Nepal four times including the SAARC meeting.

He visited Nepal for the first time in August, 2014, second time in 2014 for SAARC meeting, third time in May, 2018 and fourth time in May, 2022.

Modi, who had reached Janakpur, from Lumbini to Muktinath of Nepal, had traveled the world more than 100 times since 2014.

“The most important speeches from all these journeys have been collected and translated into Nepali,” Chhetri said.

Saying that Nepal and India have a long historical relationship, Chhetri said, “The speeches of Narendra Modi have been translated into Nepali with an objective to make all the Nepalis know about how India, which has adopted the policy of neighbor first’ has been presenting itself in various forums of the world.”

The price of the book launched by Indigo Inc. is Rs 549.

 

Duo held for swindling foreign job aspirants

Police have arrested three persons on the charge of swindling foreign job aspirants of Rs 8 million with false promises of sending them to Slovakia and the United States of America.

The suspects have been identified as Sandhya Lama Buda Magar of Puthauttarganga Rural Municipality-11, Rukum and currently residing at Tarkeshwor Rural Municipality-10, Kathmandu and Udim Bahadur Pun of Mangala Rural Municipality-2, Myagdi and presently living at Nakhipot, Lalitpur, Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office spokesperson SP Rabindra Regmi said.

He said that the duo has been sent to the Department of Foreign Employment for necessary action.

Police said that they were apprehended based on the complaints.

Wildfire destroys around 300 hectares of forest in Udayapur

Forest fire has destroyed thickets and trees on around 300 hectares of jungle located at Chaudandigadhi, Belaka and Triyuga Municipalities of the district.

According to the Division Forest Office, the wildfire, which has been taking place for the past 10 days, damaged Phooljor Devisthan, Saraswoti and Beltar community forests.

Information officer at Division Forest Office, Gaighat, Jaheshwor Sah, said small plants and trees were destroyed by the wildfire following the drought.

Similarly, forest fire has also destroyed a jungle located at Limchungbung Rural Municipality-5 in the district. Though the initiatives were taken to bring the wildfire under control, it has not been completely successful due to the storm, added the office.

SC summons publisher and editor of sidhakura

The Supreme Court has summoned Yuvaraj Kandel, publisher of sidhakura.com, and Navin Dhungana, executive editor, to respond to allegations of contempt of court. 

The case stems from the publication of fake audiovisual news reports defaming a sitting justice, senior advocates, and media personalities. Justices Nahkul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana on Monday ordered Kandel and Dhungana to appear before the court on May 2 at 10 am to justify their dissemination of fake content undermining the independent judiciary.

The Supreme Court initiated a suo moto contempt case against Kandel and Dhungana following fraudulent news reports published on sidhakura.com and its YouTube channel. The reports accused  Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Chairperson of Annapurna Media Network Capt Rameshwar Thapa, and Chairperson of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya, special correspondent of Annapurna Post Surendra Kafle, and senior advocates Hari Upreti and Kishor Bista, among others, of organizing a clandestine meeting to dismiss more than 400 corruption cases.

The apex court has also directed Nepal Police to investigate the matter.

Thapa and Sirohiya have denounced the fake contents, labeling them premeditated and malicious. The press fraternity and regulatory bodies have also expressed concerns over the contents published by sidhakura.com.

Govinda Ghimire, deputy registrar at the Supreme Court, filed a petition on behalf of the Supreme Court on Sunday as per Article 128(4) of the Constitution of Nepal, section 17(1) of the Judicial Administration Act and Supreme Court regulations. The petition demands maximum punishment for the defendants under relevant laws. 

The Supreme Court said that the prima facie finding of the contents published by sidhakura.com suggest that they were created to scandalize the court.     

Meanwhile, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also urged the authorities concerned to investigate and take action against sidhakura.com.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the anti-graft body said that it is inconceivable for the commission to be involved in any other activities other than following the decision of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court and investigating and prosecuting complaints within its jurisdiction.

The CIAA also refuted any involvement in misleading activities, as claimed by sidhakura.com.

In response to the contempt case, sidhakura.com has removed the fake videos from its platforms. This move comes after initially refusing to comply with instructions from the Press Council Nepal. 

Press Council Chairman Balkrishna Basnet said they ordered sidhakura.com to take down the audiovisual contents within 24 hours. The contents were suspicious at a first glance, they were clearly biased, not based on any facts, and in violation of the journalistic code of ethics, he added.