Maoist plenum may decide to quit govt before CA polls

Majority of the participants of the ongoing Maoist plenum have said the party should step out of the coalition cabinet as soon as possible and go for a street movement.

Commenting on party chairman Prachanda’s proposal presented for discussion in the plenum being held at the Balaju Industrial Estate said the eight-party government had failed to achieve desired political goals and that the CPN (Maoist) had no purpose continuing with the government, sources said.

Prachanda’s dossier proposes that the party quit the interim government before constituent assembly polls if the government fails to work on three major areas: disclosure of whereabouts of disappeared citizens, radical land reform and action against the suppressors of Janandolan-II. The Maoist leaders today engaged in intensive debate in 40 different groups. With nearly 2000 central leaders, Members of the Parliament and district leaders, the plenum is the biggest congregation of the Maoist party organised in recent times.

The 5th plenum that kicked off on Friday will announce the party’s future strategies. The plenum being held amidst tight security by the People’s Liberation Army is expected to run for another three days.
source: nepalnews.com

First female president for India

Pratibha Patil is to become India's first woman president after winning a comprehensive election victory, Indian officials say.

Mrs Patil, 72, won nearly two-thirds of votes cast in state assemblies and in India's parliament, they said.

The former governor of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan described her win as "a victory of the people".

Mrs Patil's supporters say her election to the largely ceremonial role will be a boost to millions of Indian women.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi, says that while some see her victory as an important step towards gender equality in India, many view it as only a symbolic gesture.

Millions of women in India face discrimination and poverty often linked to age-old traditions which require the parents of a bride to pay a large dowry to the family of her eventual husband.
Women's landmark

Mrs Patil emerged as a surprise, last-minute candidate after left-wing parties in the Congress-led coalition opposed the Congress Party's first choice.

She was backed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, but was mocked by opponents and by some sections of India's media.

But Mrs Gandhi, the Congress Party leader, hailed her candidate's win.
"In the 60th year of our independence, for the first time we have a woman president," she said.
"I am grateful to the people of India and the men and women of India and this is a victory for the principles which our Indian people uphold," the Reuters news agency quoted Mrs Patil as saying after his victory was confirmed.

There was also support at a hostel Mrs Patil established in Mumbai, in her home state of Maharashtra.
"It is encouraging for other women who want to step out of their homes and make something out of their careers or do something in the world," said one resident, Priya Mehra.

Balancing role

Mrs Patil has courted controversy, recently telling a Muslim congregation that the veil was introduced to protect their women from Mughal invaders, a comment she later retracted.
She also faced allegations that a bank she helped set up gave out cheap loans to her relatives before it folded up.

The Congress Party has rejected those allegations and was highly critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition candidate, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, an 83-year-old party veteran.

The presidency is largely a ceremonial post, but plays a key role with a fragmented electorate often throwing up precariously placed coalition governments.

Around 4,500 MPs and state legislators were eligible to vote in the election.

Mrs Patil will succeed A P J Abdul Kalam, a popular missile scientist, as president.

source: bbc.co.uk

New Nepal

Nepal has undergone a drastic change since the people of Nepal poured down in roads against the autocratic movement of the King Gyanendra. They started revolution. They risked their life against the autocratic regime, hoping that if they succeed in felling down the autocratic regime; they along with their children can enjoy a peaceful and developed Nepal, where the people can enjoy full democratic powere.

Taking such dreams they felled the regime and the leaders of different political parties in the parliament along with the rebel group (Maoist) formed an interim government which cut the power of the king and made him powerless so that in future he will be no threat for the Nepali people and Nepal.

The people of Nepal are demanding that republic system should be instilled in Nepal, but the political parties have their mixed views regarding republic governement and are delaying the constituent assembly election. But due to the pressure of public and different civic group and human right organization they are compelled to declare the date of election and decide whether there should be republic government or not.

People of Nepal wish for democratic republic government, which they hope is better for the peace and development of Nepal. What do you think? Please leave comment.

UAE to launch direct flights to Nepal

United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to start direct flights to Kathmandu.

UAE Labour Minister Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al-Kaabi told a news conference at the end of his three-day tour to Nepal on Wednesday that the UAE national flag carrier, Emirates Airlines, would launch direct flights to Kathmandu from October 28 this year.

Direct flights to Kathmandu will help make travel easier for Nepali workers as well as increase the number of tourists in Nepal. He also informed that the UAE was planning to establish its contact office in Kathmandu by the end of December.

On Tuesday, Nepal and UAE signed Labour Agreement, which gives legal status to Nepali workers in the UAE ensuring the rights according to the local laws.

The labour agreement, signed for the first time with a Gulf state, is also believed to increase the minimum wage of Nepali workers in UAE.

There are 150,000 Nepalis working in UAE alone. The agreement, which is meant for four years, will be automatically renewed for another four years.

Speaking at the joint news conference today, Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak said the labour agreement was an important step in resolving the problems facing Nepali workers in UAE.

“Earlier, there was no government to government communication. We had difficulties discussing the problems of workers with the right authority. The labour agreement will make things easier,” he said.

source: nepalnews.com

(NEPAL) : Monarchy necessary for national unity and integrity, says Sharma

President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nepal) Rabindra Nath Sharma has said that the institution of monarchy is necessary to preserve national unity and integrity.

"In order to save national unity and integrity, the institution of monarchy is necessary," said Sharma, addressing a press meet at the end of two-day national gathering of his party in Lalitpur on Tuesday.

Sharma said that at present the national unity is in a 'dangerous position.'
He also said that the recent second amendment of constitution whereby two-third majority of MPs can vote out the monarchy is unacceptable. Sharma said that even the Constituent Assembly cannot decide the fate of monarchy. "Only referendum can do so," he added.
Sharma-led RPP-Nepal has said that it will follow the policy supporting constitutional monarchy and Hindu nation.

Meanwhile, protesting RPP-Nepal's former president and former Home Minister Kamal Thapa's comments on monarchy and against eight parties, the activists of eight parties of Thapa's home district Makwanpur have decided not to allow RPP-Nepal to stage any programme in the district.

source: nepalnews.com