Tag: NEPAL

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Nepal Foreign Secretary Holds Bilateral Consultations With Oman

Sewa Lamsal stresses to explore the untapped potential in economic, cultural and educational areas between Nepal and Oman in the coming years, reports Vinod Raghavan

MUSCAT : A top level first meeting of the Bilateral Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Sultanate of Oman was held in Muscat, Oman and reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction on the excellent state of relations existing between Nepal and Oman since 1977.

Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, who came all the way from the Himalayan nation, led the Nepali delegation and His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa Alharthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs led the Omani delegation, discussed the  bilateral relations and agreed to promote cooperation encompassing all sectors, especially the exchange of high-level visits, trade, investment, economic cooperation, agriculture, energy, tourism, labour and foreign employment, culture, education and direct air connectivity, a top Nepal Embassy official said.

They expressed firm commitment to further enhance partnership in mutually agreed areas and to work together toward realizing economic opportunities for mutual benefits apart from creating more opportunity to promote people-to-people engagement, the official said.

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal thanked the Government of Oman for providing employment to more than 21,000 Nepalis and emphasized on providing additional opportunities in view of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’s Oman Vision 2040 strategy. She stressed the exploration of the untapped potential in economic, cultural and educational areas and proposed to establish meaningful collaborative partnership including in the private sector.

The Nepali Foreign Secretary, urged the Omani side to explore investment opportunities in Nepal including in hydropower, tourism sector and collaboration in green hydrogen sector. She requested the delegation to consider establishing Embassy of Oman in Kathmandu to further consolidate the long-standing relations.

Undersecretary Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa Alharthy expressed willingness to promote the cooperation between Nepal and Oman in all the mutually agreed sectors and hoped to conclude the pending MOUs. He underscored the potential of the bilateral relationship and emphasized upon working together to realizing the actual benefits and also mentioned about the positive and hardworking nature of Nepali workers.

Both sides shared views on maintaining the tradition of regular exchange of high-level visits. They also expressed commitment to cooperate with each other at various multilateral forums including the United Nations. They deliberated to enhance the existing state of excellent relations through diversification of engagements in multiple sectors.

The Nepali delegation also comprised of Dornath Aryal, Ambassador of Nepal to the Sultanate of Oman, Joint Secretary Sharad Raj Aran, Head of the Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other officials from the Ministry and the Embassy.

While, the Omani delegation consisted of the Ambassador Dr. Mohammed Bin Ali Al Balushi, Acting Chief of Asia Pacific Department and other officials from the Foreign Ministry.

Following the meeting, the head of the Omani delegation hosted a luncheon in honour of the visiting Nepali delegation.

Earlier this morning, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour, Sultanate of Oman. Matters related to the mutual cooperation including MoU in the field of Labour and Manpower Exchange, employment opportunity, among others were also discussed, the official said and added, that the Nepal-Oman Bilateral Consultations Mechanism was established in 2017, and the next meeting will be held in Kathmandu on mutually convenient dates.

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Plane Crash in Nepal Claims 4 Lives

Firefighters and security personnel, including Nepal Police and the Nepali Army, are carrying out the rescue operation…reports Asian Lite News

Four people were killed after a plane with 19 people on board crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Wednesday, local media reported.

Four bodies have been recovered.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when the Pokhara-bound plane of Saurya Airlines crashed shortly after taking off from the runway, TIA spokesperson Premnath Thakur said, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Firefighters and security personnel, including Nepal Police and the Nepali Army, are carrying out the rescue operation.

Plane’s Captain Manish Shakya was rescued from the wreckage and taken to KMC Hospital, Sinamangal for treatment, according to the police, The Himalayan Times reported.

Further details are awaited.

ALSO READ: NDRF joins Nepali search teams to locate two missing buses

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NDRF joins Nepali search teams to locate two missing buses

Three of the passengers somehow managed to get outside the bus and swim to the bank….reports Asian Lite News

Twelve-member teams, including four divers from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have joined the Nepali search teams to locate two buses that have gone missing in the Trishuli River for a week since the July 12 landslide that wreaked havoc in the Himalayan nation.

Two buses carrying 65 passengers along the Narayanghat-Muglin road section were hit by a landslide in the wee hours of July 12 and swept away by the Trishuli River.

Three of the passengers somehow managed to get outside the bus and swim to the bank.

The Indian team which arrived in Chitwan yesterday started the search operation on Sunday morning, Chief District Officer of the district confirmed ANI over the phone.

“A 12-member team of India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been carrying out the search operation since this morning,” Chief District Officer Indra Dev Yadav confirmed.

Rescue and search teams from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) have been searching the bus and the passengers since the incident, but they haven’t been able to trace the buses so far.

The buses were washed away by a landslide at Simaltal on the Narayanghat-Mugling road.

More than 200 security personnel have been deployed to search for passengers. So far 25 bodies have been found in different locations and 17 people have been identified.

The whereabouts of the two buses and 37 passengers on them are still unknown. The rescue team from India arrived in Nepal at the request of the government due to a lack of manpower and proper equipment in the country. (ANI)

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Nepal’s Oli makes new coalition deal public

The prime minister has made the details of the midnight deal public three weeks after it was signed by Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba…reports Asian Lite News

Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, while tabling the trust motion in the parliament, made the seven-point agreement reached with the Nepali Congress public.

Oli, also the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), read out the contents of the agreement that was sealed past midnight on July 2. The Prime Minister also said that the agreement between the two major parties was part of the two largest parties’ efforts to address the country’s pressing issues.

“We (CPN-UML and Nepali Congress) compete in our ideologies, but there are instances of collaboration between the Congress and the UML. This is a continuation of that collaboration. We have agreed to work together to protect national interests, control corruption, improve governance, expedite development activities, and ensure political stability, in accordance with the public desire,” Oli said, addressing the lower house of the federal parliament.

The prime minister has made the details of the midnight deal public three weeks after it was signed by Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Leaders from Congress and other parties were raising questions over keeping the deal secret for weeks.

According to Oli, the seven points of the agreement reached between the Congress and the UML at midnight of July 1 are as follows:

1. Form a national consensus government under Article 76(2) of the constitution, involving other political parties as well, to protect national interests, control corruption, improve governance, accelerate development activities, and ensure political stability.

2. The national consensus government will prioritise reviewing the strengths, weaknesses, and complexities observed in the course of implementing the constitution, and will focus on amending the constitution and enacting related laws in order to ensure political stability.

3. To end the prolonged economic slowdown, prepare a reliable business environment, and rejuvenate economic activities. This includes encouraging both domestic and foreign investments to create sufficient and dignified employment opportunities within the country.

4. CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli will lead the national consensus government for the first two years and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba will lead the election government until elections in November-December 2027.

5. To prepare common minimum programmes to protect the national interest, to ensure good governance by ending corruption, to determine the basis of the national consensus government and to run the government on the same basis.

6. The national consensus government will ensure equal participation of the two leading political parties, while also including other political parties in the government.

7. Provincial governments will be formed as per the spirit and intent of the national consensus government, and efforts will be made to accelerate development activities at the provincial and local levels as per the public sentiment. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Bangladesh Issues ‘Shoot-on-Sight’ Order

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Nepal PM Oli to take vote of confidence on Sunday

Oli was sworn in as the Prime Minister for his fourth term on July 15….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal’s newly appointed Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli is set to take a vote of confidence on July 21, a week after he took over charge of the office.

Oli, 72, the chairman of the CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist), was appointed Prime Minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel on July 14 after his predecessor Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a vote of confidence in parliament.

Oli was sworn in as the Prime Minister for his fourth term on July 15.

According to CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula, Prime Minister Oli has informed the Parliament Secretariat about it stating that an early vote of confidence would help him work comfortably.

“As per the constitution, a Prime Minister is mandated to take the vote of confidence within 30 days of formal appointment over the post. Prime Minister Oli will be taking the vote of confidence on Sunday (July 21) because it would give me more confidence and allow me to work properly,” Bartaula confirmed to ANI over phone.

On July 12 this month, Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel called on political parties in the Nepal Parliament to stake claim for the Prime Minister after Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a trust motion.

The President had called for the claim of stake as per Article 76(2) of the Constitution.

On the same day, Oli staked claim for the prime minsterial post, he and Nepali Congress party President Sher Bahadur Deuba jointly signed an application for the President to appoint the UML chief as the country’s new PM on Friday evening.

Oli, backed by the Nepali Congress and other smaller parties had on Friday submitted the signatures of 165 lawmakers claiming majority support in the parliament for the Prime Ministership.

The Constitution of Nepal mandates a Prime Minister to have the support of a majority of 138 members in the 275-strong House of Representatives to take over as Prime Minister.

Moreover, the Prime Minister is also mandated to take a vote of confidence within 30 days of appointment to prove support.

Oli became the Prime Minister for the first time in October 2015, soon after the promulgation of the Constitution that year, and remained in power until August 2016.

Right after the general election in 2017, Oli, who was able to usher in nationalist sentiment amongst the people siding with China, formed a government and remained in power from February 2018 to May 2021.

Oli was again appointed Prime Minister under the constitutional provision of 76(3) from May 2021 to July 2021 after staking claim as the parliamentary leader of the largest party in parliament.

While in power, Oli twice dissolved the parliament but the Supreme Court issued a mandamus resinstating it.

According to the July 2 deal between Congress chief Deuba and UML chairman Oli, the two parties will lead the government on a rotational basis until the next general elections in 2027.

The deal, however, has not been made public yet. (ANI)

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Oli appointed new Nepal PM

KP Sharma Oli, with the backing of the Nepali Congress and smaller parties, had submitted the signatures of 165 lawmakers, claiming majority support in the parliament for the Prime Ministership…reports Asian Lite News

With the expiration of the deadline to stake the claim for the Prime Minister, Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel has appointed KP Sharma Oli (72) as the next Prime Minister.

Oli is the single leader who staked his claim for the post in support of the Nepali Congress.

Nepal President Paudel called the political parties in the Nepali parliament on Friday evening to stake a claim for the Prime Minister after Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a confidence motion. The President had called for a claim of stake as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution.

“Honourable President Shree Ram Chandra Paudel as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal has appointed member of the House of Representatives Shree KP Sharma Oli as the Prime Minister of Nepal,” the President’s Office said in a statement.

According to the statement, the oath ceremony for Oli has been scheduled for 11 am (NST) on Monday.

Along with Oli, a group of ministers will also be inducted into the cabinet for which the parties are holding rounds of discussions.

Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba jointly signed an application for the President to appoint the UML chief as the new prime minister on Friday evening, right after the results of the vote of confidence.

Oli, with the backing of the Nepali Congress and smaller parties, had submitted the signatures of 165 lawmakers, claiming majority support in the parliament for the Prime Ministership.

The Constitution of Nepal mandates a Prime Minister to cross a majority of 138 in the 275-strong House of Representatives to take over as Prime Minister. Oli became the Prime Minister for the first time in October 2015, soon after the promulgation of the constitution that year, and remained in power until August 2016.

Moreover, the Prime Minister is also mandated to take a vote of confidence within 30 days of appointment to prove his support.

Following the general elections in 2017, Oli, who was able to usher in nationalist sentiment amongst the people siding with China, formed a government and remained in power from February 2018 to May 2021.

Oli again was appointed as Prime Minister under the constitutional provision of 76 (3) from May 2021 to July 2021 after staking claim as the parliamentary leader of the largest party in parliament.

While in power for about three years, Oli dissolved the parliament twice, which was reinstated by the Supreme Court issuing a mandamus.

The Nepali Congress and CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) signed an agreement on July 2 to divide 9 and 8 ministries, respectively, on the council of ministry.

According to the July 2 deal between Congress chief Deuba and UML chairman, Oli, the two parties will lead the government on a rotational basis until the next general elections in 2027. But, the deal has not been made public to date. (ANI)

Prachanda approved China rail deal ahead of trust vote

A day before Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ lost a vote of confidence in Parliament, he approved an agreement to link Nepal with China by rail under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to MyRepublica, this decision has more operational than political significance, aligning with Nepal’s involvement in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s large-scale infrastructure project.

“The Cabinet meeting on Thursday approved the ‘Strengthening the Development Cooperation in Building the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network’ agreement with China,” stated Communication Minister and government spokesperson Rekha Sharma. However, a minister noted that this is an initial decision and project implementation details are yet to be finalized.

On Friday, Prachanda lost the vote of confidence after coalition partner Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) withdrew support. Prachanda received only 63 votes in the 275-member House of Representatives, with 194 against him, leading to a new government likely headed by ex-Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.(photo:IN)

Prachanda’s move is seen as a step towards implementing BRI projects, including the Kerung-Kathmandu railway and broader infrastructure development along the Nepal-China border. Earlier, the Nepali Congress, before forming a power-sharing deal with UML, had resolved to “only accept grants and not loans under the BRI project.” The government was also set to decide on implementing the 2017 BRI agreement with China, pending at the cabinet.

The BRI has faced global criticism for China’s debt diplomacy, exemplified by the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, which was leased to China for 99 years after Sri Lanka defaulted on Chinese loans. India has also protested against the BRI’s USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

ALSO READ-More Nepal expats likely to come to Oman for better prospects

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More Nepal expats likely to come to Oman for better prospects

Oman Welcomes 25,000 Hardworking Nepalese with Expanding Job Market…reports Vinod Raghavan

With the opening up of the economy in the Sultanate, the Himalayan country Nepal is not leaving any stone unturned to grab opportunities for its nationals with various job opportunities in Oman.

To equip with advanced technology, all recruitments and document attestation of Nepali citizens will be made by using digital platform and no more paper procedures or wasting time in long serpentine queues, from July 16th announced the Nepal Embassy in Oman.

Launching the e-portal for Institutional Demand Attestation in Oman at an Employment, Trade and Investment Promotion event at the Nepal House attended by eminent businessmen, country managers, HR executives, media professionals and representatives of different establishments, Nepal Ambassador to the Sultanate, Dornath Aryal said that the e-portal for job recruitment and  Institutional Demand Attestation is aimed at a transparent and easy process without any hassle, adding, further, he pointed out that such moves will assist in establishing cordial long-term relationship between the Embassy and the valued recruiters in Oman.

Henceforth, the recruiting companies willing to take Nepali workforce need to first register their companies at the e-portal (https://demand.nepalconsular.gov.np) and once it is approved by the embassy, they could create demand for recruiting Nepali workers.

He further highlighted the priorities of the Government of Nepal to diversify the trading partners of Nepal and promote the vast opportunities of the foreign investment in Nepal and urged the businesspersons to consider expanding transactions with Nepali counterparts for better outreach. Ambassador Aryal informed the guests of the successful completion of Nepal Investment Summit 2024 and its achievements.

Detailing the various facets of the e-portal, Nabin Jha, IT Officer, Department of Consular Services explained the steps to be followed for company registration and demand letter attestation. The Company Registration of the recruiters in Oman commenced from July 3, 2024 and all the institutional demands will be attested only through the e-portal from July 16, 2024 and physical demand letters will not be accepted.  

Bishesh Kumar Sah, Second Secretary further explained that the e-portal will replace the manual work with the Digital platform for completing the process of recruiting Nepali workers by the companies in Oman after selecting from among 1400 Nepali recruiting agencies, will now complete all documentation via the website.

Nepalese, around 25,000, who are known for their hard work and honesty are making their living happily in Oman and with the online recruitments, more opportunities are open for skilled and unskilled men and women in the Sultanate. 

ALSO READ: Nepal’s RSP delays exit from Prachanda govt

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Nepal’s RSP delays exit from Prachanda govt

Rashtriya Swatantra Party ministers had reached Dahal’s residence to tender their resignations but changed their decision after meeting him….reports Asian Lite News

In a change of stance, Nepal’s Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided not to immediately walk out of the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is battling a political crisis following withdrawal of support by CPN-UML.

Rashtriya Swatantra Party ministers had reached Dahal’s residence on Thursday to tender their resignations but changed their decision after meeting him.

“We went to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal carrying resignation letters. He apprised us that he will exercise his constitutional rights and face the parliament. We also asked him to take the floor test soon and our ministers didn’t tender resignation,” Santosh Pariyar, chief whip of the party, told ANI over the phone.

Pariyar along with four ministers and vice president of RSP went to Dahal’s residence to give resignations.

Dahal is leading a minority government after his major ally, CPN-UML, walked out of the government on Wednesday.

With the expiration of the 24-hour deadline given on Tuesday, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), the key ally of the Dahal-led government walked out of the government. The party had given a one-day ultimatum to Prime Minister Dahal to step down from the post which it called “a respectful exit.”

On Wednesday (July 3), eight ministers from CPN-UML on board the cabinet of Dahal formed on March 4 earlier this year, tendered resignations before the Prime Minister at his residence in Baluwatar. The ministers had reached Balkot, the residence of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and headed for Baluwatar.

“We have resigned and submitted the letter to the Prime Minister a while ago. All the 8 ministers on board the cabinet from the CPN-UML have resigned informing the Prime Minister that we no longer are part of this government and withdraw our support,”

Jwalakumari Sah, the former minister for Agriculture told ANI over phone call from PM residence, Baluwatar.

The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government. Oli would lead a new national consensus and government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, Nepal’s former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba will be the prime minister.

Dahal expressed reluctance to resign immediately. The office-bearers meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) held in Baluwatar on Tuesday had decided that the Prime Minister will not tender his resignation but instead face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days since the retraction of support.

On Wednesday, the Nepali Congress formally endorsed the agreement reached with the CPN-UML on the formation of a new coalition. A central work execution committee meeting of the party held at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha endorsed the deal reached between the top leaders of the two largest parties.

In the deal, leaders from the two largest parties have reached an understanding to lead the governments in the remaining around three-and-half-year tenure of the present parliament on a rotation basis.

“The meeting concludes that it would be appropriate for the prime minister to pave the way for the formation of a new national consensus government as, following the agreement between Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, a clear majority in the House of Representatives is in favour of forming the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli,” reads a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting also expressed commitment to implement the agreement. “The meeting expresses its determination to implement the agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML regarding leading governments on a rotation basis to protect national interests, control corruption, ensure good governance, the development, maintain political stability, amending the constitution to strengthen the federal democratic republican system and inclusiveness and to strengthen the economy.”

As per the midnight agreement between Sher Bahadur Deuba from Nepali Congress and KP Sharma Oli from CPN-UML on Tuesday, a committee is also formed to suggest amendments to the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.

In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Leaders from the Congress and the UML informed President Ram Chandra Paudel about the change in coalition.

During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister fails to win the vote of confidence after UML withdraws its support. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Nepal jails ‘Buddha boy’ for 10 years over child sex abuse

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Nepal jails ‘Buddha boy’ for 10 years over child sex abuse

Earlier on June 24, the court had convicted Bomjan on the charges of child sex abuse…reports Asian Lite News

The Sarlahi District Court on Monday sentenced Ram Bahadur Bomjan, known as the “Buddha Boy,” to 10 years in jail and imposed a half-a-million fine for child sex abuse, court officials confirmed.

Dubbed “Buddha Boy” the controversial spiritual leader was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal from the outskirts of the capital Kathmandu and taken to Sarlahi on 10 January earlier this year.

“Single bench of Judge Jeevan Kumar Bhandari delivered verdict with a jail term of 10 years and a fine of (Nepali currency) Nrs 500,000,” Registrar Sadan Adhikari confirmed to ANI over the phone.

Earlier on June 24, the court had convicted Bomjan on the charges of child sex abuse.

Meanwhile, his two aides, Jit Bahadur Tamang and Gyan Bahadur Bomjan were acquitted in the same case.

The 34-year-old originally named Ram Lal Bomjan who since 2005 has been known as “Buddha Boy” or reincarnation of Gautam Buddha is charged with rape and forceful disappearance at various police stations in the Himalayan Nation.

Bomjan came to the attention of the public in 2005 after he claimed to meditate for months without food, water or sleep. Soon after his meditation was over he set up ashrams in Bara, Sarlahi, Sindhupalchowk and Sindhuli Districts.

Earlier in July 2020, the District Court in Sarlahi had registered a case of sexual exploitation filed by a minor female disciple (aged 15 at the time). As per the chargesheet, the incident took place at the ashram in Pattharkot, Sarlahi.

Soon after the filing of the complaint, the Police discovered that four of his disciples also had gone missing from his Ashram.

In June 2020, a joint team from CIB, Bagmati Provincial Police and District Police Offices in Kavre, Sindhupalchowk and Sarlahi conducted a raid at his ashram in Pairey, Sindhuli but could not locate him.

The victim accused Bomjan of rape at night on August 4, 2016. The minor also stated that she kept it hidden after receiving threats from Bomjan to not relay the incident to others otherwise would face the consequences.

Worshipped and regarded as the reincarnation of Gautam Buddha, Bomjan had a significant number of disciples but was on the run since early 2020 are complaint was filed against him for sexual exploitation by female disciples.

Apart from the sexual exploitation charges, the dubbed “Buddha Boy” also has been charged with the disappearance of five people- his disciples in different districts.

A local news portal, Setopati.com had reported the incident in a series that unearthed the incidents that took place inside the ashrams of the claimed spiritual leader. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Nepal: Oli’s party gives 24-hour ultimatum

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Prachanda govt collapses as coalition ministers quit en-masse

Dahal expressed reluctance to resign immediately….reports Asian Lite News

After two days-long political drama, the incumbent government under Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has collapsed in Nepal as coalition ministers resign en-masse retracting support.

With the expiration of the 24-hour deadline given on Tuesday, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), the key ally of the Dahal-led government walked out of the government. The party had given a one-day ultimatum to Prime Minister Dahal to step down from the post which it called “a respectful exit.”

On Wednesday (July 3), eight ministers from CPN-UML on board the cabinet of Dahal formed on March 4 earlier this year, tendered resignations before the Prime Minister at his residence in Baluwatar. The ministers had reached Balkot, the residence of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and headed for Baluwatar.

“We have resigned and submitted the letter to the Prime Minister a while ago. All the 8 ministers on board the cabinet from the CPN-UML have resigned informing the Prime Minister that we no longer are part of this government and withdraw our support,”

Jwalakumari Sah, the former minister for Agriculture told ANI over phone call from PM residence, Baluwatar.

The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government. Oli would lead a new national consensus and government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, Nepal’s former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba will be the prime minister.

Dahal expressed reluctance to resign immediately. The office-bearers meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) held in Baluwatar on Tuesday had decided that the Prime Minister will not tender his resignation but instead face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days since the retraction of support.

On Wednesday, the Nepali Congress formally endorsed the agreement reached with the CPN-UML on the formation of a new coalition. A central work execution committee meeting of the party held at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha endorsed the deal reached between the top leaders of the two largest parties.

In the deal, leaders from the two largest parties have reached an understanding to lead the governments in the remaining around three-and-half-year tenure of the present parliament on a rotation basis.

“The meeting concludes that it would be appropriate for the prime minister to pave the way for the formation of a new national consensus government as, following the agreement between Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, a clear majority in the House of Representatives is in favour of forming the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli,” reads a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting also expressed commitment to implement the agreement. “The meeting expresses its determination to implement the agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML regarding leading governments on a rotation basis to protect national interests, control corruption, ensure good governance, the development, maintain political stability, amending the constitution to strengthen the federal democratic republican system and inclusiveness and to strengthen the economy.”

As per the midnight agreement between Sher Bahadur Deuba from Nepali Congress and KP Sharma Oli from CPN-UML on Tuesday, a committee is also formed to suggest amendments to the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.

In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Leaders from the Congress and the UML informed President Ram Chandra Paudel about the change in coalition.

During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister fails to win the vote of confidence after UML withdraws its support.

Prachanda has to take the vote of confidence again from the parliament after a party withdraws support. Dahal, who came to power after the 2022 General Elections. has already taken the floor test in parliament for a record four times. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Prachanda Won’t Go Without a Fight