[“When I proposed Sood to scrap all treaties and agreements reached in the past and ink a "republican agreement" on the new basis he threatened to send five million Nepalis living in India to Nepal,” he said. “I condemn the warning.”]
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| A small plane lands at Jomsom airstrip in Mustang District, Nilgiri Himal on the background |
BAGLUNG, Oct 9: The Chinese government has pledged financial support for the construction a road from Jomsom to Korala pass that connects remote Mustang district to Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Chinese envoy to Nepal Qiu Guohong, who is currently in Mustang visit, made a commitment to this effect. He pledged to help construct road from Jomsom to Korala pass.
“The envoy has expressed commitment to provide support for the construction of the road keeping in view the hardship faced by local people,” said Chief District Officer of Mustang Umesh Kumar Dhakal. A 23-kilometer long stretch of road from Jomsom to Tange area has already been constructed by the District Development Office. Tange is 42 kilometers away from Korala pass.
According to CDO Dhakal, the lack of road in Korala pass has made it difficult for the local administration to bring good imported from Tibet through Korala pass under the custom regime.
The envoy had held discussions with political party leaders, security and government officials at Jomsom Airport on Saturday after he arrived there from upper Mustang. He had reached upper mustang to inaugurate Dibya Jyoti Higher Secondary School.
SOLUKHUMBU, Oct 7: The UCPN (Maoist) politburo member and former minister Gopal Kiranti on Thursday alleged that Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood warned that India could send some 5 million Nepalis living there back to Nepal.
Speaking at a function organized by Reporters´ Club Nepal in Solukhumbu, Kiranti alleged that the envoy had given the warning after the former started talking about ´national independence´. Earlier Maoist cadres led by Kiranti had hurled shoes at the envoy´s vehicle and shown him black flags in Solukhumbu.
Kiranti revealed that he had a secret talk with the envoy after their protest.
“When I proposed Sood to scrap all treaties and agreements reached in the past and ink a "republican agreement" on the new basis he threatened to send five million Nepalis living in India to Nepal,” he said. “I condemn the warning.”
Kiranti said he held talks with Sood as ordered by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and there was an agreement to put two questions and three requests during the talks. He said that they received positive response from Sood on two questions put forth by coordinator of Maoist Sherpa State Committee, Gombu Sherpa, and three requests made by him.
“I have been holding talks with Chinese foreign minister and envoy to ensure political stability in Nepal,” Kiranti quoted Sood as saying. “I found only this remark positive. All other remarks had air of Indian big brother attitude.”
During the 15 minute talks with the envoy, Kiranti said he asked Sood to help scrap all the agreements reached in the past, provide transit facility to landlocked Nepal as per international law and formulate a high-level strategic plan involving India, Nepal and China for political stability in Nepal.
The envoy reached Solukhumbu on Wednesday for inaugurating district office of Nepal-India Human Relations and Friendship Association and laying down foundation stone for Khumjung Drinking Water project being constructed with Indian assistance of Rs 39.5 million. Maoist cadres had tried to hurl shoes at envoy Sood and obstruct his movement at Salleri, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu, Wednesday.
KATHMANDU, Oct 9: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Saturday that the country could see a final battle between those for the peace process and those against it. "Now it is almost certain that there will be a battle between those for and against the peace process.
It could even be a final battle," said Dahal while welcoming youth leaders who defected from the CPN-ML to the Maoist party, at a function in Kathmandu. He pointed out the need for unity among the leftists, nationalists and republicans to save the country from sliding into crisis.
The Maoist Chairman argued that there is no other option other than preparing for the final battle to save the nationality. "The youths should be ready to make any kind of sacrifice to foil the conspiracy against the peace process and constitution drafting," he said. General Secretary of the CPN-ML aligned Progressive Youths Union Haribansa Mainali and 18 other leaders defected to the Maoist party on Saturday.
Maoist plenum postponed to Nov 14
The UCPN (Maoist) has postponed the much-talked about party plenum to Nov 14, citing the forthcoming festivals of Dashain and Tihar and the visit by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. The plenum will be held in Gorkha, the same venue fixed earlier.
The top office bearers of the Maoist party took a decision to this effect on Saturday.
The party stated that Dahal would leave for China on October 22 to participate in Shanghai Expo. Earlier, the party had decided to hold the plenum on October 23 in Chitwan, but the venue was shifted to Gorkha district for October 29 due to dengue outbreak in Chitwan. It´s the third time that the party has changed the date for the plenum.
The forthcoming Maoist plenum is being seen with special interest as separate political documents prepared by the top three leader - Dahal and vice-chairmen Mohan Baidya and Dr Baburam Bhattarai-are likely to be debated in the meeting.
BANEPA, Oct 9: Defense Minister Bidya Bhandari on Saturday accused the UCPN (Maoist) of “developing nexus” with former King Gyanendra to engineer a power grab.
Speaking at a function organized by Madan Bhandari Sports Academy in Banepa, minister Bhandari said that the Maoists had failed to ensure management of their arms and combatants, return properties seized during conflict and disband paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League (YCL).
“Why can´t the condition put forth by Nepali Congress be acceptable to them?” she asked.
She said that the stance put forward by the NC is justifiable as Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, who is also a senior leader of the CPN-UML has already tendered his resignation.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the coverage of prime ministerial election by the media, she said, “Not all 601 lawmakers have taken part in the voting. Hence, it would be more appropriate to say that the voting for PM failed instead of saying the PM candidate was defeated.”
This news item is printed from myrepublica.com - a sister publication of Republica national daily.
© Nepal Republic Media Pvt. Ltd. Kathmandu Nepal.