Issuing a press release here today, the Ministry said the government deserved right to receive details, including name, age, address and photo of the combatants on which basis only it could be claimed that the amount provided to Maoist combatants has reached to the rightful beneficiaries.

            The data that among 4,008 combatants proved disqualified during the verification of Maoist fighters by UNMIN, only 2394 took part in the discharging process and rest 1,614 had already deserted cantonments on their wish has been public.

            It is said that there is no condition to claim that the verified-combatants are sheltering in the cantonments.

            The Ministry has also asked the UNMIN to furnish true information regarding the number of Maoist combatants, as it would not be justifiable to provide amount in the name of the combatants who are not in cantonments. RSS

            At a picnic programme organized here today by All Nepal Women Association, Kavre and UML Department of Women on the occasion of International Women Day, Defense Minister Bhadari irked the UNMIN for not providing the data of Maoist combatants even on demand by the government, saying UNMIN has not shown cooperative gesture to the government.

            She claimed the government has to bear unnecessary financial burden when UNMIN ignored the act of enlarging the real number of Maoist combatants to 25,000 from 4-5000.

            It was rumored that secret information were demanded with UNMIN even when the government demanded true information, she alleged, adding the government should have real data of combatants when the government has taken all responsibility for their supervision and accommodation.

            Maoists have misused tens of million rupees in the name of combatants, she claimed, adding the government could not give money in the name of deserters and those who are not in cantonments.

            She argued that the constitution should be framed in the stipulated time for peace and prosperity in the country.

            Asserting that Maoists are oriented towards capturing the state power, she further said there is possibility that the country may witness chaos and instability when Maoists ascended to the government.

            Association, Kavre chairperson Ram Maya Shrestha presided over the programme. RSS

            Similarly, the meeting decided to award Dipak Bista with the national honor for he achieved gold medal in Tae Kwando in four consecutive South Asian Games (SAG). A purse of Rs 1 million would be provided to him, according to Spokesperson of the government, Shankar Pokhrel.

            Moreover, the players injured in an accident in course of the SAG would be provided treatment.

            Spokesperson Pokhrel added that other decisions of the Council of the Ministers were, the establishment of general consulate in Hetauda, strengthening of the special security plan, and adjustment of the rank of the non-ranking employees in the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation. RSS

            He said the CPN-UML was capable in making a prosperous Nepal by drafting a people-oriented constitution focusing on peace process, and added extending time for constitution-making will not be possible.

            Inaugurating the sixth district convention of the CPN-UML District Committee in Dhunche today, he called on the people to join UML, which has already earned popularity. While directing party workers, he called for moving ahead by forgetting differences within the party.

            Oli asked what the reason was to kill UML Rasuwa’s leader Bhimlal Hirachan, and noted that killing cadres will not kill the great ideology of CPN-UML.

            Indicating the Maoists, he said his party brought the Maoists from the jungle to correct path, and added that he had not criticized them but had reminded them to act rationally.

            At the programme presided over by CPN-UML District Convener Chhowang Tenjing Tamang, four cadres who had made incomparable contribution to the party, and the party’s best committee the Timure Village Committee were honoured and given away prizes. RSS

            The Federation has stopped sale of gas from February 25 saying the NOC could not supply enough gas.

            Consumers have been facing great trouble from the stoppage of sale of cooking gas.

            The talks failed as the NOC could not guarantee the supply of enough gas in writing, said Federation Chairman Gyaneswor Aryal.

            The next meeting for talks will be held at 9:00 am Monday. RSS

            The party regulation-2066 was passed after a wide discussion in the meeting presided over by party chairperson Jhalanath Khanal.

            Next meeting would take place at 8 AM on Wednesday, according to party source. RSS

            Making public the decisions made by the central committee meeting occurred in the central office in Sanepa for the last three days, the Forum (Democratic) took decision to play interfering role in the national politics. The decisions were made public by organizing a press conference.

            On queries by journalist as what do mean by interfering role, Chairperson of Forum (Democratic) Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar said, "Madhesi parties would do that which the three big parties have not been able to do. Three parties should abide by what we will put forth. In this sense, our role will be interfering".

            He added his party would play leading role to promulgate new constitution and end the persisting political deadlock.

            Constitution could not be promulgated without the adjustment of arms and armies, leader Gachchhadar claimed, adding the army integration would be undertaken in complacent with the policy of "one arm, one combatant'. RSS

            Film producer and main character of the film Nawal Khadka expressed grief over the state's act of banning the film, which has reflected national feelings and sentiments.

            The film has incorporated the issue of distribution of more than 2.5 million citizenship certificates, encroachment of Nepali territory by Indian side and the bitter experiences Nepal people have come across.

            The state should lift ban on the film to keep intact the history of courageous Nepali people, he added.

            Film director Dayaram Dahal stressed that the state should make environment to have the film screened at the earliest, since it has attempted to reflect the grievances and compulsions of Nepali people in a symbolic way.

            Musician Mani Thapa said it is a serious blow against democracy and freedom of people to restrict the show of the film made on the issue of nationality.

            Chairperson of the Film Association Ramesh Budhathoki said the state has opted for crushing creativity and innovation in film sector.

            Artist duo, Yuba Raj Lama and Ashok Sharma underlined that the state should protect the films made on true story. RSS

            Film producer and main character of the film Nawal Khadka expressed grief over the state's act of banning the film, which has reflected national feelings and sentiments.

            The film has incorporated the issue of distribution of more than 2.5 million citizenship certificates, encroachment of Nepali territory by Indian side and the bitter experiences Nepal people have come across.

            The state should lift ban on the film to keep intact the history of courageous Nepali people, he added.

            Film director Dayaram Dahal stressed that the state should make environment to have the film screened at the earliest, since it has attempted to reflect the grievances and compulsions of Nepali people in a symbolic way.

            Musician Mani Thapa said it is a serious blow against democracy and freedom of people to restrict the show of the film made on the issue of nationality.

            Chairperson of the Film Association Ramesh Budhathoki said the state has opted for crushing creativity and innovation in film sector.

            Artist duo, Yuba Raj Lama and Ashok Sharma underlined that the state should protect the films made on true story. RSS

            At a daylong workshop organized here today by Nepal Press Union (NPU), central committee on "Role of press union highlighting trade union issues", Congress leader KC stressed the need that each journalist should acquire knowledge on trade union rights and urged all media workers to get united for their rights.

            Nepal Representative of Fredric Ebert Stiftung (FES) stressed that all sides should be cautious for the guarantee of rights.

            Freedom Forum chairperson Taranath Dahal expressed confidence that the guarantee of trade union rights could only resolve the problems of working journalists.

            While presenting working paper on "Role of Press Union in highlighting workers issues", Chandra Dev Bhatta of FES said journalists should flare up the issues of trade union from the workers perspective.

            Media has mediated the society, and it provides a platform on which different components of society articulate their views, he further said journalists should get along the issues pertaining to trade union.

            Constituent Assembly (CA) member and general secretary of the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) Achyut Pandey, NPU president Samir Jung Shah, Sancharika Samuha chairperson Babita Basnet shed light on various aspects of the trade union rights. RSS

            Party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma said the meeting has been put off till 7 am Thursday as some names are yet to come from the state committees and as party chair Prachanda is going to Gorkha tomorrow. He said a task force led by party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa has been entrusted with finalizing the names to be inducted into the central committee.

            Though it was said that a politburo meeting will finalize the names before the central committee meeting, the politburo meeting also did not take place today and that’s why the task of selecting the names was assigned to the taskforce.

            The taskforce will select the names based on seniority, qualifications, capabilities and work performance on Wednesday and forward the name to the central committee on Thursday.

            After failing to agree on the names, the 13 state committees of the party had held separate meetings with their chief, deputy chief, secretary and joint secretary taking part in the meetings. The state committees said they has almost finalized the names to be recommended for inclusion in the central committee. A central Maoist leader, however, said up to 40 names have been recommended by a single state committee.

            Sharma said no mater how many names have been recommended, the selection will be based on seniority, qualifications, capabilities and work performance.

            The UCPN-M has currently 138-member central committee and the party has decided to make it 175-member. RS

            Examination controller Ambuka Prasad Regmi said the centers were fixed based on the demands from the districts. He said the centers have also been fixed in rural areas for the convenience of the examinees.

            Over 432,000 students are expected to appear in SLC this year. The exams are scheduled to be held from March 25-April 2. RSS

            Transport services, industries, educational institutions, revenue office and other offices have been brought to a halt due to the banda. It has also affected Taulihawa and Chandrauta. However, east-west highway and Gorusinghe have not been affected.

            The forum is demanding action against DSP Prakash Majhi of APF’s border security office at Krishnanagar for ‘thrashing’ Rastriya Yuva Forum’s central chairman Yogendra Prasad Yadav, CA member Abhishek Pratap Sah, his PA Padam Chaurasiya, MJF central member Rajendra Yadav, district member Sudama Yadav and area in-charge Bablu Pande on Friday night.

            The worsening situation of the jail came out after a jailbird, Baidhanath Pandit of Morang, Dyniya, announced to begin fast-onto-death against the internal administration of the jail. He, however, withdrew the strike after jail administrator Bhojraj Regmi promised reform in the internal administration of the jail

            Some jailbirds are up in the arms against the jail administration and the internal administration after the jail administration took action against them for involvement in drug use and smuggling from inside the jail. 

            Sunsari CDO Ram Prasad Thapaliya said they are preparing to transfer jailbird Janju Shrestha who is creating troubles inside the jail. Those who faced actions on drug charge had shouted slogans against the jail administration.

            The jailbirds accused that the internal administration thrashed Janji, Baburam Rai, Suraj KC, Uday Limbu, Ajab Rai, Babu Bohara, Santosh Rai and others for creating troubles inside the jail.

            Currently, the internal administration comprises guard Dharmesh Rai aka tiger, city commander Sanubabu Rajbanshi, naikes Krishna Danuwar, Ram Sagar Mehta, Haider Ali, Badal Tamang, Mahendra Yadav, Subas Rai, Shankar Jha, Niman Rai, Subas Tamang, Bishnu Dhami and Ghanashyam Mandal, among others.

            The jail sees clashes among the jailbirds quite often. In the past, Arjun Tamang was killed over the dispute regarding the discrimination between Pahade and Madhesi jailbirds. The row between the Pahade and Madhesi jailbirds has also been taking a nasty turn following Tamang’s killing

            Regmi said the clashes inside the jail are the results of the shop being run inside the jail as well as use of drugs by the jailbirds. He said the jail administration is clueless how the inmates get drugs despite tight security. He said the situation is also because most notorious inmates are sent to this jail from other jails.

            Meanwhile, the Area Police Office at Baklauri became tense today due to a row over transport fare in Baklauri a few days ago. Manoj Rai, who was involved in the row, was detained by the police. When the police were trying to resolve the row through talks, people from the Rai’s side attacked the police. Rai was detained on charge of thrashing Indira Shrestha and her driver husband after a fare row. Today, Rai’s people vandalized a Maruti car belonging to Shrestha and attacked those on the car with Coke bottles and stones. RSS

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            The meeting held under the chairmanship of party acting president Sushil Koirala at party headquarters at Sanepa discussed the issues including preparations for the convention, distribution of memberships in districts and changing the date for the convention, according to party spokesperson Arjun Narsing KC.

            The meeting on Thursday will settle the issues including the new date for the convention, he said.

            The party’s general convention date scheduled for March 10-15 is almost likely to change due to the dispute within the party over active memberships of the party.

            Today’s meeting also discussed on applications from different organizations for affiliation with the party.