PM calls gas dealers for talk

 Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai on Thursday called the dealers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for talks. 

Dealers were surprised by the call, our correspondent Bigyan Adhikari informed. 

The call for the meeting comes at a time when the desperate locals are taking control of the vehicles ferrying refilled LPG cylinders. 

On Wednesday locals of Sallaghari, Bhaktapur seized two vehicles carrying LPG cylinders of Himal Gas Company. 

The vehicles were transporting 194 gas cylinders from Sanga, where the company is based, to Kathmandu for retailing through the network of authorized dealers.

The consumers, reeling under the shortage of fuel for more than a month, suddenly sprung into action when they saw the vehicles transporting a large number of refilled cylinders. 

Similarly, the locals in Dallu on Thursday tried to seize the vehicles carrying the LPG cylinders but failed as police foiled their intentions.


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‘Dahal in Baidhya’s line or Baidhya in Dahal’s’

Nepali congress (NC) General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula on Wednesday said that parties are in dilemma whether UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kumar Dahal is following Vice Chairman Mohan Baidhya’s panel or has Baidhya come to Dahal’s panel.

Speaking at the Reporters Club in the Capital on Wednesday Sitaula said that unless the Maoist clarify about their stance about the seven-point deal, the deadlock will not end.

Sitaula further said that conclusion of peace process and timely constitution is only possible if the Maoist is in favour of the seven-point deal. “If they do not support the seven point deal, both the processes would be incomplete,” said Sitaula

Moreover, Sitaula said that legalising the land transactions made by the Maoist parallel government during the decade-long insurgency and hiding information of the government prove that the Maoist wants a dictatorial rule. Sitaula also claimed that the government would not be able to establish trust among other parties unless they scrap both their decisions.

As published on ekantipur

Delay in execution of 7-pt pact raises doubts: Deuba

Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday urged all the political leaders to strive for stabality of democracy in the country.

Speaking at an interaction program, 'Sahid ko Sapana ra Bartamaan' (Dreams of the martyrs and the present), organised by Binod Dev Smriti Pratisthan, Deuba said that people are in doubt about the prospects of sustainable peace, new constitution, return of the seized property and so forth. He claimed that the situation arose because of the delay in execution of the seven-point deal made between the political parties.

Stating that democracy is in jeopardy although the martyrs gave away their life for it, the former prime minister said that he is continuously working to solve the rift within the party.

Likewise, NC central member Arjun Narsingh KC said that there is a need of solidarity between the pro-democrats within the party to look for an alternative to the current government. KC accused the ruling UCPN (Maoist) of trying to establish a totalitarian government in the name of democracy and peace.

Similarly, NC central member Man Mohan Bhattarai said that it was rather the flaw of the people that they expected a constitution from the Maoist government. 

As Published on ekantipur

House obstructed for seven time in row

The Legislature-Parliament meeting was cancelled for seven straight time on Wednesday over war-ear land dealings.

The opposition parties – Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML – have said that they would not let the House session resume until the government scrapes the decision to legalise the land transactions made by the parallel government run by then rebel Maoists during the decade-long insurgency.

Before today, the opposition parties had already obstructed the House session six times.

Immediately after the start of the session, NC lawmaker Gopal Man Shrestha accused the government of tormenting the people by increasing the price of the petroleum products. Claiming that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai himself was the leader of the Maoist parallel government, Shrestha said that Bhattarai unlawfully legalised his bad deeds abusing his power as the premier.

Likewise, UML lawmaker Shankar Pokharel said that even an anarchical rule would not be as cruel as the current government, which tried to deny the people’s Right to Information by hiding important government information. "Maoist leaders did not follow the seven-point deal signed between the political parties, which eventually led to the delay in peace process and constitution drafting process," said Pokharel.

Later, the lawmakers of the opposition parties left their seats which led Speaker Subash Nembang to cancel the session.

The next meeting of Legislature-Parliament has been called for Feb 5 at 1 pm

As Published on ekantipur

Cooking gas scarcity: locals take control of Himal gas

With the shortage of cooking gas—also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)—showing no sign of returning to normalcy, the short supply has left the people high and dry. 

The frustration of the price hike in petroleum products coupled with scarcity of fuel have led the locals to take matter into their own hands. 

Locals of Sallaghari took control of three vehicles loaded with Himal Gas at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur on Wednesday.

A Tata mobile with 280 gas cylinders was heading for the Capital from Kavre. General people stood in the middle of the road risking their lives to block the vehicle. However, the consumers have not taken any of LPG cylinders free of cost. They have paid Rs 1415 per cylinder. Some of them bought new gas cylinder. According to the vehicle staff, some of gas cylinders have been lost due to consumer clash.     

                                                   As Published on   ekantipur

Forest officers suspended for 'timber smuggling'

Chief of Area Forest Office, Gadhwa Amar Kanta Jha and Assistant Forest Officer Rajendra Raya Yadav have been suspended on the charge of involvement in forest depletion and timber smuggling in Deukhuri area of Dang.

The Ministry of Forests has sent a letter to District Forest Office, Dang stating that the duo has been suspended with effect from Tuesday through a secretary-level decision as per the Public Service Act 2049. 

There were reports that the two were involved in cutting of trees and smuggling in connivance with Chairman of the local Saljhandi Community Forest Consumers´ Group Sharada Chaudhary under the direction of Minister for Forests Mohammad Wakil Musalman. The two have been suspended on the recommendation of separate probe teams sent by the ministry and the Department of Forests.

The vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer of the consumers´ group have already been arrested and litigated on the charge of forest depletion while the District Forest Office has written to 13 other members of the committee to report to it. 

The forest office has also sought written explanation from Chaudhary who has gone to India.

The consumers have alleged that timber smuggling from the forest has been rampant under the patronage of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic) to which chairman Chaudhary is politically affiliated.

The investigation teams had found that 89 trees were cut from the forest and had estimated a claim amount of Rs 2.32 million for each involved.


As Published on My Republica

Dahal urges Koirala to resume House

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday urged Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala to remove the obstruction in the House. 

In a meeting held at Maharajgunj-based residence of Koirala, the Maoist chairman urged him to resume the Legislature-Parliament saying that the House obstruction has overshadowed the twin tasks of peace and constitution drafting.

The major opposition parties—Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—have been protesting in the parliament demanding the government withdraw its decision to legalise the transaction of land and properties made through the parallel government run by the then rebel Maoists during armed conflict. 

In response, Koirala reiterated that the decision should be scrapped. He alleged that the government has ruined the agreement with its decision to legalise the transaction of land and property at a time when the Maoists have yet to return the land and properties seized during the conflict as per the seven-point agreement 

After the meting, Dahal informed that they agreed to seek a package solution to all the contentious issues.

Following widespread protests after the government decision to legalise war-ear dealings, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, in a bid to take the agitating opposition into confidence, said the decision would not be implemented immediately. 

However, the opposition continued their protests demanding the government scrap the decision. They argued that the postponement of the decision would further create confusion. 

Source:-http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/02/01/top-story/dahal-urges-koirala-to-resume-house/348264.html