Naya Nepal Naya Blog

The government is on homework to announce a budget of nearly 350 billion rupees for the upcoming fiscal year 2010/11, Finance Minister Surendra Pandey revealed Saturday.
Speaking at a programme in the capital Saturday, minister Pandey said that 80 percent of the budget would be drawn from internal sources while the rest would be covered by foreign aid and loan.

He said agriculture, tourism and education would be given high priority in the upcoming budget and the successful programmes of the current fiscal year would get continuity.

The Finance Minister's projection comes at a time when economists are suggesting the government not to bring an over sized budget given the lack of capacity of state mechanism to spend the budget properly.

On the other hand, the main opposition Unified CPN (Maoist) has already declared that it would not allow the government to present the budget in the parliament. Some UML leaders have also said the government is in a caretaker position following the three-party agreement of May 28, which stated that the Prime Minister would resign from his post "at the earliest" to pave the way for a national unity government.

Despite laws in place to protect the rights of Dalits, a large number of them are still deprived of several fundamental civil liberties. Various steps taken by the government to abolish this inequity have proved failure as these oppressions are still observed in various parts of the country. Dalits’ freedom is impossible unless the acts of discrimination are criminalised by the state, experts say.

Addressing a programme here on Friday, UNDP Programme Officer and rights activist Tek Tamrakar stressed the need for free, fair and meaningful leadership to end discrimination against Dalits. “Reservations for Dalits and minorities are addressed in the constitution. However, they have not been implemented,” he said. “Reservations should be sensibly practised in order to provide opportunities to these repressed groups.”

Praising Dalits’ contribution to music and literature, experts said formation of a new Nepali identity is impossible without addressing their concerns. “Dalits have made enormous contributions to Nepal,” said Archaeologist Prakash Darnal.

Minister for Finance Surendra Pandey stressed on the need to develop the education sector by increasing the investment on Saturday.

He termed the education sector as the nation's asset.

Speaking at a function organised to mark the 48th anniversary of Bishalnagar Library here today; he said investment in the educational sector would benefit the nation.

During the function, Pandey gave way a letter of appreciation to Bishalnagar Hadigaun heritage society's Bharat Bahadur KC. The government is positive for the conservation of archeological heritages, he said. KC was feted for his contribution to making the people aware of the conservation of historic and archeological heritages.

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said on Saturday that his party would support the forthcoming budget to be tabled by the government.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by Reporters’ Club Nepal here today, Mahat said the government should introduce its policy and programs before the budget presentation.

Saying that import has been increasing due to a decline in national production, the former finance minister said the next policy and programs of the government should focus on increasing the national income.

Meanwhile, Devendra Poudel of the UCPN (Maoist) said his party would resist if the government presents budget in the current instable political environment.

Finance Secretary Rameshwar Khanal said the coming budget would give top priority to the agriculture sector, and targets to bring down import.

The Office of the Controller of Examinations, Sanothimi Bhaktapur is planning to publish the results of the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exams conducted in between March 25 and April 2 this year within a week.

Controller of the Examinations (CoE) Chitra Prasad Devkota on Saturday informed that registration of the marks of all students is already over and the results will be published after the verification of marks is completed.

It has been said that the eight-day general strike called by Unified CPN (Maoist) caused some delay in publishing the results.

A total of 456,719 including 412,592 regular and 44,127 exempted students had taken this year’s SLC exams.

According to Devkota, the results will be published in the noon.

Four people including a police constable have been injured in a clash that took place at Dhungegade, meeting point of Gorkha Municipality and Finam VDC, on Saturday.

The injured have been identified as police constable Anil Thapa, Rolak Rawal of Masil-1, Sundar Kumar of Pandrom and Suraj Kumar Gurung.

All have sustained injuries in head. The police constable was hit by a rod and others with khukuris.

According to DSP Gorakh Singh Bhandari, the injured are undergoing treatment at the Gorkha Hospital. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to contain the situation.

Police constable Thapa was injured when he tried to take control of the situation.

The Politburo meeting of the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) on Saturday decided to take the army integration process and the statute drafting together along with a working calendar.

The Maoists' decision contradicts with the non-Maoist parties' stance to move for national consensus only after the army integration process is taken ahead with a definite work plan.

In a press conference organised by the Maoists to publicise the decisions of their politburo meeting today, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the party will take the peace process and statute-drafting hand-in-hand

Dahal claimed that the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) and the Interim Constitution has placed the Nepal Army (NA) and Maoists' PLA on an equal footing.

The national army will be formed after the integration process that follows the democratisation of the NA and professionalisation of the PLA, Dahal said.

The Maoist chieftain accused the other political parties of working against the spirit of CPA.

While saying that the meeting has decided to fight back against those working against the CPA, the Maoist leader claimed that the talk of finalising the number of Maoist combatants to be integration is against the peace accord.

The main opposition has also decided keep the government from tabling its budget, policies and programmes. "We won't let the government bring out its programmes and budget unless it transforms into a caretaker government as per the May-28 pact," said Dahal.

The politburo meeting only said that the party will take the government leadership. "For now, we have only decided that the party would lead the government, the candidate will also be selected when time comes."

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said on Saturday that the issue of quitting the government is a personal matter.

Saying that the incumbent government politically has the support and majority on its side, the prime minister maintained that he will not resign on someone's demand.

"Resignation is a matter of my wish," said PM Nepal.

He, however, said that he is ever ready to quit if a consensus is reached among all parties on to form a new national consensus government.

The Prime Minister, who arrived here in Bhaktapur to attend the first death anniversary of the father of General Administration Minister Rabinra Shrestha at his residence, said so talking to reporters.

"I will not be a hindrance to consensus and understanding," said PM Nepal.

The prime minister, hinting at the Maoists, pointed out that those who said the incumbent government's political stand is over are but wrong.

Also present, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong said the prime minister will not put in papers unless the integration and rehabilitation process of the Maoist combatants is concluded.

An unidentified gunman fatally shot Hindu Rastriya Yuwa Sangh Chairman Kashinath Tiwari near Ashokbatika in Birgunj municipality Ward No. 13 on Saturday afternoon.

Tiwari, who had sustained three bullets, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital.

A motorcycle-borne assailant fired shots at Tiwari and fled the scene, according to locals.

Police have said investigation on the incident is on.

At a time when the Nepali Congress (NC) is busy holding intra-party discussion on the formation of a new government under its leadership, Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, who is also NC central member, has said that the UCPN (Maoist) Chiarman Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government could be accepted.

DPM Koirala, who arrived here in the capital after her visit to United Arab Emirates on Saturday, said Dahal's leadership could be accepted if the Maoists' disband the paramilitary structure of Young Communist League and return the seized properties.

At least 24 people were killed and 50 injured on Saturday when an overcrowded bus collided with a truck in eastern India, police said.

The bus driver lost control of the vehicle on a sharp bend near a market in Dhanarua village, 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Bihar state capital Patna, senior police official Amit Kumar Jain told AFP.

Jain said 21 bodies were recovered from the crash site and three people died en route to hospital.

The bus was carrying around 75 passengers, including some who were perched on the roof. It was travelling from Patna to the town of Gaya in Bihar.

Around two dozen of the injured were in a critical condition, Jain said.

The fate of the drivers of the vehicles was not immediately known.

India has the highest annual road death toll in the world, according to the World Health Organisation, with accidents caused by speeding, careless driving, poor roads, overcrowding and bad vehicle maintenance.

Luis Suarez scored twice as Uruguay beat South Korea 2-1 on Saturday and advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 40 years.

Playing in swirling wind and rain, Suarez scored the winner in the 80th minute after sidestepping two defenders and curling a right-footed shot off the post from the edge of the area.

Lee Chung-yong had tied the game in the 68th on a header after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera left his line attempting to punch away a looping ball.

Uruguay took the lead in the eighth when Diego Forlan's cross from the left flank went across the goal mouth and Suarez put the ball in the net with a one-timer from a tight angle.

Uruguay will play a quarterfinal against the United States or Ghana, who play later Saturday.

While making public the decisions of politburo meeting that concluded Friday in a press meet at the party headquarters in Koteshwor Saturday, Unified CPN (M ) laid stake on leading the new national consesus governmednt ahead.

The Maoists have decided to continue consensus bid for the formation of national consensus government under the party leadership and intensify protest in the House if the government fails to abide by the May 28 pact. On the most contententious issue of PLA integration, the main opposition is for concluding the peace process as per the provisions of Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) together with new constitution-writing process.

The politburo meeting also took the decision to convene state and district level assembly in July/August and expanded central committee meeting in September in a bid to strengthen the organizational structure and ideological height of the party, read a press statement issued by the central committee Saturday.

Party, not a person, counts: Prachanda

Stating that the Maoists will head next unity government, the Maoist strongman Prachanda said what counts is not a person but a party to lead the new government.

While responding to queries from mediapersons after the press meet organized to bring out the politburo decisions, Prachanda said the Prime Ministerial candidate from the Maoists will soon be made public in right time.

An unidentified armed group has opened fire at the President of Hindu Youth Association Kashi Tiwari to his death on Saturday evening at Ranighat of Birganj.

Two assailants riding a motorbike came over to Shiva Parvati temple and shot two rounds of bullets at Tiwari, said police. Tiwari, who was critically injured by the gunshot, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital. The dead body has been kept at the very hospital.

The motive behind the murder is yet a mystery as no group has owned up the incident. The security presence has been rendered thick in Birganj sub-metropolitan city following the incident.

The Hindu youth activists have flocked to the streets in protest of Tiwari’s broad day-light murder.

The culprits are still at large.

Everest Women Seven Summits Eco-Action, a nine member team of women, is scheduled to begin the first international leg of a mission to climb seven of the highest peaks of seven continents from July, 2010.

According to the team, the main aim of the expedition is to highlight the urgent issues of climate change globally. Besides, the project will be made carbon neutral via carbon offsetting.

The team has also focused on solar lanterns, bio-gas, and tree plantations in the Himalayan villages to balance the carbon emission from the project as a result.

The mission is scheduled to start from Australia on June 29 marking the Golden Jubilee anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Australia.

Sailee Basnet, coordinator of the campaign said that US $ 1.3 million is expected to be spent during the expedition.

They also expect to finish the expedition by the end of 2011.

The seven summits includes Mt. Kosciuszko (Australia), Mt. Elbrus (Europe), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Vinson Massif (Antarctica), Aconcagua (South America), Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania), and Denali (Noth America).

The members of the team are Asha Kumari Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Maya Gurung, Ngabang Phuti Sherpa, Nimdoma Sherpa, Pema Diki Sherpa, Pujan Acharya, Shailee Basnet, and Usha Bist.

The team members have already successfully climbed Mt. Everest in May 2008 and became the most successful women's expedition ever to summit Mt. Everest.

Home Minister Bhim Rawal has claimed the special security plan introduced by the government few months earlier has proved handy in improving the country's security situation.

Speaking at a programme organised on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking in Kathmandu on Friday, Home Minister Rawal claimed that the special security plan was heading towards success and that it would be given continuity in the coming year.

The Home Minister's claim comes a day after a broad daylight shootout at Maitidevi, Kathmandu and two days after a couple was shot and killed in Butwal.

In the last few months, a number of high-profile murders took place including that of media owners Jamim Shah and Arun Singhaniya. So much so, houses of two high-ranking police officers were robbed in Kathmandu.

The police administration failed to track down the criminals in almost all high-profile cases.

The business community has been constantly criticising the government for its failure to provide them security.

The government had introduced the security plan last year with an estimated outlay of Rs 4 billion. The security plan designed mainly to curb growing activities of armed groups in Terai has also drawn flak from Terai-based parties.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has critisized the previous Maoist led government of declaring only those of its activists killed during the insurgency as martyrs and ignoring the ordinary people who also lost their lives during the time.

In a meeting with the representatives of Maoists' Victims Association (MVA) at the PMO in Singhadurbar on Friday, PM Nepal informed that only because of his personal effort and constant lobbying by his party CPN-UML the commoners killed during the conflict period were declared martyrs by the government.

He also said that it is now the responsibility of the state to look after and help the Maoist victims lead a normal life.

At the meeting, the Maoist victims submitted a memorandum to the prime minister in which they complained that the Maoists haven't still returned the land and properties their seized during the conflict period despite their promises to do so.

On Thursday, the cabinet had decided 1626 people killed by the Maoist side during the conflict period as martyrs.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed concern over the measure taken by Indian customs authorities to delay a 1,000 metric tonnes newsprint shipment bound for Nepal.

It said it joins its affiliates - the All-India Newspaper Employees' Federation and the National Union of Journalists (India) - in expressing concern over the incident.

"We urge the Indian authorities to clear the air in this matter and allow unimpeded passage for this commodity," IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

"We are alarmed by reports that the Kantipur group, which publishes the largest circulated dailies in both English and Nepali, may have to suspend operations if the shipment is further delayed," Park said. "We see it as very important that the media in Nepal should be allowed to function in an environment free of internal and external pressures, given the delicate political transition under way in the country".

The newsprint, which was imported by the Kantipur group, Nepal's largest print media organisation, has been held up in India's Kolkata port since May 27, reportedly for customs inspection.

Sources in India's Ministry of External Affairs have been quoted in the media saying that they have been unhappy with certain aspects of the Kantipur group's editorial stance. Top officials from the Indian embassy in Nepal have, however, denied that this has had any bearing on the customs authorities' decision.

The customs inspection in Kolkata is, in the words of the Indian embassy in Nepal, a "routine administrative measure" that transit consignments are occasionally put through.

Under a trade-and-transit treaty between the two countries, sealed consignments bound for landlocked Nepal can pass through Indian territory unimpeded by customs formalities, unless there are grounds to suspect contraband traffic.

The politburo meeting of the Unified CPN (Maoist) running for 11 days at the party headquarters in Paris Danda, Koteshwor, concluded Friday evening.

Party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal answered the questions raised by the politburo members over his political document at the end of the meeting.
The politburo also passed Dahal's document.

Sources said a number of politburo members opposed Dahal's views particularly his argument that there is almost no possibility of a national unity government as successive talks between parties failed to break the deadlock.

Sources said the Maoist politburo was also divided on who should lead the proposed national unity government.

The party is to organise a press conference to disclose the decisions of the politburo meeting on Saturday.

The Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) of the legislature parliament has directed the government to take steps for the immediate release of Kantipur Publication's newsprint that currently remains held in the Kolkata port of India.

The parliamentary committee gave this direction after seeking clarification from the foreign and commerce ministers regarding the reason behind India stopping the shipment of over 1,000 metric tonnes of newsprint imported by Kantipur from Canada and Korea for the last 28 days and the initiatives taken by the government for its release.

PAC also directed the two ministers to take steps to resolve the issue of the blockade and to remain alert not to let incidents like these recur in the future. The committee also concluded that India has breached the Nepal-India Trade and Transit Treaty by stopping the shipment of the newsprint to Nepal.

Minister for Energy Prakash Sharan Mahat, who is fulfilling the responsibility of Foreign Minister in the absence of Sujata Koirala, Minister for Commerce Rajendra Mahato and secretaries of the two ministries were present at the committee's meeting in Singhadurbar.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Mahat said that the government is serious regarding protecting Nepal's transit rights and informed that it had acted immediately after learning about the blockade of the newsprint. He also urged everyone not to arrive at conclusions without first learning the reason behind the delay in the shipment arriving to Nepal.

Foreign Secretary Madan Bhattarai said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had directed the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate in Kolkata to contact the Indian agencies regarding the hold-up immediately after learning about it.


Meanwhile, Minister for Commerce Rajendra Mahato claimed that India didn't stop the shipment of the newsprint to Nepal intentionally and urged lawmakers not to criticise India unnecessarily without first learning the facts or otherwise the relationship between the two countries will deteriorate.

He said that his ministry has already contacted the Indian commerce ministry regarding the hold-up hoped that the issue would be resolved soon.

However, lawmakers present at the meeting continued to criticise India holding up the newsprint of one of the most respected publication house of the country and said that this only shows how India wants to intimidate Nepal.

They also said that the transit facility to and from the nearest sea port is a fundamental right of a landlocked country like Nepal.

On Thursday, the lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties expressed their outrage over the newsprint hold-up which led the parliamentary committee to decide to investigate the issue and summoned the foreign and commerce ministers to find out if any action has been taken to release the newsprints imported by Kantipur Publications

At a time when the UML-led government is preparing to bring the budget and the policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year, UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal has claimed that a national unity government would be formed within a week.

Speaking to reporters at Biratnagar airport on his way to Dhankuta on Friday, Khanal said the national unity government would be in place in a week as the politics is moving towards consensus.

The UML chairman made it clear that the Maoists could lead the government provided they fulfil the preconditions-- including the immediate return of properties seized by them during the insurgency and dismantling of the paramilitary structure of their youth wing, Young Communist League (YCL).

He also maintained that government formed merely by the majority of the parliament cannot solve the problem facing the country and that only a government inclusive of all the political parties would be able to find solution to the deadlock.

Khanal's statement comes at a time when some leaders of his party are said to have been advising the Prime Minister not to resign now while few senior leaders including general secretary Ishwor Pokharel have started ruling out the possibility of a national unity government.

The UCPN (Maoist) is all set to pile pressure on the Prime Minister for resignation, as it has already announced it would not allow the government to present the budget in the parliament.

कान्तिपुरको न्यूजप्रिन्ट भारतीय अधिकारीहरुले रोकेको विषयमा पेशगत संस्थाका प्रतिनिधिहरुले कडा आपत्ति जनाएका छन् । त्यसको बिरुद्धमा उनीहरुले कान्तिपुरलाई कानुनीलगायतका आवश्यक सहयोग गर्न तयार रहेको जनाएका छन् ।

नेपाल बार एशोसिएशन, नेपाल पत्रकार महासंघ, चिकित्सक संघलगायत अधिकारकर्मीहरुको टोलीले शुक्रबार दिउँसो कान्तिपुर पब्लिकेशन्सको भ्रमण गरी कान्तिपुरको अडानप्रति एक्यबद्धता वनाउँदै आवश्यक सहयोग दिने बताएका हुन् ।

बारका अध्यक्ष प्रेमबहादुर खड्काले आफुहरु सधै मानव अधिकार र प्रेस स्वतन्त्रताको लागि लडिरहेको उल्लेख गर्दै आवश्यक परे कानुनी सहायताको लागि तयार रहेको बताए ।

'न्यूजप्रिन्ट रोकिएकोमा हामी गम्भीर छौं । यसले जनताको सुसूचित हुने अधिकारबाट बञ्चित गराउँदछ' उनले भने, 'जनताको मुख थुन्न खोजिएको छ । यस्तो गल्ती दोहोरिन दिनुहुँदैन ।'

उनले यसै बिषयमा बारको केन्द्रिय समितिको बैठक बसिरहेको उल्लेख गर्दै आवश्यक परे बारले काननी सहयोग गर्ने बताएका हुन् ।

नेपाल पत्रकार महासंघका अध्यक्ष धर्मेन्द्र झाले समस्याको छिटो, सहज र अधिकारीक रुपमा समाधान हुनुपर्ने बताए । उनले भारतले नेपाल-भारतबीचको पारबहन सन्धीको उल्लंघन गरेको उल्लेख गरे ।

'हामीले अत्यन्त गम्भीर छौं । यो खरिद-विक्रीको मुद्दा मात्र नभइ संविधान र अन्तरराष्ट्रिय कानुनहरुले दिएको प्रेस स्वतन्त्रताप्रतिको अतिक्रमण हो' उनले भने, 'जनताको सुचनाको हक प्रभावित हुन दिनुहुन्न ।'

उनले प्रेस स्वतन्त्रताको पक्षमा रहेका अन्तरराष्ट्रिय संघसंस्थाहरुले पनि चासो व्यक्त गरिरहेको उल्लेख गर्दै महासंघले यस मद्दालाई आफ्नो सञ्जालमार्फत अन्तरराष्ट्रिय मञ्चमा प्रवेश गराइसकेको बताए । 'सशक्त र स्वतन्त्र सञ्चार माध्यमको बाहक कान्तिपुरलाई निरन्तर अघि बढ्नै वातावरण बनाइयोस' उनले भने ।

चिकित्सिक संघका अध्यक्ष केदार नरसिंह केसीले पनि आफुहरु न्यूजप्रिन्ट रोकिएको घट्नाले स्तव्ध भएको उल्लेख गर्दै स्वतन्त्र पत्रकारिताप्रति कही कतै व्यवधान हुन नहुने बताए ।

जातीय द्वन्द्वका कारण कीर्गिजस्तानमा अलपत्र परेका २१ जना नेपाली विद्यार्थीलाई नेपाल सरकारले उद्धार गरेको छ ।

कीर्गिज सहर ओस र जलालअवादमा हिंसा भड्किएपछि राजधानी बिस्केक पुगेका २१ जना विद्यार्थीलाई सरकारी खर्चमा शुक्रबार त्यहाँबाट भारतको नयाँदिल्ली ल्याइएको नयाँदिल्लीस्थित नेपाली दूतावासले जनाएको छ ।

दूतावासका अनुसार छजनालाई शुक्रबार नै नेपाल पठाइएको छ भने बाँकी १४ जनालाई पनि शीघ्र उनीहरुका घर पठाइनेछ ।

माओवादी अध्यक्ष पुष्पकमल दाहालले सदस्यहरुले उठाएको जवाफ दिएपछि माओवादी पोलिटब्युरो बैठक शुक्रबार सकिएको छ । बैठकका निर्णय भने माओवादीले शनिबार पत्रकार सम्मेलन गरेर सार्वजनिक गर्ने भएको छ ।

असार १ गतेदेखि जारी पोलिटब्युरो बैठकमा अध्यक्ष दाहालले राष्ट्रिय सरकारबारे सदस्यहरुले उठाएको जिज्ञासाको जवाफ दिएका थिए । उनले पार्टीको भावी कार्यदिशाबारे पनि सम्वोधन गरे ।

बैठकमा अध्यक्ष दाहालले सदस्यहरुले उठाएको जिज्ञासाको एक-एक गरी जवाफ दिएको एक पोलिटब्युरो सदस्यले जानकारी दिए । दाहालको जवाफपछि पनि केहि नेताहरुले सम्वोधन गरेका थिए । गृहकार्य नपुगेको भन्दै असार १ गतेदेखि सुरु भएको बैठक पटक-पटक स्थगित हुँदै आएको थियो ।

माओवादीले अमेरिका भ्रमणमा गएका तीन नेतालाई फिर्ता बोलाएको छ ।

अमेरिकाको बोष्टनमा हुन लागेको एक कार्यक्रममा जान लागेका पोलिटव्युरो सदस्य अग्नि सापकोटालाई केही अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय गैरसरकारी संस्थाले विरोध गरेकोले भ‍मण स्थगित भएपछि माओवादीले गइसकेका अन्य तीन नेतालाई पनि फिर्ता बोलाउने निर्णय गरेको हो ।

'हाम्रो पार्टीको इज्जत र मर्यादामा आँच पुर्‍याउने उद्देश्यका साथ भएका यस प्रकारका कार्यप्रति असहमति जनाउँदै उक्त कार्यक्रममा भाग लिन गइसक्नु भएका कमरेडलाई तत्काल फिर्ता बोलाउने निर्णय गर्न बाध्य भएको कुरा प्रष्ट गर्न चाहान्छौं' प्रबक्ता दीनानाथ शर्माद्वारा जारी बिज्ञप्तीमा भनिएको छ ।

बिहीबार सचिव सीपी गजुरेल, स्थायी समिति सदस्य टोपबहादुर रायमाझी र पोलिटव्युरो सदस्य पम्फा भुसाल अमेरिका उडेका थिए । सापकोटाको पनि अमरिकी दूतावासले प्रवेशाज्ञा दिइसकेको थियो ।

कोलकाता बन्दरगाहमा करिब एक महिनादेखि रोकिएका कान्तिपुर पब्लिकेसन्सको ११ कन्टेनर न्युजप्रिन्ट छाडेको भारतीय दूतावासले जनाएको छ । शुक्रबार दिउँसो पब्लिकेसन्सका अध्यक्ष तथा प्रबन्ध निर्देशक कैलाश सिरोहिया र भारतीय राजदूत राकेश सूदबीचको छलफलपछि दूताबासले उक्त जानकारी दिएको हो ।

पब्लिकेसन्सका अध्यक्ष सिरोहियाले शुक्रबार साँझ विज्ञप्ती जारी गर्दै ३९ कन्टेनरमध्ये ११ कन्टेनर न्युजप्रिन्ट छलफलपछि छाडिएको जानकारी दिएका छन् । 'सूदसँग भएको छलफलअनुसार बाँकी २८ वटा कन्टेनर पनि आउँदो सोमबारसम्ममा त्यहाँबाट छुट्ने हामीले विश्वास लिएका छौं,' विज्ञप्तीमा भनिएको छ, 'भारतीय मार्गलाई 'ट्रान्जिट' बनाई तेस्रो मुलुकबाट आयात गरिने न्युजप्रिन्ट दुई देशको पारवहन सन्धिअनुसार विगतमा झैं भविष्यमा पनि बिना अवरोध नेपाल आउनेमा हामी निश्चिन्त छौं ।'

कान्तिपुरको न्युजप्रिन्ट रोकिएपछि उत्पन्न संकटप्रति सदभाव र सहयोग पुर्‍याउने पाठक, राजनीतिक दल तथा नेताहरु, सञ्चार माध्यम, पेशागत संघ-संस्था, व्यवसायिक समुदाय, नागरिक समाज, अधिकारकर्मीलगायत शुभचिन्तकहरुप्रति पब्लिकेसन्सले आभार प्रकट गरेको छ ।

यसैबीच, भारतीय दूतावासले शुक्रबार नै विज्ञप्ती जारी गर्दै राजदूत सुद र कान्तिपुर पब्लिकेसन्सका अध्यक्ष तथा प्रवन्ध निर्देशक सिरोहियाबीच छलफल भएको जनाएको छ ।

नेपालको प्रतिष्ठित शारीरिक सुगठन प्रतियोगिता धर्मश्रीका विजेता सानु गुरुङ दुईबर्षका लागि सबैखालका प्रतिस्पर्धामा सहभागी हुनबाट प्रतिबन्धित भएका छन् । करिब तीनहप्ताअघि उनी यहाँ आयोजित प्रतियोगिता हङकङ बडी बिल्डिङ च्याम्पिएनसीपमा सहभागी थिए

उक्त प्रतिस्पर्धामा उनले डोपिङ टेस्टका लागि गरिएको अनुरोध अस्वीकार गरेको र खेल मर्यादा पालना नगरेको आरोप लगाउँदै आयोजक हङकङ चाइना बडी बिल्डिङ एसोसिएसनले इन्टरनेशनल नेचुरल बडी बिल्डिङ एसोसिएसन (आइएनबीए) लाई कारवाहीका लागि सिफारिस गरेको थियो । सोही सिफारिसका आधारमा गत बिहीबार सानुलाई आइएनबीए हङकङले दुईबर्ष सम्मका लागि सबैखालका राष्ट्रिय तथा अन्तराष्ट्रिय प्रतियोगितामा सहभागी हुन नपाउने निर्णय सुनाएको हो । निर्णय पूर्व आइएनबीएले हङकङ नेपाली बडी बिल्डिङ एसोसिएसन (एचकेएनबिबिए) का पदाधिकारीहरु सँग स्पष्टीकरण सोधेको थियो ।

प्रतियोगितमा हङकङ नेपाली बडी बिल्डिङ एसोसिएसनका तर्फबाट पचहत्तर केजी र मास्टर्स समूहमा सहभागी सानुले दुबै समूहमा फष्ट रनर लगायत बेष्ट पोजिङ सहित चार उपाधि जितेका थिए । सानुलाई दोस्रो घोषित गरिएपछि उपस्थित दर्शकदिर्घाबाट सही निर्णय नभएको भन्दै होहल्ला भएको थियो ।

आइएनबीएका निर्णयकै कारण उनी गतहप्ता काठमाडौंमा आयोजित दक्षिण एसियाली शारीरिक सुगठन प्रतियोगिता खेल्नबाट वञ्चित हुनुपरेको हङकङ नेपाली बडी बिल्डिङ एसोसिएसनका अध्यक्ष मेख गुरुङले बताए । दश बर्षपछि घरेलु मैदानमा आयोजित दक्षिण एसियाली प्रतियोगितामा उनले १३ प्रतिस्पर्धीलाई उछिनेर आफ्नो स्थान पक्का गरेका थिए । अगष्टमा इरानको तेहरानमा हुने एसियाली शारीरिक सुगठन प्रतियोगितामा समेत उनी नेपालको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दै सहभागी हुने पक्का भएको थियो । अब भने उनी उक्त प्रतियोगितामा समेत सहभागी हुन पाउने छैनन् ।

एसोसिएसनका अध्यक्ष मेख गुरुङले निलम्बनका विषयमा अपिल गर्न आफूहरुले कानुनी सल्लाह गरिरहेको बताए । आइएनबीएले निर्णयबारे नेपाली एसोसिएसनको धारणा चौध दिनभित्र राख्न पत्राचार गरेको समेत अध्यक्ष गुरुङले बताए । 'खेल हार्दा खेलाडी र दर्शक थोरै आवेशमा आउनु सामान्य कुरा हो,' अध्यक्ष गुरुङले भने, 'यति सानो विषयलाई लिएर खेलाडीकै भविष्य विगार्ने गरी निर्णय आउनु अत्यन्तै दुःखद कुरा हो ।' गतबर्ष यसै प्रतिस्पर्धामा उनले सत्तरी केजी तौल भन्दा माथिको नोभाइस र असी किलोग्राम तौल समूहको हेभीवेटमा सेकेण्ड रनर अप सहित वेष्ट पोजिङको उपाधि जितेका थिए

दक्षिण अफ्रिकामा भइरहेको विश्व कप फुटवल २०१० मा समुह 'जी' बाट ब्राजिल र पुर्चुगल नकआउट चरणमा प्रवेश गरेको छ

शुक्रबार साँझको खेलमा ब्राजिल र पुर्चुगलबीच कसैले पनि गोल गर्न सकेनन् । ६ अंक पाएर ब्राजिल समुहको शीर्षस्थानमा रहेको छभने पुर्चुगलको ४ अंक रहेको छ

समुह 'जी' को अर्को खेलमा आइभरीकोष्टले उत्तर कोरियालाई ३ बिरुद्ध सुन्यमा हराएको छ । यद्यपी दुवै टीम दोस्रो चरणमा प्रवेश गर्न सकेनन् ।