Kamal Thapa

MAY 23 - KATHMANDU,  In a significant ideological shift, RPP-N (Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal) is preparing to soften its stance on monarchy while fully concentrating on reviving Hindu statehood through its first general convention.

The only mainstream pro- monarchy , pro-Hindu party of the country is seriously mulling party statute amendment to move with the times. In line with this, the party’s political dossier to be presented during the RPP-N convention has identified a dozen “ideological bases” for the party while remaining conspicuously silent on constitutional monarchy , which was the party’s signature agenda during its formation some six years ago.

Similarly, RPP-N’s slogan for the convention - “Economic Prosperity for the Preservation of Nationality, Democracy, Hindu religion,” - does not even mention monarchy .

The document prepared by a team led by the party’s articulate Chairman Kamal Thapa puts clear emphasis on nationality, Hindu statehood , multiparty democracy, local autonomy governance system, liberal economy, non-aligned foreign policy and greater inclusiveness with due focus on economic development.

“The convention will set a long term strategy of gradual transformation of the party to keep up with the changing time and context,” Thapa said in a press meet on Thursday.

Asked why the party’s political agenda set for the upcoming convention does not even mention constitutional monarchy let alone focus party’s attention on it, he replied in very tactful manner, “We believe in monarchy but don’t have the kind of strength in the Constituent Assembly to endorse all our political agendas.”

In order to convey the message of its increasing focus on Hinduism, the party has decided to organise Yagya (a prayer ceremony) at Bhadrakali in Kathmandu for the success of the convention on Friday.

Responding to the query on whether the rise of Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi in India will make it easier for RPP-N to win support for its political agendas, Thapa said the Indian Prime Minister-designate has great faith and devotion towards Hinduism and wishes to see Nepal move ahead in the path of  prosperity and development.

“During my meeting with Modi few months ago, I finally came to know his profound devotion towards Hinduism and its cause. But this does not mean Modi will influence our party’s policy and there is no need of getting overwhelmed or saddened by the rise of Modi in India,” he added.

The four-day convention of RPP-N will kick off with a mass meeting at Khullamanch on Saturday, where the party aims to parade around 100,000 cadres from various parts of the country.

Bamdev Gautam

JUL 05 -KATHMANDU,  Vice-Chairman of CPN-UML Bamdev Gautam has denied rumours that he demanded 40 percent share in the party’s leadership, further adding that the rumors were baseless.

Bamdev, also the Deputy Prime Minister of the incumbent Nepali Congress-UML coalition government, further clarified that he would agree the decisions taken by the 9th General Convention of the party.

Bamdev's press aide Bishwamani Subedi issued a press release on Saturday, refuting the claims that Gautam had sought 40 percent of leadership share with leader KP Sharma Oli who is in the fray for the post of party chairman.     

"The news disseminated in different newspapers regarding the issue is baseless and was ran aiming to foil the co-work between Gautam and KP

The main agenda of this convention is to handover the leadership and leader KP is fit for the post of party chairperson, Bamdev further added.

," read the statement. 

KATHMANDU- SEPT 13, Chairman of the  Maoist(UCPN) Pushpa Kamal Dahal(Prachanda)  has said making the upcoming CA (Constituent Assembly ) election successful was also the responsibility of the intelligentsia.

Inaugurating the fifth unity national conference of the Nepal National Progressive Intellectuals Association(NNPI)  here today, leaderPrachanda said the forthcoming election is related to country’s fate and supportive role from all sides especially from the intellectual community was essential to make the election a success.

The Maoist(UCPN) has been maximally flexible to convince the CPN(Maoist) to join the election, he said, adding the election may be postponed by five to ten days if the party agrees to take part in the election.

No agreements that have negative impact on the election would be made in the name of compromise, he said. The draft of the new constitution will be prepared within six months of the election and a new constitution will be promulgated within a year, added the Maoist (UCPN) Chairman.

Also speaking at the programme, party senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai accused that some so-called commercial media houses have attempted to disseminate false messages about revolution and urged the intelligentsia to defend such trend.

Likewise, another party leader Narayankaji Shrestha urged voters to give majority to the party in the forthcoming election. RSS

MAY 22 – KATHMANDU,  Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is all set to attend the swearing-in ceremony of India’s Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi to be held on May 26 in New Delhi. He will leave for the Indian capital on May 26 itself.

A Cabinet meeting held this afternoon gave a green signal to PM Koirala to attend the swearing-in ceremony of  BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Narendra Modi following a formal invitation by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on May 21. Other heads of the state and heads of the government of Saarc member countries have also been invited to the event.

However, the Cabinet has not disclosed the size of the PM’s delegation including other details.

Besides PM Koirala, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai are likely to attend the ceremony, it is learnt.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has not confirmed his participation while Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed will not be attending the event as she is will be flying Japan on May 26 to start a formal state-visit to the nation.

This is the first time India has invited the leaders from all SAARC member states for the swearing-in ceremony of its prime minister.

Shankar Pokharel leader of CPN UML has stated that the leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal cannot be the President as it is not allowed by the legislation itself. CPN UML Leader Pokharel has said that Madhav Kumar Nepal was the General Secretary of past days. So he has said that the leader, Jhalanath Khanal has also become the President and General Secretary and so in this time, Khadge Prasad(KP) Oli should be given the chance to be president.  So far, he has claimed that K.P. Oli’s president ship is consented. Additionally he has also said that K P Oli has to be the President in the Ninth General Convention of CPN UML.
Leader Pokharel has also said that the leaders like Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal should be apt for being the adviser of the party and at the same time, he has also added that there is a need of reformations to be done in legislation. Speaking in the program, Nepali Congress(NC) Leader Prakash Sharan Mahat has also said that there are so many discussions which is created in the present time, regarding the constitution and so he has confirmed that the constitution will be drafted at fixed time. So far, in the program, UCPN- Maoists leader, Haribol Gajurel has said the party is not in the favor of caste based nation. He has said that all of the castes should be reunited so that to form the state.  

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