Crisis solution (2022) [partially commented link collection]

Since the Delhi Agreement between seven parliamentary parties and the insurgent CPN (Maoist) of 22 November 2005, the people of Nepal have been waiting in vain for the promised realisation of an inclusive democratic system. Although the then putsching monarchy was abolished and a constitution was passed in 2015 after long power struggles between the political parties, even this was the sole work of the exclusively male leaders of the three major parties, predominantly male Bahuns. The appropriate participation of all social groups, as provided for in the interim constitution of January 2007, did not take place. In this respect, the constitution of 2015 even represented in part a step backwards compared to the interim constitution.
Thus, apart from the abolition of the monarchy, not much has changed since the 1990 system. Numerous fundamental human rights continue to be disregarded. There is no inclusion of all social groups. All power and the majority of all state functions are still in the hands of male Tagadharis, especially male Bahuns.  The latter make up only 6 percent of the population, but the identification of the state and its society and culture, in short the nationalist image of the state of Nepal, is still based on the culture and partly narrow-minded, anarchic, patriarchal and socially discriminating view and thinking of this small minority. As long as this state of affairs continues and the failed generation of political leaders of all parties is not replaced by a younger generation that is inclusive, open-minded, receptive and not exclusively oriented towards personal power interests, there will be no end to the crisis situation.

31/12/2022: Street children demand legal documents as they turn adult : The street-children-turned-adults say their miseries have compounded in lack of legal status as a Nepali citizen (nlt), How should the new MPs stay connected to people? At least once in a month, the new MPs should hold a town hall meeting where the public from their constituencies can come and interact live with them, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), National Unity and Reconciliation Day being observed today (kh), Can Dahal succeed as prime minister of a fragile coalition? The nod to a high-level political mechanism under KP Sharma Oli suggests his over-dependence on the UML, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Nepal Needs Deep Economic Reforms, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Former MPs yet to return their 'insignia', by Ishwari Subedi (rep), New Swing In Coalition Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/12/2022: Scourge of patriarchy : Offenders of dowry-related crimes continue to get away as most such incidents go unreported (kp), ‘State can curtail freedom of press and expression at any time’ (rep), Dalit representatives demand meaningful participation (kh), Independent candidates to hold national convention in Feb (kh), Oli to lead drafting of government’s common programme : The panel he heads will work as a political mechanism to support the government, at least in the UML’s reading, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Chopper permit hassles costing lives in Gorkha : Many people, pregnant women in particular, are dying due to the red tape in flying out from restricted areas, by Arjun Poudel (kp) [Irresponsible administration!], A year of geopolitical significance : The year gone by also saw a series of high-level visits from India, the United States and China, by Anil Giri (kp), The year of diseases : Health authorities admit that the government utterly failed to protect the people in times of emergency, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Nepal’s economy busted by Covid, war and inflation : From fuel to food and transportation to entertainment, everything became dearer for Nepalis, by Krishana Prasain (kp), A wind of change is blowing : But voters are sceptical whether the new parties and leaders will do anything different because the parties and even some independent candidates have repeatedly tricked the public with their false promises, analysts say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [But the eternally outdated, failed male top politicians have not yet grasped it!], Still waiting for justice after 16 years : The thousands of victims of the decade-long Maoist insurgency do not trust the government anymore as no progress has been made in providing justice, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The one who confessed to being responsible for the deaths of 5,000 people is now PM for the third time : Target achieved!], Dahal is the new prime minister in Nepal’s tit-for-tat politics : The post-poll alliance surprised all, including Nepal’s close neighbours, China and India, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Can Prime Minister Dahal steer the fragile coalition?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), New Coalition Govt: Policy or Office Seeking?, by Hrishita Badu (rep), More rough weather ahead : The political parties did not develop a common minimum programme to tackle the growing problems of the country, and the coming days could be more difficult for the people, by Tika R Pradhan (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/12/2022: Women in Madhesh are being murdered over dowry : Justice remains elusive, complain victim’s relatives, by Rupa Gahatraj (kp), Reluctant federalists : Troublingly, partners in the current ruling coalition have little to say about strengthening federalism (kp), Cabinet to be expanded only after PM takes vote of confidence (kh), Govt to bring Common Minimum Program within 5 days : UML Chairman Oli picked coordinator of the ruling alliance (kh) [In 2020/21, Oli repeatedly attempted a coup, which went unpunished. Now he returns to power in steps! Is Dahal ultimately just a puppet in Oli's power ambitions?], Can Dahal walk the foreign policy tightrope? Nepali premier needs to find an equilibrium in ties with two neighbours and calibrate country’s relations with the West, by Anil Giri (kp), Gajurel likely to be picked for vice-president (ht) [Of course a male Bahun, who else? In the past, politicians with a party affiliation have not been particularly successful as presidents. The six percent of male Bahuns cannot get enough posts! This is called social inclusion!], Surrendering citizenship card: An ethical decision, by Mahendra P Joshi (ht), Former Nepal Army generals, experts highlight role of military diplomacy to safeguard national interests : ‘Now that the powerful countries are at our doorstep to advance their own interests, military diplomacy can be one tool of the government to safeguard our national interests’ (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/12/2022: Seniors opting out citing Lamichhane’s high Cabinet rank ; The coalition is forming a mechanism comprising party chiefs to finalise power sharing and oversee government, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Dahal has the opportunity to fully implement federalism. But will he? Previous governments wasted such chances due to their vested interests, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/12/2022: Third time lucky? Just like Dahal uses his flexible mindset to serve his own interests, he can employ it in the national interest (kp) [Personal power interests have the highest priority for all Nepali top politicians!], Prime minister settled, all eyes on President and Speaker race : UML is supposed to have the President for five years while the Speaker will change with the change in prime minister, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), A parlous path ahead for Rabi Lamichhane : Within six months of quitting TV job, the Rastriya Swatantra Party chief has emerged as one of most powerful leaders, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp),  JSP not to join govt immediately : Party holding meeting on Jan 2 and 3, 2023 (kh), Finance minister inherits a troubled economy again : Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel vows to take measures to overcome the economic problems, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Nepal gets new Finance Minister amid economic doldrum : CPN-UML leader Bishnu Prasad Paudel was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister on Monday. But he confronts myriads of challenges to correct the course in the economic sector, by Ashim Neupane (nlt), Seven-party alliance likely to sweep provinces too (ae) [This is because Nepal calls itself a federal state only on paper. In reality, the national level continues to decide policy in the provinces!], Expectations from the New Government, by Shanker Man Singh (rep), Dahal, Oli Rejoin Forces Congress Left High And Dry, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/12/2022: Vulnerable girls, women being trafficked to India by their own relatives, acquaintances : Maiti Nepal has rescued 30 Nepali girls and women from the country in the past one year, by Bhawani Bhatta (kp), A story of homeless and battle for citizenship : Once a homeless kid, Rajesh has found home and has his own family but the battle for citizenship for himself and his kids is taking a toll on his hope, positivity and confidence (nlt), Surkhet children displaced by floods are dropping out of schools : In August 2014, floods hit several villages in Surkhet and displaced around 970 families. Several children living in the camp are deprived of formal education for financial difficulties, by Tripti Shahi (kp) [All major parties have been in government several times since and have not cared!], No respite for national economy with more instability in store : Continued political instability will put a damper on an already slowing economy, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [How long will Nepal allow itself such incompetent and dishonest politicians?], In a U-turn, Dahal ditches Deuba to form government with Oli, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Dahal becomes prime minister again, Oli the new kingmaker, by Tika R Pradhan and Purushottam Poudel (kp) [And the non-partisan president is beaming more than she has in a long time. This time she didn't even have to do anything immoral; Dahal, Oli and others did it for her!], NC General Secy Thapa accuses PM Prachanda of dishonesty (kh), Nepal’s too-quick high-voltage political drama, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Nagarik Unmukti Party decides not to join government (ae), RPP not to join government (ae), China, India congratulate Prachanda, moment after being appointed Nepal PM (nlt), Congratulatory notes keep coming for newly appointed Nepal PM : The US envoy to Nepal and Prime Minister of Pakistan have extended congratulations to Prachanda (nlt), President administers oath of office and secrecy to newly-appointed PM Dahal (kh), Prachanda-led government: Was it China’s clandestine move? (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/12/2022: President’s deadline to recommend PM ending today (kh), Still unresolved: Who leads the coalition government first? The Nepali Congress-led alliance is pushing for a last-minute deal ahead of the expiry of President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s Sunday deadline for new government formation, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Ruling parties inch ‘closer’ to power-sharing deal : Leaders to meet again today to finalize the deal (rep), NC, CPN-MC fail to agree on next PM : Nepali Congress leaders not willing to make way for Dahal to lead the new government, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Prachanda accuses PM Deuba of breaking promise (kh) ["My party got an overwhelming 11 per cent of the votes, so all the people want is me as prime minister!"], Prachanda holding talks with UML Chair Oli on govt formation (kh) [The failed, ageing politicians - Dahal, Oli and Deuba - continue to work on the destruction of the country instead of finally transferring the responsibility to a younger generation!], As deadline to form new government approaches, ruling alliance on the verge of split : Both the Nepali Congress and Maoist Center do not want to compromise in the power-sharing deal. This has resulted in the last minute twist in the ruling alliance (nlt) [Thanks to the power-hungry but incompetent top politicians, the electoral alliance is finally proving to be a big fraud on the voters! Without the electoral alliance, the CPN (MC) would have fallen into the abyss!], RSP Chair Lamichhane meets UML Chair Oli in Balkot (kh) [???], Four parties in Balkot after ruling coalition fails to forge consensus (kh), Prachanda-led government; 7 parties and 169 parliamentarians (kh), Prachanda at Shital Niwas with the support of 7 parties (kh), Maoist Center Chair Prachanda appointed as PM for the third time : Oath to office and secrecy at 4 pm tomorrow (kh), Prachanda appointed Nepal’s new prime minister (nlt), JSP decides to join Prachanda-led government (kh), Janamat Party decides to join Prachanda-led govt (kh), China congratulates Prachanda for being appointed as Prime Minister (kh), Citizenship Bill may resurface as a major agenda in government formation : For declining to authenticate the Bill twice, President Bhandari was accused of failing to uphold her constitutional duties, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), On Election of New President (rep), Women representation still remains bare minimum, by Arpana Adhikari (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/12/2022: How Nepali society silences gender-based violence survivors : Breaking the silence against abuse has been a challenge, especially for ‘urban’ women. Their hesitance can mostly be attributed to lack of support in their immediate circles, by Pinki Sris Rana (kp), At least five women were killed in Nepal by partners or family members over the period of “16 days of activism” : Horrific incidents demand an urgent need of meaningful interventions by all concerned stakeholders to end the violence against women (nlt), All options open as new government deadline looms : Deuba firm on continuing as prime minister, Dahal wants to dethrone him. Oli seeks to drive a wedge between them, by Anil Giri and Tika R Pradhan (kp) [It's always the same with these failed politicians. These three are mainly responsible for the failed renewal of the country after Jana Andolan II. And still none of them says what he wants to do differently now than before.], NC, Maoist Center at odds over power-sharing deal, by Kosh Raj Koirala (rep), Former foreign ministers of Nepal stress on grants or concessional loans on BRI projects : Nepal signed the BRI agreement in 2017 but not a single project has been undertaken, nor any provisions implemented so far (nlt), CK Raut’s oath in ‘Madheshi’ language ruffles feathers : Madheshi Commission writes to Parliament Secretariat seeking a clarification on why some lawmakers were administered the oath in ‘Madheshi’ language, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [???], What makes the post of President increasingly attractive to political parties? The moves of the two Presidents have sent a message that the role of the head of the state is crucial, and more so when there is a hung parliament, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Duties Of Voters Merit In Democracy, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/12/2022: NHRC's status: Why it went from A to B, by Shree Ram Adhikari (ht), Safety valve politics : Voters reaffirmed their trust in the democratic system to give voice to those historically deprived of it, and the main parties will disregard this at their own peril, by Chandra Kishore (nt), Keeping the House in order : The new cohort of first-time MPs is expected to avoid becoming pawns in the hands of a handful of leaders (kp), Prachanda proposes forming coalition govt under his leadership (kh) [Neither Deuba nor Dahal! They lost the elections despite their alliance manipulations. It is time for a generational change!], Race for next PM : The coalition could break up if Deuba and Dahal fail to find a middle path (ht) [They only have their power in mind, not the necessities of the country and the needs of its citizens!], Gagan Thapa bats for apolitical President : Says the Nepali Congress should not stake claim to both prime minister and President, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Let’s clean up the judiciary : Nepal can learn from the example of Kenya which has set up a judicial vetting system, by Raju Prasad Chapagai (kp), China exerting pressure on Nepal’s Left parties for unity (kh) [???], Financial literacy level still low: NRB survey : NRB survey shows the country’s financial literacy score at 57.9 percent (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/12/2022: No End To Transactional Politics, by Mukti Rijal (rn) [The arrogance with which the ageing and failed so-called top politicians ignore their electoral defeat can no longer be surpassed! In a functioning democracy, such politicians would have resigned long ago!], Can two regional parties stay true to their agenda? Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party should learn from the failures of big Madhesh parties, experts advise, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Deuba challengers to stay out of Cabinet, keep him honest : The Thapa-Koirala camp’s strategy seems to be to keep a close eye on the functioning of Sher Bahadur Deuba, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Move over, pops : Gagan Thapa may have lost the Congress election, but he claimed a moral victory (kp) [Gagan Thapa could be the right reaction to the election result, unlike failed politicians like Deuba, not to speak of Dahal!], Respect the Results of Change : In view of the demography and the challenges facing the country, new leadership with vitality and vision is the demand of the time and passion of the people, by Chiranjibi Paudyal (rep), Supreme Court bars Army from awarding expressway contract to Chinese company : The court has scheduled another hearing for Friday (kp), Economy in the doldrums (rep), All is not well with Rastriya Swatantra Party (ae), Save people from the cold (ae), Youths Emerge As Change Agents, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/12/2022: Too young to marry : More effort is needed to raise awareness and educate young men, women and parents (kp), Melancholy of the Madheshi intelligentsia : Except Madhesh, all other provinces are patterned after the old regional administrative system, by CK Lal (kp), Thapa throws down the gauntlet in party’s premiership race, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), It’s Thapa vs Deuba in Congress MP leader race : Win or lose parliamentary party vote, Gagan Thapa has already projected himself as the party’s future leader, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Deuba elected Nepali Congress PP leader (kh) [At 76, still the future and hope of the party for the next five years? Poor Nepal!], NC General Secretary Thapa announces he will not join govt (kh), Gagan Thapa lost the battle but that’s not an end of story : Gagan Thapa lost the battle of parliamentary party election in Nepali Congress but observers say his candidacy means a lot for Nepali Congress and politics at large, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), The burden of trust: RSP’s challenges : Members of the Rastriya Swatantra Party are young, educated, and driven, which is good but not enough, by Naresh Koirala (kp), SC refuses to issue stay order against Rabi Lamichhane’s oath taking (kh), What does fractured mandate mean for foreign policy?, by Dinesh Bhattarai (rep), Importance Of A Strong Opposition, by Namrata Sharma (rn) [In this sense, parties that distinguished themselves as alternatives in the elections should not participate in government now!], Electoral Mandate And Message, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Deuba’s leadership crucial to ensure coalition’s continuity, stability, by Sunita Bul (kh) [The election results speak a different language. The governing coalition fell short of a majority despite manipulative candidate nominations. This means: It is time for a change in leadership. Stability has not existed so far and a change of government after two years is the exact opposite.]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/12/2022: President’s call hastens the PM race : NC chief unwilling to wait, but Dahal to stay only if he gets the first shot at prime minister, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Please none of them! The change to a younger generation could be a compromise and finally a solution!], Dahal, Oli unchallenged as parliamentary party leaders : Congress is picking its Wednesday and there are multiple contenders (kp) [So carry on as before, no matter what the voters have expressed despite the alliance manipulations!], Race For PM: Let Rationality Prevail, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn) [Rationality has no place in the thinking of the authoritarian, egocentric and outdated party leaders!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/12/2022: Scramble for power : Speaking for the public from the opposition can help smaller parties bolster their democratic credentials (kp) [Hopefully the smaller parties will understand this. They were not elected to help the big parties continue their failed policies!], 5 parties have numbers to pick their President : Multiple aspirants from various parties eye the top post, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), President gives parties seven days to form government : As no party has a majority, any member of the House who has the backing of 138 members in the 275-strong Parliament gets appointed prime minister, by Binod Ghimire (kp). Provincial politics hinges on federal coalition : Who forms provincial governments will be clear after Cabinet takes shape in Kathmandu, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Misunderstood federalism: In the still centrally oriented state of Nepal, the national political level also decides on policy in the provinces! Thus the federalism thought is led ad absurdum!], Limi locals deprived of social security grants for 17 months : More than 200 beneficiaries haven’t been able to reach the bank to verify their KYC applications and hence haven’t been able to collect the money, by Janak Bahadur Shahi (kp) [??!!], Migrant departures turn into exodus as economy stalls : Official statistics show that 347,340 Nepalis had left the country by the first five-month period that ended mid-December, by Pawan Pandey (kp), Newly elected parliamentarians to take oath on December 22  (kh), Presidential, Vice-presidential election to be held by March 14: CEC Thapaliya (kh), Impeachment conundrum: Making a mockery of the constitution, by Pushpa R Joshi (ht), Resurrecting economy: New government has its task cut out (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/12/2022: Bell ringing for status-quo : The November elections were more a loss for established parties than a win for newbies, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), Ordinance: A tool for emergency law or a means to serve politicians’ vested interests? Multiple, hastily-brought ordinances show rulers have been bypassing Parliament to legalise their actions, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Definitely the latter!], Dahal stakes formal claim to government leadership with Deuba : With the Maoist chief’s proposal, negotiations on new government formation have entered a decisive stage, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [So continue as before! Sticking with these old failed politicians means not only stagnation but regression for Nepal's political stabilisation! The voters voted these politicians out when they denied them a majority!], NC opts to form govt under its leadership (kh), Bhutanese community demand amnesty for political prisoners in Bhutan : International organizations must also continue to advocate publicly for the protection of human rights in Bhutan, speakers said (nlt), Kerung-Kathmandu rail: China offers feasibility deal, Nepal stalls : The matter will be taken up by the incoming federal government, say Nepali officials, by Anil Giri (kp 18/12/2022) [The incoming government will probably be one of the most unstable governments Nepal has ever had! Therefore, such decisions are improbable. In addition, the USA will probably try to prevent any cooperation of Nepal with China in the context of its global power ambitions!], Parliament Secretariat adopting e-attendance to make MPs give more time in House, by Narayan Neupane (rn), President Bhandari calls upon parties to recommend PM by December 25 (kh), President calls parties to stake claim to form new government within seven days : As no political parties single-handedly got majority in the recently-concluded polls, President Bhandari has called parties to stake their claim for the post of prime minister as per Article 76 (2) (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/12/2022: Raging debate: Can former chief justice be head of state? Most legal experts say the Constitution doesn’t allow it. But some consider the presidency an exception, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), New parties keen on joining government, but with caveats : Nagarik Unmukti presses for Resham’s release, Janamat eyes Madhesh chief minister, Swatantra remains divided, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), National Dalit Commission recommends action against Mayor Sampang over a social media post (rep), Can Nepal Avoid the Debt Trap?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Leadership Integrity Vital For Democracy, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Who will be the next prime minister? Deuba may be a strong contender for the post, but he has competition within the coalition, as well as the NC, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/12/2022: Foreign powers weigh in as new faces join President race : Experts say Nepal should continue to elect President from among members of traditionally disadvantaged groups, by Anil Giri and Binod Ghimire (kp) [Why not Mohna Ansari? She is highly intellectual, comes from one of the most disadvantaged groups, was its outstanding personality during her time as a member of the NHRC, and is an exemplary advocate for human rights, especially those of the highly marginalized groups in society! One can hardly imagine a better president. In any case, it would be better if the office were not filled by a leading member of the political parties! Against the background that politics is even more dominated by males than before, it should definitely be a woman again!], Ruling parties begin discussions on electing ‘non-political’ person as president, by Kosh Raj Koirala (rep), Is UML assessing possible alternatives to form government? (kh), Dutch envoy violates diplomatic etiquette : Vienna Convention says diplomats should not interfere in internal affairs of host nations, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Old Games, New Faces : A mood-based analysis of recent elections from abroad, by Uttam Paudel (rep), Why the Madheshi Commission removed Muslims and Tharus from the list of Madheshis (rep) [The Tharu have identified themselves as a Janajati group for decades. If the state respected this, the Adivasi Janajati group would be the strongest social group in the electoral law, for example, with over 35 percent.], Appointment of justices at SC stalled due to absence of parliament to conduct hearings (rep), SC rejects plea to stop prez from issuing ordinance (ht) [??], Nepal’s hard working students overseas : ‘Abroad studies’ has become synonymous with emigration with no incentives for students to return home, by Sonia Awale (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/12/2022: Early marriage traps disadvantaged girls in poverty cycle : A multisectoral approach is needed to understand and eradicate this multifaceted social evil, say experts, by Arjun Poudel (kp), 15 Dalit leaders elected to HoR under proportional category (kh), Nepal rights groups ask FIFA chief to ensure compensation for Nepali workers : The rights bodies have written that it would be unforgivable to continue to ignore the plight of Nepali workers (kp), Dalit community sees representation of 28 PR members in province assemblies (kh) [This means 5 percent of the MPs from about 14 per cent of the population! Just imagine, in the seven provinces there would be a total of only 12 male MPs from the Bahun community who make up six per cent of the population!], FPTP Election: A Road Less Travelled by Women : Providing equal opportunity to women in elections is crucial to believe in women’s capacity and change stereotypes in politics, by Neelam Dhanuse (rep) [Nepal's macho politicians will do everything they can to prevent this!], Rule by decree : The amendment of the Criminal Code via an ordinance could set a dangerous precedent (kp) [It would not be the first such criminal action of the Nepalese politicians!], End ordinance Raj : This transitional government has overstepped its jurisdiction by issuing the controversial ordinance (ae), Petition claims Lamichhane is not a Nepali citizen : The journalist-turned-politician is accused of not ceding his Nepali citizenship even after taking US citizenship (kp), Doctor accused of domestic violence and demanding dowry arrested : Neha Chaudhary has accused Pankaj Chaudhary, her husband of nine months, of physical and mental abuse for not bringing enough dowry (kp), Who will be Nepal’s next PM?, by Akhilesh Tripathi (rep), UML offers Maoist Chairman Dahal to lead new govt as left parties intensify dialogue for new alliance, by Tapindra Karki (rep) [When will these power-hungry aging politicians who are ruining the country finally be put out of business?], Dahal’s power grab ploy, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Which first: PM appointment or House session? President’s Office says there has been no consultations about which of the two routes to take (kp) [Article 76 of the Constitution states that the politician who has a majority of deputies in the HoR shall be appointed prime minister. But this majority can only exist after the House has met for the first time!], Parties Need To Work Together, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn), Pros And Cons Of Coalition Politics, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Risks of coalition government, by Matrika Poudyal (ae), We’ll side with the party that takes ownership of our demands, interview with CK Raut (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/12/2022: Lal commission report gathers dust as coalition plans to free Tikapur convict : Authorities have snubbed the top court and parliament to keep the report secret, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Rage against impunity: Why is the ordinance to amend National Criminal Procedure being opposed? The government's move to introduce the ordinance to secure release of the convicts in the heinous crimes has met with widespread opposition across the party lines (nlt), Why the President is expected to shelve proposed ordinance : Bidya Devi Bhandari could draw support from the widespread criticism of the recommended action (kp) [It is their duty to protect the constitution, what she has unfortunately repeatedly disregarded in the past!], No provincial matter : We have to analyse the executive powers granted to the federal units by the constitution, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), LSP reiterates willingness to join new government (kh), Rastriya Swatantra Party intensifies talks in a bid to join govt (kh) [You were elected as an alternative to the old failed politicians and parties, not to help them stay in power!], SC receives writ demanding revocation of Rabi Lamichhane’s HoR membership (kh), Investment pledges plunge amid global economic slowdown : Nepal received FDI assurances worth Rs11.60 billion in the first four months, according to the Department of Industry, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Whither the Post-Election Nepali politics?, by Shambhu Ram Simkhada (rep), After their election as independent candidates, Amaresh Singh and Prabhu Sah mulling forming a new party (rep), Civil society group expresses concerns over attempt by foreign govts to influence formation of new executive leadership (rep), Nepal’s eminent citizens decry foreign interference in government formation, attempt to subvert election mandate : ‘The effort by one set of foreign governments to influence the formation of Nepal’s executive leadership is bound to trigger reaction from other direction, putting Nepal in grave danger of becoming a geo-political football’ (nlt), Oli meets Maoist General Secy Gurung as he tries to break ruling alliance (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/12/2022: Combating violence against women in politics : We should realise that a threat to women in politics is a threat to our entire democracy, by Sagoon Bhetwal (kp), November polls fail to ensure fair representation of Dalits : The representation of Dalit community in the newly elected legislature—5.81 percent— is the lowest since the 2008 Constituent Assembly, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Government saddles Sheetal Niwas with disputed ordinance : Attempts to rope in new coalition partners by pardoning convicted criminals has come under withering criticism, even from within Nepali Congress, by Anil Giri and Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Govt to recommend President Bhandari to issue Civil Code of Criminal Procedure (First Amendment) Ordinance-2079 BS (rep) [May political corruption never end in Nepal!], Party members demand immediate withdrawal of ordinance brought to amend Civil Criminal Procedures Code 2074 BS, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep), Ordinance on pardoning political prisoners draws flak, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Supreme Court Bar objects to new ordinance, demands instant withdrawal (kh), Doctored images and out-of-context videos spread misinformation during Nepal elections (kh), Accusations aplenty against foreign meddling, but no proof on offer : Dahal has repeatedly tried to blame foreign forces for his own failures, but he is not the only Nepali leader to do so, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Seeing things : Dahal’s blaming foreigners for his party’s poor showing makes him sound like a sore loser (kp), Of passports and driving licences : The new folks in Parliament should work at making services easily accessible to win the next elections, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), FIFA misleading the world on compensation to migrant workers, say four global rights organisations : As the World Cup nears end, there has been no progress in providing compensation to injured workers who built the stadiums in Qatar and victims’ families (kp) [see HRW report: FIFA Misleading World on Remedy for Migrant Workers : New Legacy Fund Should Be Used to Ensure Workers’ Compensation (12/12/2022)], 'Janmat Party's victory reflects people's desire for change', interview with CK Raut (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/12/2022: Wives, cronies and company : Old parties’ leaders have given more ammunition to those who argue that PR is irredeemably corrupt (kp), Gross Misuse of PR System (rep), Assessing the election results : Experiments with coalition governments have been marred by corruption scandals, by Nishchal N Pandey (kp), Court verdict doesn’t shield against Parliament dissolution in all cases, interview with Bipin Adhikari (kp), Political parties intensify dialogue on government formation (kh), Government to issue ordinance to free Resham Chaudhary : His release is the Nagarik Unmukti Party’s main precondition for supporting the ruling coalition (kp) [Ordinances to create majorities capable of governing are democratically questionable. An amnesty does not absolve Chaudhary of possible guilt. He is entitled to justice! Only a court should decide on this, not power-hungry failed politicians.], NC cannot bear the burden of govt’s wrong decision; the ordinance is wrong: Gagan Thapa (kh), Ordinance was introduced to mainstream political parties and groups willing to discard violence: Minister Karki (kh) [Even you don't believe in this nonsense!], Supporters reach jail to welcome Resham Chaudhary, by Prasan Gurung (rep), NC General Secretary Sharma opposes ordinance brought to free Resham Chaudhary (kh), Can Gagan Thapa beat Deuba in prime minister race? Nepali Congress chief remains favourite as immediate change in parliamentary party leadership looks unlikely, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Dahal sees foreign hand in poll debacle : Asserts Maoist party is still kingmaker as no government is possible without its backing, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [He has obviously lost all sight of reality. Without the manipulative electoral alliance, his party's defeat would have been even more disastrous. Possibly not even he himself would have been elected. In the case of a grand coalition of NC and UML, his party would no longer be needed. But without fresh young faces, even such a coalition makes no sense!], Thousands of 12-23 month olds deprived of vaccines : Experts term the situation ‘alarming’ as it could imperil years of achievements Nepal has made in child health, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Amid political transition, Nepali Army trying to purchase 27 APCs from China opaquely (kh), Underpopulation fears grow as fertility rate in Nepal halves in two decades : Tendency of youths to migrate to the Western countries is also decreasing the working-age population in the country, by Sajira Shrestha (rep), Parents face hassles in birth registration of children (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/12/2022: Government continues to ignore rights body’s recommendations : Data show only 15.3 percent of the recommendations have been fully implemented (kp) [This reflects the human rights situation in Nepal. Misinformed international diplomats should finally stop praising the implementation of human rights in Nepal up to the sky!], Parties pick PR candidates amid cries of unfairness : The proportional representation system, which was meant to ensure representation of marginalised groups, has been hijacked, say political analysts, by Tika R Pradhan and Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Rabi Lamichhane’s RSP willing to join govt, discussions underway on agendas (kh) [You can't steer the political system in the right direction by supporting the repeatedly failed politicians in their power ambitions, whatever conditions you set. For this the people have not elected you! Only a change of personnel to a younger generation at the top of the major parties could justify participation!], 'Parties need to learn culture of coalition', based on taks with Uddhab Pyakurel (ht), Govt introduces ordinance to grant amnesty to Resham Chaudhary (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/12/2022: Nagarik Unmukti Party sets condition to join government (kh), JSP open to joining government, and ruling coalition is positive : Chemjong, a Janata Samajbadi leader, says talks are underway and formal discussion on next move will commence after PR lawmakers are decided, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [????], Petition demands removal of polygamous PR candidates : Lawyer registers a writ petition at the Supreme Court after appealing the Election Commission that candidates practising polygamy be denied election (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/12/2022: They are back again in the House! : Oh, no, not again, by Bishwo Gauchan (ht), Janamat Party sending 5 members to HoR (kh), UML trying every trick in the book to break five-party bond : In public, its leaders say they’ll sit happily on opposition bench with NC-led coalition not expected to last long, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), NC leader Gachchhadar bats for NC-UML alliance to form new govt (rep) [The CPN (UML) should be untouchable for democratic parties as long as it holds on to a coup leader!], What led to Unified Socialist’s debacle? Observers had warned that for the outfit, earning national party status through polls was easier said than done, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Relevance of federalism over: Biplav. “Political parties’ legitimacy has ended” (kh) [The legitimacy of militant parties has never existed! Federalism is important in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and non-inclusive state like Nepal. But you are right about one thing: the established political parties refuse to implement the federal system and insist on centralised control of all three political levels!], Diplomats curious who’ll be President : PMs come and go but the President stays for full five years and often plays political roles, ny Purushottam Poudel (kp) [The office of president is representative in nature. The President must pay particular attention to the preservation of constitutional rules. This is exactly what Bidya Bhandari has repeatedly violated!], Rana’s failed coup : Extreme caution is needed while appointing the next Supreme Court leader (kp), SC directs not to implement Parliament Secretariat’s letter offering acquittal to CJ Rana (kh), Struggle For Gender Equality, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Nagarik Unmukti Party puts Resham Chaudhary’s release as pre-condition to join govt (kh), Women should not be denied legal rights: CEC Thapaliya (kh) [But they are. The participation in the electoral system and the treatment of women by the political parties and their macho leaders are prime examples!], Seats of power : Nepal’s political parties negotiate power-sharing deals to form a government, by Shristi Karki (nt), Perpetual Instability, by Tilak Rawal (sp), Uncertain Course : Despite getting a thin majority, it is yet to clarify whether the Nepali Congress led-coalition continue till the formation of the new government (sp), “Nepali People Have Lost Interest In The Existing Major Parties”, interview with SD Muni (sp), Election Musings : That the people should elect a Head of State with executive powers has been voiced by many young Nepalis contesting the elections, by Hemang Dixit (sp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/12/2022: Janamat Party decides to join ruling coalition to form new government (kh), Online media suffered hostility during election: FNJ Chair Pokhrel (kh), Impeachment motion annulment fans suspicions : Ruling coalition partners suspect that the Parliament Secretariat acted at the CPN-UML’s behest, by Anil Giri (kp), As climate crisis worsens, people in the mountains are opting for concrete structures : The traditional mud-and-stone houses are no longer effective against bouts of rainfall and droughts, forcing locals to look for options, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Neighbours have been snubbing Nepal’s diplomatic notes : Nepal’s concerns over disputed Indian map, deaths of two Nepalis in Darchula and India-China agreement on trade route through Lipulekh have gone unanswered, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Pension and populism : The parties must rethink how long they can go on emptying the state coffers through cash handouts (kp), “Conversations and advocacy for women’s rights should go beyond 16 days. This should be an everyday conversation”, interview with Mona Sherpa (rep), Ganging up against Gagan Thapa : Sixteen days after winning the parliamentary elections, Gagan Thapa is facing hurdles within and outside the party on his journey to becoming a parliamentary party leader and future PM (nlt) [The old failed leaders will never change! They had their chance, but they repeatedly failed to take it. Why on earth should they try again?], Power of red flag is fading in Nepal, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Gagan Thapa’s premiership bid, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/12/2022: Ruling alliance two seats shy of majority : At the end of proportional representation vote counting, the five-party alliance has 136 seats against the 138 required to prove a majority in the 275-strong House, by Binod Ghimire (kp) Good governance is the need of the hour : Unemployment, inflation, expensive healthcare services and costlier education are the major challenges Nepali people are dealing with on a daily basis, by Jivesh Jha (nlt), Nepal’s chief justice, suspended for months, prepares to return to Supreme Court : Six days before his retirement, suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Rana is returning to Supreme Court (nlt), Nepal’s judiciary debacle: Escalation of tensions feared as the bar ups the ante against Chief Justice : Nepal Bar Association has staged protests to prevent the chief justice from entering the Supreme Court questioning the legality of parliament secretariat’s letter which declared the impeachment motion against CJ ineffective (nlt), NBA hold emergency meeting after suspended CJ Rana prepares to go to SC (kh), Only the parliament can decide CJ’s impeachment proposal: Shambhu Thapa (kh), NBA lawyers stage sit-in at SC’s gate to bar suspended CJ Rana from entering (kh), Police officials order not to allow suspended CR Rana at SC unless getting further order (kh), SC receives writ demanding not to implement Parliament Secretariat’s letter (kh), Repercussions of remittance economy : The advantages of remittance inflow into poor countries such as Nepal are too obvious to miss, by CK Lal (kp), Perpetuating the Sukumbasi Problem, by Sarans Pandey (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/12/2022: Rightist tilt in Nepal : History shows that politics devoid of philosophical underpinnings last only a season, by Achyut Wagle (kp), The mad rush for power could destabilise politics : All big and small parties are negotiating to join government. Seemingly, no one wants to stay in the opposition, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) Maoist-Center hell bent on perpetuating power, election results be damned : Here is a brief commentary on the fall and fall of CPN (Maoist-Center), a political party that used to claim itself as the most revolutionary force in Nepal until a decade ago, by Kishor Dahal (nlt), Four ruling parties agree to continue partnership : Discussions over government formation will be held once the Election Commission presents poll results to the President, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [As a minority government? In any case, a radical generational change and a socially appropriate composition of the government is required!], Squatters in Kathmandu call for alternative settlement (kh), Shah’s shoot-from-the-hip approach missing its mark : Of late, the KMC has had to backtrack on several of its key measures, most recently on Thapathali squatter settlement, by Anup Ojha (kp) ,Government formation in Province 1 gets complex as JSP leaves alliance : Janata Samajbadi chair Uprendra Yadav has said that his party is no longer with the UML-led alliance, by Deo Narayan Sah (kp), Race Begins For New PM, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Future course of Nepali politics: Heading towards yet another cycle of instability, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), The last dance of the old guards : With the recent drive of youth sensation in leadership, public sentiment seems to have shifted more towards the younger generation of politicians and new faces, by Nabin Kafle (nlt), Resham Chaudhary’s party to abstain govt unless its demands are addressed (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/12/2022: Parties’ pledges weighing down national economy : They keep offering all kinds of freebies without taking into account country’s paltry resources and mounting debt, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), FPTP: NC wins 57 seats; UML 44 (kh), List of newly-elected HoR members (kh), In a volte-face, Maoists renew vow to continue with Congress alliance : With UML tipped to back a Congress government without being part of it, Maoist Centre leaders fear being kept out, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), ‘Parties slowly realising the need for periodic leadership change’, interview with lawmaker-elect from CPN (Maoist Centre), Rekha Sharma, on what it took her to beat an established leader, UML general secretary Shankar Pokhrel (kp) [But they still don't seem to have realised it, if you look at the current power negotiations!], New government expected in 2 weeks : Election Commission plans to submit the election report to President Bidya Devi Bhandari early next week, by Binod Ghimire (kp), RSP’s things-to-do list is a bridge too far, economists say : The party has said it wants to bring revolutionary change in Nepal’s economy, but it is confused about how that is going to happen, by Pawan Pandey (kp) [As an important opposition force, they will have time to work out solutions. After all, they are still a very young party!], A comprehensive overview on prospects of growth and development in Nepal : How can Nepal formulate a realistic yet inspirational economic plan for the next five years to grow Nepal’s economy and create job opportunities for Nepali youths?, by Sameer Khatiwada (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/12/2022: Instability built into the composition of federal House : With the ruling coalition dependent on small parties, next 5 years could see making and unmaking of governments, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Maoist and Madhesh-based parties see steep decline in electoral politics : The parties that emerged as major political forces from the 2006 people’s movement are now losing their appeal, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Maoists keep their options open on new government : Decision perceived as a pressure tactic to compel Congress to make Dahal PM, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [A party that owes at least part of its mandates to the fact that the alliance partners in these constituencies did not put forward their own candidates and instead asked their electorate to vote for the joint candidate from the ranks of the CPN (MC) cannot simply switch camps after the elections. That would be voter fraud, highly criminal and deprive Nepal's democratic system of any credibility!], Maoist Center decides to seek consensus within ruling coalition : Dev Gurung says, no talk about coalition with UML (kh), Remnants of conflict continue to affect children in Karnali: Report (kh), Transitional justice in Nepal: Child safety is still an issue in Karnali district (nlt), Conflict in Lamichhane’s RSP; 47 district members demand Makawanpur Chair’s resignation (kh), Indian envoy meets Deuba, second time in a week : Amid discussions on new government formation, foreign interest in who’ll be the PM is on the rise (kp) [Intervention?], The misery of migrant workers : Our workers are needlessly losing lives in Qatar due to dehumanising working conditions, by Sakun Gajurel (kp), Left Alliance Remains Elusive, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn) [Oli's policy in 2020/21 was that of a repeat coup plotter. Such politicians should be untouchable for all time to come!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/12/2022: Only 115 local level units institute GBV Elimination Fund (kh), What’s the mandate of Nov 20 polls? The message from voters is that the traditional parties should reform or they will perish, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Unpacking CK Raut’s win over Upendra Yadav : Raut’s personal touch with voters and Yadav’s overreliance on caste votes are key factors. JSP blames foreign hand, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Ruling alliance mulls ‘package deal’ on major portfolios : Leaders say they are waiting for final results of the elections (kp), Patronizing Sovereign Dignity of Nepal, by GP Acharya (rep), Changing Electoral Landscape, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/12/2022: Exclusionary parliament : Major parties are running out of excuses to deny election tickets to marginalised (kp), Systematically Disenfranchised!, by Nishant Pokharel (rep), Govt formation: Leaders intensify meetings (kh), Dahal wants to be prime minister. Does he stand a chance? The Maoist supremo is trying to cash in on internal conflict in the Congress and to leverage his position as kingmaker, by Anil Giri and Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Please none of the old failed top politicians! Dahal is one of the continuous losers after 2008. Why should he become PM for a third time?], Migration turning hill villages into ghost towns : Villages in Ramechhap, Dhankuta lie abandoned and fields fallow with residents leaving in search of greener pastures,  by Tika Prasad Bhatta and Ramesh Chandra Adhikari (kp) [Nepal needs a government that is finally serious about domestic job creation!], Lawmaker-elects trying to act as executives even before swearing-in : Experts on parliamentary affairs say the elected representatives should instead focus on how to perform their roles in the House effectively, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Dhangadhi tense following girl's death, students protest violating prohibitory orders, by Dil Bahadur Chhatyal (rep), Police choose firing after demonstrators invade prohibited area in Dhangadhi (kh), Ruling coalition will form both the federal and province governments: Dr. Shashank Koirala (kh) [Nepal is a federal state and in such a state, provincial governments should be decided by the politicians there and not by central party leaders!], Janamat Party and LSP ready to form alliance for coalition government, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep), ‘RSP should not join the govt’ (rep), Expectation From New Government, by Yug Bahadur (rn), New government unlikely this year, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Feudal federalism : Federalism has become an ‘F’ word because Nepal’s politicians are reluctant to devolve power to provinces (nt), The past is foretold in Nepal poll results : Although the arithmetic shows big parties dominate, Nepalis have sent them a clear message of dissatisfaction, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/12/2022: Dalit and women leaders in Karnali feel cheated : Big parties did not field any Dalit candidate for Parliament from Karnali Province, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp), Can the Swatantra Party answer the bell? Lack of clear political line, loose organisation and fuzzy ideas on pressing national issues could be big hindrances, by Purushottam Poudel and Nishan Khatiwada (kp), New kid in town : We do not know if RSP is independent of political dogma or a party of the independent-minded, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Congress reaches out to Janamat Party chief Raut to discuss new government : Raut held hour-long talks with Bimalendra Nidhi in Kathmandu (kp), Janamat Party agrees to join ruling coalition with NC (kh), Janmat Party sets three conditions to join NC-led coalition (kh) [??], Amid din of government formation, will the CPN-UML remain silent? Party members say multiple options are open including tying up with the Maoists or the Congress for a ruling coalition, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Act two, scene one : The same old men will begin fighting for the chair if the youth leaders don't intervene (kp), Deuba’s moment to shine : The debate on who should lead the next government has become a matter of public interest, by Siddhartha Thapa (kp) [He was PM five times and did not shine. So now presumably a sixth time, although the voters have denied the ruling coalition a majority?], Nov 20 Election: Old parties face sink or swim situation, new ones need ideological clarity (kh), Looking for a better and sustainable alternative to grants and loans? Go for FDI : FDI can stimulate a target country’s economic development and create a more conducive environment for companies, the investors, and stimulate the local economy, by Anmol Purbey (nlt), Nov 20 polls: Where Do We Go From Here?, by Sindhuj Thapa and Anmol Purbey (rep), The geopolitical factor in the government formation, by Bam Dev Bhattarai and Shambhu Kattel (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/11/2022: New House of Representatives to be less inclusive : As proportional representation votes are scattered among parties, women, Dalits, Janajatis will be underrepresented, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This is the outspoken goal of the political parties totally dominated by male Khas Arya! The fact that another 30 per cent Khas Aryas are nominated via the PR system contradicts all statements on inclusion!], Call for year-round advocacy on gender-based violence : Globally, it is estimated that one in three women experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, according to the United Nations Population Fund (kp), Rattle your walls : There could be no better advocates for an end to GBV than the new cohort of young parliamentarians (kp), Doti earthquake victims languish in tents : Six people died, seven injured and hundreds were displaced in the November 8 quake, by Mohan Shahi (kp), Two new forces enter federal parliament as national parties : Rabi Lamichhane’s Rastriya Swatantra Party and CK Raut’s Janamat Party make the cut after the election results pour in, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Activating intergovernmental bodies : The more active these organisations are, the stronger Nepal's federal system will be, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Worth the investment? Failure to maintain financial transparency in political parties allows for the criminalisation of politics, by Shristi Rai (kp), Indecisive election results: Now the battle for new government : Nepal's federal parliament constitutes 275 members of parliament. As many as 138 lawmakers are necessary to establish a majority and claim the premiership. So who will lead Nepal’s next government?, by Dhan Bahadur Khadka (nlt) [In democratic states, now would be the moment for politicians to admit defeat, retire from office and ambitions for power, and make way for a younger generation! But Nepal's failed politicians have already started thinking about how to form a new government without a parliamentary majority.]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/11/2022: Ambition of politicians and the will of voters : Attempt of a first election analysis, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh), Maoist rank and file prefer left alliance, not so their chair : Dahal reportedly wants to give continuity to the current coalition with the Congress to clear his way to PM’s post, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [A left alliance would be far from a necessary majority, but even the mandates of the current government alliance will probably not be enough!], Leaders in talks for new coalition with several eyeing prime minister’s post : Results so far suggest neither the ruling coalition nor UML partners will win a simple majority in Parliament, by Anil Giri (kp), Message from Nepali voters : This time, there were thousands who joined the fray with little resources or connections, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), Parties flouted laws, used children in elections, by Ruby Rainiyar (rep), Crystal gazing Nepal’s next five years : The independents contested the election to clean up the country’s politics and fight corruption, by Naresh Koirala (kp), Let the provinces do their job : Reluctance to strengthen the provinces is, in a way, a repudiation of the federal system (kp), Thapathali squatters thwart another eviction : Kathmandu Metropolitan City met with stiff resistance as it tried to tear down Bagmati riverside squatter huts, by Anup Ojha and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Responsible policy looks different!], Landless squatters protest outside KMC office (rep), KMC accused of demolishing landless squatters' settlement without making alternative arrangement (rep), Solve Problem Of Landless Squatters, by Uttam Maharjan (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 (morning) (evening) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/11/2022: Youth voice: What youths expect from faces of hope in parliament, by Sharana Sherpa and Anjali Shukla (nlt), On their own merit : If talent is discouraged in political parties, those committed to public service will seek alternatives (kp), Old parties failed to understand the new generation : The political template of Congress and Communists are decades old. Closed camps and cadre training don't work so well in the age of social media, interview with Krishna Khanal (kp), Over 60 former MPs face defeat in parliamentary election (rep), Is communist alliance in the making? Poor performance of CPN (Maoist Center) in federal parliament polls and desperation of KP Oli and CPN-UML leaders to return to power indicate the possibility. But observers are not so sure (nlt), Women representation nil under FPTP in Karnali province : Single candidate to represent Dalits (kh), Economic promises and challenges : None of the manifestos explains how to mobilise resources and enhance administration, by Chandan Sapkota (kp), Nepali Congress-led alliance likely to form governments in all seven provinces : UML leads FPTP tally in 3 provinces, Congress ahead in 4, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [These centrist politicians simply do not want to understand that in a federal state, the provinces have to decide on their respective governments!], Exploitation fears as more contractors become lawmakers : Stakeholders say contractor-turned lawmakers could misuse their influence to skew laws and policies in their favour, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Teachers and other people in the public service are not allowed to run, but people who have a great economic advantage from their election are!], Squatters clash with police in Thapathali (kh), Thapathali squatters attack City Police; 21 injured, by Manish Aryal (nlt), Thapathali slum area turns tense over removal of slum dwellers (Photo Feature) , by Bijaya Rai (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/11/2022: Contours of post-election politics : Democracy seems to have become stronger with the popular quest for alternatives, by Lok Raj Baral (kp), The ambition of politicians and the will of voters : Attempt of a first election analysis, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (Nepal Observer), Voters reject candidates favoured by top leaders : The trend reflects people’s growing frustration with the top brass and how the political parties are run, analysts say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Ruling alliance fails to stop UML : Dissimilar ideologies of the parties in the coalition seems to have not favoured them, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Maoists had difficulties winning elections even in their bastions, by Dinesh Subedi (rep), Deuba, Dahal commit to saving the alliance : KP Sharma Oli has also been reaching out to other parties to build a coalition he can lead, by Anil Giri (kp) [The message from the voters is clear: Not these old failed politicians again! Without the manipulations of the top politicians, this message would have been much clearer!], Controlling fiduciary risks in public finance : Fiduciary risks are heightened when public finances are not used for intended purpose, by Gopi K Khanal (kp), 16 Days of Activism: Why women must speak up equality : Why does almost half of the population have to suffer in silence? Why does half of the population have to be confined to kitchens, within the four walls of their houses?, by Shreena Nepal (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/11/2022: Remarkable Electoral Shifts, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Caste-based voting on the wane in Madhesh, poll results suggest : As society becomes more diverse, the province has started to look more at candidates’ vision than their ethnicity, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), 19 incumbent ministers face defeat in HoR and provincial assembly elections this general election (rep), High cost of smartphones a barrier to digital inclusion, report says : Smartphones and barphones are taxed 18 percent and 15.5 percent respectively in Nepal, by Krishana Prasain (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/11/2022: Acting together to end gender-based violence : Crimes against women and girls have increased in Nepal, with 21,568 cases reported between July 2021 to July 2022 (kp), Oli reaches out to Dahal as jockeying begins to cobble together a coalition : Some Maoist leaders say their alliance with Congress was counterproductive, and the party should have a rethink, by Anil Giri (kp) [Panic among the failed politicians who still do not want to understand that this election heralds their political end!], Oli tries to woo Dahal to break ruling alliance as Deuba prepares to form a new govt (rep) [Most likely, neither the current coalition government nor the UML/MC combination will have enough MPs to form a new government!], RSP, new kid on the block, chimes with voters : Wins five parliamentary seats in valley, placed 3rd in PR vote count, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), The underdogs have won. Now what? The next five years will be crucial, not just for the newer parties, but also for the older lot, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Women participation in HoR: Seven get directly elected, two still leading (kh) [Besides 158 males: this is what the patriarchal party leaders call appropriate and "inclusive"!], Women candidates in HoR and PA elections of 2079 BS, by Smriti Dhungana (rep), Lingden lifts Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s status in the House : On Thursday evening, the party’s share of proportional representation votes was 7 percent, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The improvement of the RPP must also be attributed primarily to the bad policies and largely failed manipulations of the erstwhile major parties. The probably 6 or 7 per cent share in the PR vote shows that people do not really want a return to Hindu state and monarchy!], Expat push key to Swatantra Party’s electoral success : Migrant workers and students studying abroad had urged their family members back in Nepal to cast their votes in favour of RSP this election, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Nepal still red-flagged due to aviation body’s rigidity : European Commission says no grounds for revising the list of carriers, including Nepal’s, barred from serving the EU, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Government inaction makes life miserable in two flood-prone Banke villages : Residents of Chaupheri and Ramnagar of Duduwa Rural Municipality face inundation and floods every monsoon, by J Pandey (kp), Extending Social Protection For All, by Lok Nath Bhusal (rn), Post-poll Challenges Galore, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Vox Populi : The people have spoken: they do not want business as usual in politics (nt), The Nepali people have spoken : Voters have made their dissatisfaction with the country’s serial politicians clear: shape up or ship out, by Sonia Awale (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/11/2022: Times they’re changing : The rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party reflects the passion for change among Nepali voters (kp), The scrutiny of incoming Swatantra Party lawmakers has already begun : While some find party’s lack of clear ideology troubling, others reckon its ranks of field experts will serve well, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), In Madhesh, political ground is shifting : Fourteen years after the Madhesh movement, voters have punished its major faces in the recent polls, by Binod Ghimire (kp), CK Raut’s Janamat Party emerges as a strong regional force : His victory surprised many as his party’s performance during the May local elections had been dismal, Abdhesh Kumar Jha & Santosh Singh (kp), Is new troika in the making in Congress? Many find the prospect of Gagan Thapa, Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Pradip Paudel joining hands fascinating, by Anil Giri (kp) [It would be a welcome and long overdue change, but social inclusion would still be lacking!], Rise of rebels, fall of ‘yes-men’ : General secretaries of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist lost the elections while the general secretaries duo of Nepali Congress won the race, by Dhan Bahadur Khadka (nlt), Nepal reviewing import ban after IMF prodding : The global lender says Nepal should take other monetary measures to deal with its foreign exchange reserve issue, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Promoting gender-responsive trade : Gender-inclusive trade can have a multiplier effect on women, their families and also the GDP of a nation, by Sagar Jung Karki (kp), Stability For Sustainable Development, by Bishnu Prasad Khanal (rn), Defining Contours Of Democracy, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Polling for Nepal's parliament 2022: Ballot box or cyber-voting?, by Anand Aditya (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/11/2022: Validation of the existing order : Voters have validated the status quo with their participation as well as abstention, by CK Lal (kp), A eulogy to unfact : During election campaigns, when truth is reduced to pithy slogans, facts are far from simple errors of details, by Dharma Adhikari (kp), Nepalis Vote For A Change, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Poor transfer of Congress votes weighing down coalition partners : Congress voters seemed reluctant to back other coalition candidates. But they voted for the UML in some places, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Disaster-prone schools put students’ lives at risk : Around 122 schools in Bajhang are at high risk of natural disasters. More than 24,400 children study there, according to the district office, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp) [Neglect of far western Nepal continues thanks to centrist political leaders!], Leaving on a jet plane : If things continue as usual, the stream of people’s exodus could soon turn into a deluge (kp), Check Conflict Of Interest In Public Sector, by Shyam Prasad Masinali (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/11/2022: Shape up or ship out : The major political forces must start the long process of their renewal right now. They have been adequately warned (kp), The mavericks are coming : The parties should get the message that the Nepali people are getting tired of their ways, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Could the rise of Rastriya Swatantra Party boost anti-federal forces? Rabi Lamichhane and Balen Shah deliberately skipped voting for provincial candidates, to the delight of federalism sceptics, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Extreme centralism is one of the basic political evils of Nepali history and has contributed to social and regional inequality. Federalism could be a remedy, if it were finally implemented.], People aspire to see new face in leadership: Gagan Thapa (rn), Challenges before the new government: Seemingly complex but actually simple, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/21/2022: Around 61 percent cast votes in largely peaceful polls : Disputes and incidents of violence were reported in some places, with one death and several injuries. Repolling required in 15 centres across provinces, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) ["Peaceful" looks different!], Polling marred by incidents of violence in some districts : Police fire warning shots at some stations to disperse crowds. One person died from bullet wounds while 3, including a policeman, got injured in Bajura, by Arjun Shah (kp), Frustration with old guard cited as main reason for relatively low turnout : Without independent candidates and new parties, the voter turnout would have been lower still, observers say, by Nishan Khatiwada and Anup Ojha (kp), High inflation and unemployment are forcing youths to seek foreign jobs : In the fiscal year 2021-022, every day 1,745 Nepalis on average left the country for foreign employment, by Arjun Poudel (kp) [And no idea on the part of the old failed politicians how jobs can be created in the country!], When Nepal stops : Government service delivery comes to a halt during elections. The cost is evident all around (kp) [The way in which elections are organised is irrational and in many respects represents a serious restriction of basic civil rights!], Heavy security presence at polling centres perplexes tourists, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), ‘Back-to-back elections also led to low voter turnout : ‘People say why give the same old parties another chance when they have failed to perform, repeatedly’, interview with Sanjeev Humagain (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/11/2022: Unequal votes: The undemocratic election system of Nepal : Having population as the criterion for electoral constituency delineation will not do any justice to the actual constituents. The number of voters should be the main basis for constituency delineation, by Sindhuj Thapa (nlt), Rampant use of minors in election campaigning reported : Authorised monitoring teams have reported as many as 165 incidents of use of minors in poll-related activities, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Thousands of eligible citizens outside constituencies denied voting rights : The election commission should have come up with an arrangement to allow eligible voters based anywhere within the country to vote, experts say (kp), Winds of change as country is geared to vote (kp), How is Nepal voting? Know about Nepal’s federal and provincial assembly elections (nlt), What sets this election apart : The country goes to polls amid rising frustration, decline of ideology and advent of some promising new forces, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Day of voters’ freedom : Voters know that lust for power and position dominates the atmosphere of democratic politics, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Earthquake victims in Far West languish in temporary shelters : Hundreds in Doti and Bajhang have been awaiting resettlement to safer places, by Basanta Pratap Singh and Mohan Shahi (kp) [Assistance denied by government and administration!], Market prices rocket while officials busy themselves with election : Consumer activists and economists say that the recent increase in prices is the result of lack of market inspection, by Krishana Prasain (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), election insights (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/11/2022: Inclusion and reservation: Experiences from other countries, remedies for Nepal : The simple fact that political parties are neglecting potential candidates from Dalit and Janajati communities and women is an indicator that the country needs even stronger quota provisions for them, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Lack of citizenship robs youths of voting rights : The state has discriminated against the children of those who acquired citizenship by birth, say civil society leaders, by Bhusan Yadav and Laxmi Sah (kp) [The highest responsibility lies with Ms Bhandari. Whatever the president says, she had to sign the amendment recently, according to the constitution. Was it obeisance to KP Oli because he feared dissenting votes from the youth in the Tarai for his conduct in the 2015/16 Tarai movement?], Rise of young, independent candidates a worrying sign for ageing political leaders, by Santosh Sharma Poudel (rep), The right and responsibility to vote : Every vote matters and those who are eligible to vote, experts advise, should not squander the opportunity, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Government geared to address security threats during election : Home Secretary Binod Prakash Singh said district administration offices have seized 2,025 small arms to minimise the security threat, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), 30 media outlets violate code of conduct: PCN (kh), Suspicious objects being planted to spread panic (kh), Balancing Liberty And Social Order, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/11/2022: Calls grow for NHRC office bearers to quit : After global body’s decision to downgrade the status of the National Human Rights Commission, its chair says his team will make their response public very soon, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [And what about the PM applicant who is responsible for the whole mess?], Squatters protest in Kathmandu against ultimatum to vacate their settlement : As many as 34,096 families are residing on the banks of Bagmati currently, according to government data (kp), “No Not Again”: What Nepalis need to be aware of?, by Diwakar Dhakal (rep), Everything you need to know about the controversial Constituency Development Fund (nlt) [A fund exclusively for directly elected MPs who were previously nominated in an extremely socially non-inclusive way by the high-caste leadership of the parties!], Country goes to polls in a relatively safe environment : Some two dozen small groups have announced election boycott but they reportedly pose no big threat, by Anil Giri (kp), Vote wisely : Those voting in the upcoming elections will have a big responsibility on their shoulders (kp), Govt decides to increase surveillance on Biplav-led NCP : Nepal Army's bomb disposal team at 900 locations (kh), Closure of Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border puts Nepali traders on the edge of bankruptcy : The border point has been shut down for the past thirty-four months despite several pledges made by authorities in Kathmandu and Beijing to open it, by Balaram Ghimire (kp), Workers want Qatar, FIFA to pay for abuses (ht), Caste Vote : Even more than in previous elections political parties are falling back on caste vote banks because of the absence of party ideology, by Chandra Kishore (nt), Voters cynical about electoral alliances : Party ties for the 20 November polls confuse and divide citizens across the Inner Tarai and Madhes Province, by Namrata Sharma (nt), Dejected voters reject polls : Fed up with empty assurances and wild promises, villagers decide to collectively boycott Sunday's elections, by Anita Bhetwal (nt), Depending on independents : Urban voters are disenchanted with traditional politics, but established parties still hold sway in districts, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/11/2022: Democracy beyond elections : Without adequate representation, marginalised communities in Nepal are less likely to have their issues addressed, by Narayan Adhikari and Nicholas Budny (kp), Voter frustration with major parties growing : Some observers equate the current state of public dissatisfaction to that which existed before the April 2006 movement, by Tika R Pradhan and Purushottam Poudel (kp), Consumer inflation hits 8.50 percent: NRB (kh), Two injured in IED explosion in Banke (rep), Treatment of Chand-led party cadres injured in bomb blast under police supervision (rep), Party Positions Vis-à-vis Manifestos, by Mukti Rijal (rn ), Nov 20 Election: Stability of system and country’s development awaited (kh) [How is that supposed to work when once again it is predominantly the repeatedly failed politicians with their eternally identical slogans who are standing for election?], Conflict victims find no hope in election : There is a widespread resentment and anger among conflict victims and survivors against the political parties, by Yadab Acharya (ae), Politics in remaking, by Chandra Dev Bhatta (ae), How will people with disabilities vote? The Election Commission seems to have a ‘something is better than nothing’ approach to inclusiveness. It’s preparations are too little, too late, by Cilla Khatry (ae), Women struggle to find a solid footing in the parliament, by Anushka Nepal (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/11/2022: Election 2022: Some old lies, some new. Alliances have nothing to do with long-held party policies, good governance, economic delivery, foreign policy or national interests, by Balmukunda Regmi (kp), Rabi Lamichhane alleges “elements” of trying to defame and demoralize him (kh), Complaint demands annulment of Rabi Lamichhane’s candidacy : The complaint filed at the district election office in Chitwan states that Lamichhane did not relinquish his Nepali citizenship even after taking the citizenship certificate of another country (kp), Election not a priority for migrant workers from Jumla : A majority of young men from Sinja are currently working in various Indian cities and are not coming home for next week’s elections, by DB Budha (kp) [Both the Oli and Deuba governments deliberately failed to provide postal voting to migrant workers as mandated by the SC years ago!], Leave no one out : Unless Nepalis abroad renounce their citizenship, they should get to take part in the democratic exercise (kp), Citizenship bill was against the nation, President used veto: President’s office (kh) [Her initial veto was okay, but on the second presentation of the bill, she should have signed it as required by the Constitution. She signed several of Oli's unconstitutional bills without thinking!And that was not against the nation? Ties to her political party are obvious, although the President is supposed to act in a non-partisan manner!], The generation Gagan : Why people of all walks want Nepali Congress politician Gagan Thapa to win November 20 election? (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/11/2022: Court orders Election Commission not to remove names of LGBTIQ+ from the PR list (nlt), Deprived and repeatedly duped, Musahars are losing faith in state : The residents of Musahari tole in Dhanusha say party leaders come seeking their votes before every election, but forget about them as soon as they get elected, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Gagan Thapa portrays himself as future PM, by Sunita Bhul (kh), Apex court seeks reasons after petitions against Dahal rejected : The petitioners have demanded action against Chairman Dahal saying that he, speaking at a public function on January 15, 2020, had admitted to having taken responsibility for the death of 5,000 people among the around 17,000 who lost their lives during the decade-long insurgency (kp 15/11/2022)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/11/2022: As you celebrate World Cup, think of this too : About 6,500 South Asian migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have perished since 2010 in the Gulf state and 1,641 were from Nepal, by Susmita Lamsal (nlt), ‘No local people in political leadership is misfortune for Kathmandu rim country’ (kh), No takers as coalition promises political stability : Maoist Centre chair Dahal, a key coalition partner, publicly boasts of having played a key role in forming and toppling governments, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), SC retains Dr. Toshima Karki’s candidacy in Lalitpur-3 (kh), NHRC's status downgraded, credibility at stake : Former members seek resignation of the national human rights body chairman, members (ht), General election : Hope of transformation, by Ashok Kumar Khand (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/11/2022: Women’s share in House likely to shrink : With few women FPTP candidates, more of them may need to be elected to the upper house to meet the requirement, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The continued and even increased non-inclusive policies of high-caste male politicians must be criminalised and punished as a matter of urgency!], Unnatural electoral tie-ups : The ultimate price is paid by the confused voter, who cannot put two and two together, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), Words, words, mere words : Election manifestos of the major political parties make promises impossible to keep, targets impossible to meet and the goals impossible to achieve (nlt), Political parties repeat ‘inflated promises’ in their election manifestos to lure voters (rep), Election Manifestos and Reformation of Government and Electoral System, by Rajendra Bahadur Singh (rep), Fighting disinformation together : Election preparations enter a crucial stage, when bad actors may resort to disinformation and misinformation, by Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya (kp) [Self-justification of the Chief Election Commissioner, but not a word about the serious fake news and fairy tales of the political parties!], Voters with disabilities want to exercise right to vote on their own (rn), Election agenda of independent candidates: Corruption control, development and change, by Narayan Adhikari (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/11/2022: Fair Polls Enhance Freedom Of Choice, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Call to ensure voting rights of people with psychosocial disabilities (kh), Elections and People with Disabilities : The access of people with disabilities to vote in elections is an extremely critical human right issue!, by Pralhad Gairapipli (rep), Stakeholders call for ensuring voting rights to PWDs (rep), No time for elections in upper Mustang : With most villages empty as the local population has migrated to warmer climes, authorities should have rethought poll timing, villagers say, by Lal Prasad Sharma (kp), Parties commit development and employment in election manifesto (kh) [They never mean what they claim!], Parties’ pledge of voting rights for Nepalis abroad remains an unfulfilled promise : Political parties feel Nepalis living abroad hold a sway over their relatives here and can help influence elections by being a swing factor, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Just like almost all the big-mouthed promises of the failed top politicians!], Do not disturb communal harmony for votes: Minister Karki (kh) [If anything disturbs social harmony, it is above all the continued non-inclusive policies of the parties!], HPCIDBC warns of demolishing riverside slums if they do not leave within 10 days (rep) [Without alternative accommodation? The poorest of the poor live here out of necessity. Now you want to destroy the last things they own?]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/11/2022: Victims of Madhesh movement left to fend for themselves : Seven years after their revolt, many survivors struggle to meet basic needs, by Nishan Khatiwada, Bhusan Yadav and Umesh Chauhan (kp), Season of discontent : This year’s election has been marked by a refrain of discontent against traditional parties and their leaders, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Electioneering leaders ignore policy issues, trade blows in blame game : Political parties lack a clear vision for development, say analysts, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [No, not them again!], Parties coming up with stale agendas in fresh elections (kh), Parties regularly mention transitional justice in manifesto but progress dismal : Conflict victims say they are fed up with unfulfilled promises, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Youths have hope on new candidates, want to see change : Most first time voters want to see new faces in parliament who can address the problems of the youths, by Sharana Sherpa (nlt), Media should ensure credibility in election news: CEC Thapaliya (kh) [Above all, politicians and parties should convey credibility, but they do exactly the opposite! Is thews really covered by the code of conduct?], NHRC’s failings : The commission chairperson and members resigning would be the fastest way out of the current crisis (kp) [This is true, but the main responsibility for the misery lies with KP Oli and BD Bhandari! No, not them again!], Senior Chinese official coming today despite Nepal’s reservations : Delegation plans to tour heritage sites including those being restored with Chinese aid even as major elections loom, by Anil Giri (kp), Domino effect on developing economies likely with escalating Ukraine war, recession in Europe, interview with Mirco Günther, Head of the Asia-Pacific Department at Friedrich- Ebert-Stiftung in Berlin (ht), Battle of ballots : There is more enthusiasm among candidates than voters for polls on 20 November, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/11/2022: National Human Rights Commission stares at a lower global status : Downgrade recommendation by global alliance of rights bodies takes effect after a year, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [see GANHRI Accreditation Report, pp. 38-41] [The then PM KP Oli and his still incumbent state president Bidya Devi Bhandari are highly responsible!], Children, pregnant women and new mothers at risk of infections post quake : At least six people died, 12 were injured, and hundreds displaced in M6.6 earthquake that rocked the Purbichauki Rural Municipality in Doti district on Wednesday, by Arjun Poudel and Mohan Shahi (kp), Rastriya Swatantra Party drawing public attention ahead of polls : Voters disenchanted with traditional political parties and their leaders may help the new party led by Rabi Lamichhane win a few federal seats, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Many aspirants in ruling parties could complicate prime minister selection post polls : Leaders say Deuba and Dahal might have reached a deal to head the government by turns, by Anil Giri (kp) [Please not these again! A pre-arranged change in the PM office means the opposite of stability. It serves only the personal lust for power by incompetent politicians!], Pre-electoral coalition in Nepal: Comedy of errors revisited, by Pushpa R Joshi (ht), Apex Court issues interim order supporting ‘No Not Again’ campaign : In the second hearing of the case, a joint bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Susma Lata Mathema issued an interlocutory interim order against the poll body’s decision (nlt), SC asks EC not to take action on ‘No, Not Again Campaign’ (kh), Parties see fault in constitution, by Surendra Kafle (ae), EC must prove its impartiality (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/11/2022: Parties’ manifestos offer little to Dalits, Janajatis : Rights activists have demanded a ‘Dalit decade’ to end deep-rooted caste-based discrimination through policies and programmes, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Some media disseminating biased news: PCN (kh), EC orders Toshima Karki not to campaign with her symbol ‘bell’ (kh) [The "impartial" EC ensures "free, fair and democratic" elections! The "impartial" EC ensures "free, fair and democratic" elections! This is pure bullying and one can only hope that this candidate will be elected!], Poll authority appears afraid to take action for code violations : Despite rampant code violations including unlawful use of vehicles, commission’s response is little (kp), Simmer in the geopolitical cauldron : For Indians, the Treaty of 1950 is the prime concern, everything else is optics, by CK Lal (kp), Classes began 7 months ago but students have no books : Local authorities are actively involved in preparing school compounds for upcoming elections but have done nothing substantial to supply textbooks, by Raj Bahadur Shahi (kp) [Complete disinterest of the central and provincial male elite in fulfilling their actual tasks!], Candidates of all stripes promise water supply as always, but never deliver : The people of Surkhet in mid-western Nepal continue to live a hard life for lack of clean drinking water, Harihar Singh Rathore & Jyotee Katuwal (kp), Low conviction rate prompts CIAA to appeal at top court in record numbers : Watchdog says it has appealed in 122 cases since the start of the current fiscal year, which is more than double the appeals it filed in the whole of fiscal year 2021-22, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Unsustainable spending : The populist policy of generous cash handouts could ultimately bleed the state coffers dry (kp), November 20 elections: Will they emulate the local polls?, by Mahendra P Joshi (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/11/2022: State Control over Media in Nepal, by Subodh Gautam (rep), In Chitwan-2, voters preferring Rabi Lamichhane over established parties : Nepal Live Today’s one-day observation in Chitwan-2 shows that most voters are increasingly in favor of Rabi Lamichhane, by DB Khadka and Narayan Adhikari (nlt), Election Commission requests : Supreme Court to vacate interim order on Dr Toshima Karki’s candidacy Karki is a candidate for federal parliamentary seat from Lalitpur-3 (kp) [Many of the failed politicians who are now running again have much more important "offices of benefit", e.g. the prime minister and his council of ministers. Will they also be disqualified?], Independent candidates galore in Nov 20 race (kh), ‘Tragic brilliance’ federalism : Citizens not only accept the defects, but also play a role in maintaining the system, by Achyut Wagle (kp), A toxic cocktail An alliance between wealth and power is a structural problem that all nations have to handle, by Prakash Chandra Lohani (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/11/2022: Supreme Court issues interim order in favour of ‘No Not Again’ campaign : Election Commission has threatened action against campaign members involved in posting photos of prominent politicians on social media (kp) [The SC's decision means a victory of the right to freedom over the anti-democratic EC and and the failed politicians it protects!], Former Election Commissioners request the EC to act with restraint (rep), Citizens demand greater fairness and accountability from Election Commission : Amid allegations that the poll body has not been able to enforce code of conduct equally on all candidates, citizenry have urged the Election Commission to increase its vigil as the poll date is drawing close (nlt), Invisible burden of gender bias : There is much to do to address the hierarchical power division between men and women, by Devika Thapa (kp), Big parties may win fewer proportional seats this election : The number of parties crossing the three percent vote threshold is expected to rise in November 20 elections, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Climate shocks add risks to Nepal’s power projects : Hydropower assets face risks due to erratic precipitation, glacial melting, and high rates of runoff and erosion, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Achham prisoners eager to cast ballot but only a few are registered voters : There are a total of 82 inmates in the Mangalsen-based district prison, but only seven are in the voter roll, by Menuka Dhungana (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/11/2022: Fringe forces’ boycott puts focus back on election security : Chand’s party says it will actively boycott the upcoming elections and retaliate if the government uses force, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Deuba responds to Oli’s boundary barb, emphasises dialogue over diatribe : KP Oli had lambasted the ruling alliance for its silence on the boundary issue and accused them of surrendering to India (kp), Janata Samajbadi manifesto fails to focus on citizenship issue : Party leaders, however, say the citizenship issue was mentioned implicitly, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [The JSP is forgetting one of the most important reasons why Madheshis should vote for this party!], Psychological aspect of Nepali politics : The politicians' existential angst comes out clearly in their unrealistic work plans, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Educating linguistic minority children : Nepal’s educational development is impacted mainly by a lack of opportunities for multilingual education, by Puskar Joshi (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/11/2022: Embankment to protect Dodhara Chandani is always a poll agenda : The old embankment built in 1994 has lost its original height to siltation in the Mahakali river and provides little protection to the settlements, by Bhawani Bhatta (kp), Mental health absent from poll manifestos : Leaders of political parties say they are aware of the problems and their commitments on health covers the issue (kp), Climate change may hurt Nepal’s remittance earnings : Migrant workers sent home Rs1 trillion in the last fiscal year, making it the primary lifeline of the country’s economy, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Home Ministry identifies 23 groups that may seek to disrupt upcoming elections, by Binod Subedi (rep), The Need Of Civic Renewal, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/11/2022: NA special committee furnishes 99-point federalism execution recommendations (kh), Majhi settlement where candidates reach merely for votes (kh), Parties’ higher education pledges smack of hypocrisy : While they promise to attract foreigners to local varsities, Nepalis don’t seem much interested in studying here and are leaving the country in record numbers, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Upper house panel suggests fewer ministries to cut costs : Calls for scrapping 10 federal ministries and reducing the number of provincial ministries to 10 percent of assembly’s size, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), A burning issue : The violence on the environment is a transnational problem and we need a collective resolve to tackle it (kp), Manifestos of political parties : They only show the dream of trains, but don't build them, by Himal Lamsal (rep), Parties Must Deliver On Promises, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Many Nepalis say no, not again : Voters urge each other to replace elderly established politicians with competent new leadership, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/11/2022: Whole bunch of lies : The manifestos of big parties are more a reflection of their lust for power than of their commitment to the people and the country (kp), What’s behind the growing calls to ‘scrap’ provinces? Political parties have been accused of trying to centralise powers instead of working to strengthen the seven provinces, and ultimately rendering them ‘irrelevant’, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Three Communist parties to boycott elections (kh) [Most likely, these parties would not win a seat anyway!], 100 voting centres to be disabled-friendly (kh) [Out of 22,226 voting centres!!!], Victims of last month’s Pyuthan landslides languish in school buildings : Authorities concerned have offered assurances but haven’t done anything to resettle the displaced victims yet, they say, by Shamsher Bikram GC (kp), Who would be prime minister if alliance wins polls? The CPN-UML central committee has picked KP Sharma Oli as the party’s prime minister candidate. But the four-party alliance has not figured out one, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Our election, their election : Sunak was chosen not for his longevity in politics, but because he was considered the best, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Managing Nepal’s fiscal risks : These risks are caused by political and administrative errors made in managing the public economy, by Gopi K Khanal (kp), FNJ warns Press Council Nepal of disobedience if the latter does not correct its decision (rep), Candidates Must Focus On Poverty Reduction, by Devendra Gautam (rn), Parliamentary special panel recommends to keep 15 federal and five provincial ministries (kh) [Sounds very rational!], The tricky post-election power-sharing deal, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), How strong is the anti-incumbency wave?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Nepal’s election culture and its ills, by Ram Dayal Rakesh (ae), Contest of the young turks, by Pranab Kharel (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), AP1 and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/11/2022: Don’t be biased : Election Commission is letting the powerful off the hook while raining sticks on the weak (kp) [There are numerous reasons to exclude the failed politicians from the elections due to various misconduct. Oli's  repeated unconstitutional attempt to dissolve parliament in order to maintain his own power was only the most blatant case!], EC directs PM’s office to postpone PM Deuba’s Dadeldhura trip (kh) [An excellent example of the high-handedness and irresponsibility of Nepali politicians! Of course, even a prime minister has to finance his election campaign himself or through his party.], Electoral alliances add to the voters’ confusion : Voters supporting alliance candidates will need to cast ballots on different symbols for candidates and the political parties, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The electoral alliances are anti-democratic and only serve to keep the failed politicians in power!], Nepali women packing a punch : Nepal occupies a respectable 16th position among the 133 countries regarding the proportion of elected seats held by women, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp) [This comparison is misleading! The high percentage of women is based on legal regulations. Responsibility is still withheld from women today. Moreover, the legal regulations are increasingly undermined by the leading male politicians!], Dalit women in Nepali politics: Underrepresented, undermined, discriminated and oppressed : If political parties are really serious about ending the social discrimination, they should not hesitate to provide enough opportunities to Dalit women, by Radha Nepali (nlt), Election manifestos promise the moon as political parties jockey for position : The declarations have become a mere ritual with little relevance, economists say, by Pawan Pandey (kp) [The politicians should be punished by the voters for this bullshit. Should they nevertheless remain in power thanks to their manipulations, they must be held accountable for their deliberate lies!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/11/2022: “Press Council has attacked press freedom and journalists' rights in Nepal” (rep), Nepalis abroad are well-informed, angry and frustrated with politics back home : Rarely do the political actors in Nepal talk about the welfare of Nepalis living and working in foreign countries. Rarely does the subject of migrant workers become the election agenda, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), SC hearing writ on EC’s notice against “No, Not Again” today (kh), Supreme Court orders Election Commission not to scrap Dr Toshima Karki’s candidacy (nlt), Maoist manifesto for directly elected President, fully proportional system : Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, the other two major parties, are opposed to executive presidency, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Chhath’s essence is equality but Dalits still left out : For Dalits in Bara, the four-day festival was a stark reminder of the discrimination they have been subjected to for decades, by Laxmi Sah (kp), RPP pledges monarchy as guardian and directly-elected prime minister : The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has also proposed to scrap the provinces and go for a two-tier federal structure (kp) [A return to the monarchy, like the questioning of the federal system, is grossly unconstitutional and must not be tolerated under any circumstances. Parties which oppose the existing legal order should not be admitted to the elections!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

31/10/2022: How the already-marginalized Dalit community is marginalized in Nepali politics : The representation of the Dalit Community, which accounts for almost 15 percent of the country’s population, in the parliament is expected to fall as only a few Dalit candidates got tickets from major political parties for the upcoming polls, by Laxman Darnal (nlt), UN CEDAW concerned about dire situation of women's rights, gender equality (ht), Voting for the independents : Their election victory will send a message to the political lifers and their servile cadres, by Naresh Koirala (kp), Toshima Karki’s ouster from race raises questions over poll authority’s intent : Law experts challenge Election Commission’s expansive interpretation of the term ‘office of benefit’, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Toshima reaches SC against rejection of her candidature by EC (rep), Dearth of creativity: The voter awareness message of the Election Commission is ditto copy of an Indian video : When the Election Commission was asked for comment, the officials said it is unfair to raise questions on every single matter of the Commission (nlt), Senior Advocate Tripathi challenges Election Commission’s notification against “No Not Again” campaign, by Sanjeev Nepal (nlt), Internal rift emerges as a big headache for Maoist Centre : Many party workers are dissatisfied with the Maoist leadership’s selection of candidates, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Parties Set To Advance Canvassing, by Ballav Dahal (rn), KMC’s decision to lock up Rani Pokhari during Chhath disappoints worshippers : Organising committee blames the city for not providing space to celebrate the festival this year even though the reconstruction of the pond is over, by Anup Ojha (kp) [This reflects the delusion of superiority and intolerance of the Tagadhari minority of the hill region towards the Tarai Hindus!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/10/2022: Election Commission’s unconstitutional act : The attempt by the constitutional body to curb criticism of top leaders is against the spirit of freedom of speech, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), EC scraps Dr Toshima's candidacy (rep), Toshima to knock on SC doors against the rejection of her candidature by EC (rep), Dr Karki doubts EC’s impartiality, intention : To move Supreme Court (kh), Nepali Congress mum on secularism, vows to strengthen federalism : The party’s manifesto says it will create 1.25 million job opportunities in the next five years, if voted to power, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [A party that is not clearly in favour of secularism is against proper inclusion of all groups in society!], European Union to skip monitoring upcoming polls : As many as 10,000 observers from 43 domestic and four international organisations will watch the elections (kp) [Possibly the reason is that this time the elections are already anything but fair and socially inclusive in the run-up! There are serious violations of the law on the part of the top politicians and their parties, but the Election Commission only wants to punish civil society for criticising this misconduct!], Two girls, both aged four, killed as IED goes off in Kalikot : Three other children seriously injured in the blast are undergoing treatment, by Tularam Pandey (kp), An open letter to Nepali political leaders : The beauty of democracy is that once in five years the political leadership becomes an advocate alluring voters to side with them on specific agendas while voters like me become the deciding forces, by Niraj Shrestha (nlt) [This time, the top politicians, most of whom have already failed several times, are also taking this task from the voters in order to secure their hold on power!!!!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/10/2022: Outrage as poll authority cracks down on negative campaigning : Critics say Election Commission misunderstood citizens’ rights to free speech and vote, by Anup Ojha and Anush Gurung (kp) [It is not the public that needs to be criticised for their clear and correct words, but the power-hungry politicians for their incessant false statements! The Election Commission is once again relying on false values and violating people's fundamental rights! The politicians can claim whatever they want and the people have to accept this without comment?], What drives people to vote in Nepal? Many people vote for party candidates in the hope of getting personal favours, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [Therefore, the politicians lie like hell, and whoever exposes these lies will be punished!], One dies and four get injured in bomb blast in Kalikot (kh), Two die in Kalikot Bomblast (kh), Thousands of workers evicted in Qatar’s capital ahead of World Cup (kh) [The next step in the policy of exploitation of the workers! When will the World Cup finally be cancelled? Money must not justify everything!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/10/2022: Curfew still in place in Mahottari (kh), Election Commission issues ‘Gender and Inclusive Policy-2077 BS’ (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/10/2022: Nov 20 election: 2,199 candidates in fray for PR seats in HoR (kh), Avoid risky dealings with Beijing, by Adhiraj Regmi (kh), 52 succumb to mosquito-borne infection so far : Dengue spreads to all 77 districts of the country (kh), Curfew imposed in Mahottari (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/10/2022: EC disqualifies 550 candidates under PR category (kh), EC determines specific criteria for election canvassing in media (kh), Election Commission urges not to give offensive expression (kp) [???]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/10/2022: Election Commission mum as parties hold ‘informal’ rallies : Code of conduct says parties and candidates cannot begin electioneering until November 3, byTika R Pradhan (kp), Crude politics of elections : The election campaign has effectively turned into a mudslinging competition, by Achyut Wagle (kp), What are new parties offering that traditional ones don’t? Many have laid emphasis on effective implementation of constitution and shoring up federalism, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Why Nepal should balance geopolitics and take advantage from China, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Ditch the hammer, Balen : The goal is to balance the interests of those involved in these informal trRajdhani
Rising Nepal
Sauryaade with pedestrian comfort (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/10/2022: The declared ideals of 2006 and today’s political impasse, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh), Inclusion commissions at loggerheads over report : Tharu Commission has objected to the Madheshi Commission’s move to include the surnames of the Tharu people as Madheshis, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Debt concern grows as government borrowing doubles in three years : Newly enacted law on public debt management caps the external loans Nepal can take at a third of its gross domestic product, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Hundreds of PR candidates snub Election Commission’s fines : Candidates ranked low on lists, who have no hope of being elected, wish to be delisted, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This puts the whole PR system and the idea of social inclusion in question! What will happen to parties that cannot name enough PR candidates?], Why ‘transfer’ votes? By voting a certain way people can make their dislike for unnatural coalitions known (kp), Poll Literacy Boosts Voter Turnout, by Ballav Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/10/2022: Indigenous Nationalities Commission slammed for proposing revisions to existing reservation system : Commission officials seem to have fallen into a trap set by anti-reservation groups who want to scrap the inclusive system, say marginalised group activists, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This is due to the fact that all constitutional commissions are hand-picked individuals selected by the high-caste male state elite for whom the orders and interests of their anti-inclusive and anti-democratic masters have absolute priority!], Pregnant, disabled, elderly to miss vote (ht) [related to Bajura], Women contenders in direct race have it tough in upcoming parliamentary elections : Major parties have been reluctant to field women candidates. Even the few in the fray have a battle in their hands, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Rebel candidates continue to be a headache for Nepali Congress : The party asks them to withdraw from the race. Congress members have also been inactive in constituencies where alliance partners have fielded candidates, by Anil Giri (kp), The government should expand child grants : With 40 percent of the population under 18 in Nepal, investing in children is more important than ever, by Meenakshi Ganguly and Lena Simet (kp), Fighting Fake News For Fair Polls, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/10/2022: What’s wrong with regional parties? Most of them have grown weaker after deviating from their popular agendas, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), ‘Tourist’ candidates seen buying or renting houses in constituencies they don’t originally belong : Although this is not seen as a breach of election code of conduct, such candidates’ motive is to manipulate voters, says former election commissioner Uprety, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Defining Autonomy Of Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/10/2022: Things that cannot be said : Apoorwa Singh’s case is a timely reminder of the need to rethink and revise our idea of free speech (kp), Single Mothers and the Proposed Citizenship Bill, by Monal Bhattarai (rep), Nepal inflation skyrockets to 8.64 percent; double compared to last year (nlt), Kathmandu voters remain an enigma : Historically, the national capital’s voters have been known to give a chance to new (and often unexpected) candidates, by Binod Ghimire (kp), The path of federalism : The time when citizens had to run to the country's capital for minor paperwork has ended, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Break Kathmandu-Centric Federalism, by Prabin Manandhar (sp), Previously companions, now competitors, by Balkrishna Adhikari (rep), Hold Elected Leaders Accountable, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Alliance versus alliance (sp) [Better call it alliances versus democracy!], Constitutional Commissions: Search For Visible Role, by Keshab Poudel (sp), Coalition government at all levels after upcoming elections: Home Minister Khand (rn) [In a federal state, this is definitely not the decision-making power of the national government!], Gambling with our future : Let us hope that on 20 November Nepalis will have the good fortune of dealing from a brand new deck of cards (nt), House of cards : Nepalis are preparing to vote next month in a sterile election devoid of ideology and principles, by Sonia Awale (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/10/2022: Nepal on the verge of serious hunger problems : Nutrition scientists say immediate measures of intervention are needed to avoid further deterioration of the situation, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Nepal Votes 2022: As election date nears, fears, worries and doubts about fair polls : "Voters are being dictated. They are being threatened to vote for certain parties in coalition. People's free will is not being respected" (nlt), Contractors with deep pockets are wading into electoral politics : Among the parties, Nepali Congress has fielded most contractors for first-past-the-post seats of lower house, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Whither political debate? Public debates help make prospective voters cast their ballots judiciously (kp), Fool Us Once, Fool Us Twice…, by Akhilesh Tripathi (rep), Expect stiffer US-China contestation in Nepal, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Our parties desperately need reform (ae), What to expect from Nov 20 elections?, by Chandra Dev Bhatta (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/10/2022: Are MPs lawmakers or development workers? Politicians say they are forced to make promises related to development works to appeal to the masses during polls, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Woman allegedly tortured in custody : The victim says officers physically abused her to extract confession, by Bharat Jargha Magar (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/10/2022: Exclusionary inclusion : Marginalisation of the country’s small ethnic groups is a tragedy of modern Nepali politics (kp), Expectations from the Election Commission Nepal : It is up to the commission to be the responsive, fair, judicious, and autonomous body it is, by Ila Sharma (kp), Government mute spectator as extreme weather hits farmers : As climate change-induced disasters increase, thousands of people face the risk of hunger, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Multidimensional poverty slumped in Nepal before Covid-19, global report says : Earlier, a national report had warned that the Covid-19 pandemic could disrupt the past gains, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/10/2022: Democracy is not dignified when economy is poor, by Kalyan Shrestha (kh), Nepal in second position among South Asian nations in Global Hunger Index 2022 (kh), EC to scrap PR candidacy of those candidates who vied in local polls but did not submit expense details (kh), The race for national party status : Results of the local elections put CPN (Unified Socialist) and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, with 3.66 percent and 2.12 percent popular votes respectively, on the brink, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Yet more promises : Election manifesto publication has also been turned into no more than a ritual (kp), Govt urged to contain possible incidences of women violence during elections (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/10/2022: Khas Arya candidates outnumber in inclusive category (kh) [42% of the candidates from the Khas Arya group, which accounts for 30% of the total population! This is what the ruling elite calls "inclusive" under the PR system!], Vote transfer among alliance partners is a tricky business : Realising the challenges of supporters switching votes, ruling alliance decides to organise joint poll campaigns, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [This is not a democratic election, but a rigged farce with the sole aim of keeping the failed and outdated party leaders in power!], Ethical Politics On The Wan, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), For workers, foreign jobs more crucial than voting : Young Nepalis are leaving the country for foreign employment in record numbers, statistics show, by Pawan Pandey (kp) [In any case, none of the top politicians will work to create jobs in the country!], Transitional justice bodies get terms extension without chairs and members : Though the commissions have got the extension of their terms, they will continue to remain defunct in the lack of the office bearers (kp), Senior lives matter : This time, let us vote for what we want rather than what everybody else expects us to want, by Poonam Thapa (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/10/2022: Nearly half of ethnic groups unrepresented in Parliament in 15 years of PR exercise : The proportional representation system seems to benefit only the communities that are affluent and better linked, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Constitutional Bench’s inaction holding up vital national issues : Supreme Court records show the last time the bench conducted hearings was more than two months ago (kp), Government plan to allow private firms to trade power faces presidential obstruction : President Bidya Devi Bhandari has been sitting on an ordinance to amend the Electricity Act for introducing new provisions for over two weeks, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Balance Between Civic Rights And Duties, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/10/2022: 3-party dictatorship : Nepal’s break-up and make-up electoral politics undermines democracy (nt), Nepal’s parties forge new pre-poll alliances : Seat sharing deals for November's federal elections indicate that ideology does not matter anymore, by Shristi Karki (nt) [Party ideologies have long been lost! It's all about power and the advantages of the top politicians!], Advocates of independent politics fall into party line : Campaigners aiming for a new way of doing politics organise for proportional electoral seats, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Opportunity For New Faces, by Yug Bahadur (rn), More than a numbers game : While casting their votes, people must shun rank opportunists and unholy coalitions (kp), Constituencies to keep an eye on in November elections : Shifting party loyalties could result in some of the closest races in Nepal’s poll history, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Prime minister sacks four Janata Samajbadi ministers : They had believed that Deuba wouldn’t take such a major decision after the poll code came into force, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), SC moved against nine contestants : Petitioner seeks apex court order barring them from contesting polls (ht), CM Raut dismisses NC ministers (kp) [Once again, a sign of complete misunderstanding of the federal state: if a party leaves the government at the national level, it is logical that its ministers must quit. But the provincial level must not have anything to do with this. If everything depends on the power-hungry losers at the national level, you can forget about federalism!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/10/2022: Federal and provincial elections: Test for the independent candidates : Several challenges will confront the independent candidates if they will win in the upcoming federal and provincial elections. Yet also they will have the greatest opportunity to re-shape the political space in Nepal, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), JSP-UML electoral alliance shows politics makes strangest bedfellows : Bonhomie between Janata Samajbadi, a party advocating Madheshi rights, and CPN-UML, its ideological nemesis, suggests a decline of agenda-based politics, experts say, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), No room for experts in Nepali politics : Experts say the problem with Nepali leaders is most of them consider themselves ‘Mr know all’ and ignore expert advice, by Anup Ojha (kp), EC requests not to conduct opinion polls related to political parties and candidates (rep) [Such opinion polls would be an import tool as in all democratic states of the world!], 2,412 in fray for 165 FPTP HoR seats : Less than 10 per cent of contestants are women (ht), Parties disappoint voters again, by Cilla Khatra (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/10/2022: Parties shortchange Dalits, women and Janajatis : Weak representation of members of the marginalised communities as direct election candidates makes a mockery of major parties’ commitment to inclusion, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),  Candidates start electioneering in blatant disregard of poll code : As per the Election Commission’s code of conduct, campaigning is allowed only from November 3, by Binod Ghimire (kp), UML withdraws candidacy in Chitwan-3, to support NC’s rebel candidate (nlt) [Power strategies of undemocratic parties and politicians! Nepal's oligarchs make a mockery of Nepal's elections!], The loneliness of Madheshi politicos : The story of the struggles, successes and limitations of Madheshi politicians in Nepal, by CK Lal (kp), Division in Madhesh forces darkens their electoral prospects : Two major parties in Madhesh pitted against each other will fare worse this time than in last elections, analysts say, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Ideology Crisis In Nepal Politics, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Whack-a-mole : The practice of Chhaupadi won’t be removed with the current top-down approach (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/10/2022: Continuity over change : The new roster of tried and tested electoral candidates does not inspire much confidence (kp), Nepali elections are becoming a battle of same old faces : Lack of internal democracy in political parties is mainly to be blamed, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Maybe not yet a failing state, but definitely a failing democracy!], Subverting political federalism : The coalition culture has sidelined deserving candidates in favour of cronies and sycophants, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Major political parties fall short to ensure gender parity in politics : Almost all political parties have an extremely lower ratio of women to men candidates fielded under the first-past-the-post category in the upcoming elections (nlt), Zero woman candidacy for HoR member in Baitadi (kh), Checking the monitor : Misuse of power and govt resources during elections by those in power is quite common (ht), The centrality of elections in political process : Historically, the parties that shied away from elections have become irrelevant, by Thira L Bhusal (kp), Multiple organ failures of the nation: Can the new election lead to its recovery?, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Beyond the bill: What lies behind the controversy on Nepal’s citizenship legislation? Nepal appears to be mired in a collision between the head of state and the government as the former refused to sign the citizenship bill into law on September 20, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), 57 parties file nomination towards FPTP for HoR election: EC (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/10/2022: A whiff of change in the air on candidate nomination day : Independents challenge many party heavyweights as Election Commission registers candidacy across country, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Women politicians from Madhesh accuse party brass of bias in selecting candidates : Nepotism and monetary influence have held sway in candidate selection in all major parties, they say, by Santosh Singh (kp), Parties deny dissidents tickets, many hit back by filing rebel candidacies : Many leaders have even allied with rival forces against the candidates of the mother party or its electoral alliance, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), “Elections will be held in free, fair and fear-free environment” (kh) [It takes a lot of audacity to tell the people that the elections are fair. Once again, the bulk of the candidates are male Bahuns. Women hardly make an appearance, Dalits certainly not. The sole purpose of the electoral alliances is to secure the power of the failed, power-addicted so-called top politicians once again. In "fair elections", politicians do not contest once they have failed; rather, they immediately resign from all offices, allowing for continuous renewal and rejuvenation of their parties. This is even more true for politicians who have trampled on the constitution. Nepal is not a democracy, but an oligarchy!], Nominations filed : The polls this time are most unpredictable with the voters greatly frustrated with the affairs of the state (ht), Fear of ‘financial system collapse’ lingers : Economy is the priority, not politics, by Govind Nepal (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/10/2022: Top leaders pick constituencies, Dahal opts for Gorkha : Race hots up as political parties field their first-past-the-post candidates today for the November 20 elections, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Let Election Ensure Stability, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn) [This hope is unlikely to be fulfilled, as all the failed politicians continue to consider themselves indispensable. The continuation of patriarchy, social non-inclusion, Bahunbad and personal power struggles is guaranteed!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/10/2022: Conflict victims worried as fate of transitional justice commissions hangs in the balance : Terms of Truth and Reconciliation and Enforced Disappeared Persons commissions expire on October 17, by Binod Ghimire (kp), As nomination day nears, key partner quits ruling alliance : Unhappy with coalition’s offer, Janata Samajbadi reaches out to Oli. Loktantrik Samajbadi jumps in to fill the void, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), LSP leaders in Baluwatar for decisive talks with the ruling coalition (kh), UML offers Janata Samajbadi what ruling alliance has refused : Leaders say deal is almost done and negotiations are focussed on individual constituencies, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/10/2022: Nepal: Five Observations with the Second National Election, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), NC row: Koirala faction reiterates demand of 40 percent share (kh), Congress camps close ranks with revision to proportional candidacy : Koirala faction, which had demanded fairness in candidate selection, gets 35 percent share, by Purushottam Poudel and Nishan Khatiwada (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/10/2022: 29 candidates withdraw candidacy from the closed list (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/10/2022: EC to publish name list of election candidates on October 11 (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/10/2022: Democracy is under threat from false online information, says journalism educator : "If a claim online makes you want to scream, cry or buy, take a breath before sharing”, interview with  Linda Austin (nlt), How sustainable is hydropower development in Nepal?, by Sudip Acharya (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/10/2022: ‘Parties lack willpower to ensure proportional representation of marginalised communities’, interview with Pradip Pariyar, executive chairperson of the Samata Foundation, who advocates the rights of marginalised people in Nepal and currently leads the #DalitLivesMatter movement (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/10/2022: Personal feuds, fake social media posts new security risks for the elections : Unlike in the past, the primary threats are not the parties that have boycotted the November 20 elections, by Anil Giri (kp), Government struggling to hit revenue targets after prolonged import curbs : Its contrasting policy of reducing imports but boosting revenues, as expected, appears to be headed for a failure. Election-targeted populist measures have not helped either, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Janata Samajbadi hints at leaving five-party electoral alliance : Leaders from Unified Socialist and Janata Samajbadi are irked as Nepali Congress and Maoist Centre want more seats while diminishing their prospects, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), JSP signals exit from ruling coalition (rep), JSP-N unhappy with ruling alliance : Ready for poll tie up with UML, DSP-N or other parties, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Discontent Brewing Over PR Lists, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/10/2022: Climate change in Himalayan region worsens existing gender and social inequalities : ICIMOD and UN launch a report analysing gender dimensions of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, by Askriti Ghimire (kp) [see ICIMOD report], Ending The Irony Of Politics : The parliamentary politics of Nepal is confined by its constitutional frame of adversarial mode, power collusion and patronage based political culture, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Madhesh parties struggle to stay relevant in their heartland : As regional parties drift from core Madhesh issues, big parties try to cash in on growing public frustration, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [The responsibility lies equally with their leaders and the machinations of the major parties! The loser will be the Madheshi people.], Can Nepal afford an ‘$8 billion’ rail line from Lhasa to Kathmandu? Questions galore over costs and benefits of the ambitious project. Nepali leg alone is expected to cost over $3 billion, by Anil Giri (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/09/2022: Dalit man beaten up for entering temple : Police have detained three people, including ward chair, in connection with the incident, by Arjun Shah (kp), 3,500 Kalikot households without power for seven years : The local Sannigad micro hydropower project is in disrepair since 2019, by Tularam Pandey (kp), Poll body using army, police to monitor media : Observers swiftly criticise the poll body’s decision, by Makar Shrestha (kp), Freedom Forum concerned over EC’s move (kh), Swing votes : Politics is not about people, it is only about power in Nepal – more so than elsewhere, by Shristi Karki (nt), Independents are widening their reach : Rising public frustration stemming from the failure of traditional parties is cited as the main fuel for independent candidates, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Young voters, old leaders : Age is not the only problem of our graying leaders. They also don’t have anything new to offer (kp), ‘Rastriyata’ and the abuse of emotions : Unyielding nationalism is not realistic in today’s world, and it is time we started rethinking ours, by Naresh Koirala (kp), India pressures Nepal to stop Pakistani and Chinese nationals at the border (rep 30/09/2022) [????]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/09/2022: Voters favour women, party leaders don’t : Selection of candidates is based on whims of male politicians as women are under-represented in top party committees, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp) [The party leaders are and remain the greatest propagandists of patriarchy and the non-inclusive state!], Amid tricky geopolitics, Nepal should navigate carefully, say experts (nlt), Audience and readers of mass communication media drop: Report, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh) [see report], Partners in crime : The finance minister and the governor should work together to rescue the flailing economy (kp), Teachers bunking classes : On any given day, more than 80,000 teachers are estimated to be absent from Nepali schools, by Arun Joshi (kp), Data can strengthen democratic systems : A successful democracy provides men and women equal opportunities for representation, by Rohini Pande, Adnan Khan & Michael Callen (kp), Ward chairman who beat up a Dalit man for entering temple lands in police custody, by Krishna Oli (rep), Civic Engagement In Electoral Politics, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Organisations disappointed over prez's refusal to sign citizenship bill (ht), Dalit family deprived of govt facilities (ht), LGBTIQA+ community in Nepal: Upset over electoral underrepresentation, by Cilla Khatry (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/09/2022: National Human Rights Commission slated to lose its top international status : Controversial appointments are to blame. Relegation by Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions will tarnish Nepal’s image abroad, experts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The main responsibility for Nepal's international loss of reputation lies with ex-Prime Minister Oli and "his" President Bhandari. But the Deuba government and the SC also have to face blame for their inaction!], Stakeholders call for reforms in transparency of fiscal information (rep), Finance Ministry, Nepal Rastra Bank go separate ways as economic crisis looms : The ministry forms panel to suggest measures to address private sector’s concerns over expensive loans. The central bank is still averse to cutting interest rates, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Election code of conduct comes into force : Observers doubt effective implementation. Election Commission categories constituencies and fixes spending ceilings between Rs2.5 million to Rs3.3 million for lower house seats, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), EC’s code of conduct not practical: NC spokesperson (rn), Use of pocket veto: Yet another disregard of the constitution, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Get the Governance Right, by Lal Shanker Ghimire (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/09/2022: Stumbling on alliances : There has been no compelling rationale for the forging of pre-poll alliances (kp), Constitutionalism in crisis : Ironically, the final interpreter of the constitution, the Supreme Court, itself is mired in hazy confusion, by Achyut Wagle (kp), “UML instigated the President to postpone elections”, interview with Ram Narayan Bidari (kh), Debate Over President's Bill Refusal, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), US Acting Assistant Secretary Trudeau visiting Nepal (kh) [Unabated global power struggles on the back of Nepal!], “Labeling constitutional violation as political move cannot strengthen democracy” (kh), FNJ expects political parties to give space for press freedom in election manifesto (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/09/2022: Ramechhap woman beaten to death on witchcraft charges : Bibi Majhi died a cruel death at the hands of her villagers. Her 70-year-old mother suffered severe injuries (kp), Carefully now, Mr Mayor : Elected leaders must abide by democratic norms. Popularity is no ticket to waywardness (kp) [This is exactly what is constantly disregarded, from the president to the government and parties down to the local level!], Dhankuta mass resignations hint of dogfight in Maoist Centre for poll tickets : Politburo member Hemraj Bhandari says he will contest as an independent after sensing his likely snub as a direct-election candidate from the coalition, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Court seeks clarification on President’s refusal to authenticate citizenship bill : Petitioners want court to set precedent on the issue so that such problems don’t repeat (kp), Stagflation : Or a bumpy inflation in Nepal?, by Kanchan Rauniyar (ht), ICJ deplores lack of public health preparedness in Nepal necessary to address latest surge in dengue cases : “Unfortunately, the government’s responses and preparations to combat dengue fever remain wholly inadequate” (nlt) [see report by ICJ, 23/09/2022] [People need to understand that politicians are so busy with their power struggles and manipulations that they cannot care about such things!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/09/2022: Dr Govinda KC ends hunger strike after 10-point agreement with govt (nlt) [As always before, the government will not stick to anything it has agreed to!], Ruling coalition to begin discussion on provincial seat sharing (kh) [It shows a complete lack of understanding of federalism when the national level interferes with the competences of the provinces and the local level!], What kind of president did the new republic imagine? President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s recent political activism has trained the focus on the roles and responsibilities of the institution she represents, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), President counter-accuses government of breaching constitution : Days after the ruling parties accused her of violating the constitution, the President writes to government to regularly brief her on Cabinet decisions, by Anil Giri (kp), President Runs The Gauntlet, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), SC issues show cause order to President’s Office (kh), People found unaware of laws (rn), Bhattarai, Dahal say they are joining forces (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/09/2022: A new type of people’s war is necessary for socialism: Prachanda (kh), Verdict on petitions against President’s move unlikely before a month : As court goes on Dashain vacation from September 26 to October 9, it will not hear cases other than habeas corpus (kp) [Take your time! What does it matter if the president, the prime minister or both of them in close cooperation trample on the constitution and stage coups, as has happened repeatedly in the past two years?], Adjusting To Shifting Geopolitics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/09/2022: Rule of the lawless : Following the rules in Nepal is an exception, rather than the rule (nt), Democratic breakdown : The chase for power has made each individual wielding authority turn against democratic institutions (kp), Public Expectations From Polls, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Will escalating tensions hit November elections? The President is accused of foiling the citizenship bill to muddy the waters, sensing UML’s poor poll prospects, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), The ball is now in Supreme Court as Sheetal Niwas and Baluwatar face off : A single bench to decide whether or not to send the petitions to the Constitutional Bench, by Binod Ghimire (kp), SC scheduled to hear petitions against President’s move to reject Citizenship Amendment Bill (nlt), SC hearing on writs against President’s non-certification of Citizenship Bill fails to take place (kh) [??], President Bhandari addressed GSI against Nepal’s foreign policy: MoFA (rep), President’s precedent, by Shristi Karki (nt), Inoculation against misinformation : As Nepal’s elections near, fact-checking, media literacy and monitoring can foster trust in public institutions, by Deepak Adhikari (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/09/2022: The political games : One can only hope that wise heads prevail in the current coalition, by Deepak Thapa (kp), 'Commissions failed to deliver as per expectations (rn), Parties scramble for response to Sheetal Niwas subterfuge : PM consults legal experts, who suggest multiple options, by Binod Ghimire (kp), President’s message aired at China’s GSI event despite government’s reservations : Kathmandu-based diplomats call government officials to register their concerns over the President’s virtual participation in the event, by Anil Giri (kp), President must pay : Bhandari seems ready to buttress her former party’s nationalist image even if it means tainting her’s (kp), ‘An exercise to find alternative to incumbent govt by postponing elections’ (rep), Petition filed at Supreme Court against President for not certifying Citizenship Bill (rep), Nepal struggles to balance ties with three major powers, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/09/2022: Political parties continue to abuse proportional representation system : Many nominees in the closed lists submitted to Election Commission have repeatedly occupied positions of power, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Women MPs, unite : A new women’s parliamentary caucus is needed at a time when they are being brazenly discriminated (kp), Fixing a flawed quota system : The solution to the loopholes is not discontinuation but evidence-based revision, by Divya Rana and Vibhav Pradhan (kp), President rejects citizenship bill, tramples on the constitution : Her refusal will deny state ID to half a million people who awaited the bill’s passage, by Tika R Pradhan and Purushottam Poudel (kp), President refuses to authenticate Citizenship Amendment Bill : The 15-day timeline given to the President by the Constitution for certification expired at Tuesday midnight (nlt), President Bhandari violates Constitution as she refuses to certify Citizenship Amendment Bill, by Balkrishna Adhikari (rep), President refuses to sign citizenship bill into law, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Deadline for authenticating Citizenship Bill ends : Citizenship Bill "inactive" as President declines to authenticate (kh), Prez Bhandari’s ‘rejection’ of Citizenship Bill creates ripples in political circle (kp), Ruling coalition issuing statement against President’s move (kh), Ruling coalition lambasts President Bhandari’s “unconstitutional” move to reject Citizenship Bill (kh), Bhandari attending Beijing’s GSI event after foreign ministry’s bungle, by Anil Giri (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/09/2022: Far West disaster victims struggle to survive : Landslides in Achham on Friday killed 22 people. In Kanchanpur and Kailali, floodwaters inundated several settlements and displaced hundreds, by Menuka Dhungana, Bhawani Bhatta and Mohan Budhaair (kp), Chief concerns : The manner in which the Chief Justice impeachment affair unfolded has been disheartening (kp), Controversies Surrounding Suspended CJ, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Minor rape victim's mother seeks security assurance after release of accused in Saptari (ht), Dr Gobinda KC refuses to fly to Kathmandu for treatment : The health crusader is currently on a hunger strike in Dhangadhi where his health condition is worrisome, say doctors. The government sent a Nepal Army helicopter to Dhangadhi to bring him to Kathmandu for further treatment on Tuesday (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/09/2022: Constitution Day: Time to deliver on promises rather than celebration, by Jivesh Jha (nlt) [Not even one of the old party leaders will ever deliver! Without exception, they have only selfish power interests. Besides, it is their constitution. The numerous shortcomings and contradictions of the constitution were their intention!], Centralised mindset still the biggest hurdle to charter implementation : Parties chose to block full implementation and introduced only selective changes to help themselves, experts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Seven Years On: Remembering Ashoj 3, by Randhir Chaudhary (rep), Leaders Must Uphold Constitution, by Bishnu Gautam (rn), “Mindset of political leaders hasn’t changed yet” : The party leaders still suffer the feudal mindset, interview with Prakash Rasaili (kh), Eighth Constitution Day: Political Correction for Proper Implementation of Constitution (kh), Seven topsy-turvy years : The constitution is by and large progressive. Only if our political parties adhered to it (kp), Five arrested for trying to torch constitution (kh) [And what about those who constantly break or disregard the constitution? In the end, this is much worse than burning a book!], Will Hinduism be an agenda in the upcoming elections? While events in India will have an impact, religion is as yet not a big vote-puller in Nepal, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [The Hindu state is not so much a question of religion, but a social and political concern. At stake is the question of inclusion and rights in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious state, the value of women, perceptions of caste, respect for other cultures, etc.], Vision for development in federal setup : We must get rid of the misconception that infrastructure development is just about connectivity. We must focus on creating new settlements in the rural areas, by Keshav Acharya (nlt), Challenging the old and channelling the new : Despite resistance to devolution, decentralisation has enhanced public service delivery, by Pukar Malla and Krishna Gyawali (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/09/2022: House panel recommends suspended CJ’s impeachment : Rana, however, is preparing to return to the Supreme Court as chief justice, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Parliament committee recommends impeaching suspended CJ Rana : Panel divided over proceeding; new parliament to take care of it (kh), Suspended CJ Rana confined at home; police deployed to prevent him from entering SC premises (kh), Has the govt placed suspended Chief Justice Rana under house arrest? (rep), Govt has shown its malafide intention by not letting me come out of my residence: Suspended CJ Rana (rep), Nepal Bar stages a sit-in to prevent Rana from entering SC (kh), Mud-slinging the order of the day in Parliament’s last sitting : House debates were largely centered on removal of Oli government and the citizenship issue, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), It’s either 40 percent ticket share or poll boycott, rival camp threatens Deuba : Leaders supporting Koirala-Thapa faction voice their fears of the Congress not fielding candidates from the camp, by Anil Giri (kp), Loan shark victims end struggle after five-point agreement : Government agrees to take measures to compensate the victims and reclaim land illegally taken by the lenders, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [And what about the brutal police attacks?], Street Vendors Left Out In The Cold?, by Parmeshwar Devkota (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/09/2022: How free is freedom of artistic expression in Nepal? Artists have been arrested now and then and at times censures have been imposed on their creations. What does this suggest about the freedom of expression in Nepal?, by Shrutika Raut (nlt), NGOs charged of concealing information (kh) [How is this different from the behaviour of political parties and their leaders?], Karnali residents have no grains ahead of festivals : Rice shortage is a perennial problem in the far-flung districts and government help is too little too late, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp), Leaders of Madheshi parties making a beeline for the UML : Observers term the election-time defections rank opportunism, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Better call it betrayal of the interests of Madheshi people because of selfish motives of their so-called leaders!], PM Deuba vows to hold Nov 20 elections in a fair manner as term of parliament expires at midnight tonight (kh) ["Fair" also means: no coercion of voters by the high-caste male party leaders through electoral alliances and adequate inclusion of all social groups, e.g., 50% female direct candidates, maximum of 6% each male Bahuns and Chhetris as candidates, proportion of Dalits, Janajtis, Madheshis according to their share of the population, etc.], EC demands mayors of various metropolis to pay Rs 700,000 each in fine for not submitting election expense details on time : Those sought fine includes KMC Mayor Shah, Dharan Mayor Sampang and Bharatpur Mayor Dahal (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali) and Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/09/2022: United in dotage : Old age runs deep in Nepal’s mainstream politics (nlt) [These failed politicians, who still believe they are indispensable, are, besides authoritarian party structures, the fundamental problem of Nepali politics!], RPP to field “popular” faces under PR category (kh) [Quite mendacious! What is sold as positive is in reality the only way to ensure the return of old politicians from this party as well, provided, of course, that the party gets over the 3-percent hurdle at all.], MP Pant's appeal to political parties to increase candidacy of women (rep), World Bank Group urges Nepal for comprehensive and scaled-up climate action (kh) [see World Bank report, 15/09/2022], World Bank launches Country Climate and Development Report : The GDP of Nepal is estimated to reduce by 7 percent in 2050 solely due to climate change (kp), Climate change expected to further affect Nepal, says World Bank report (ht), Nepal refuses to be pushed into a hasty decision on Indian’s Agnipath scheme : Ministry says government formed after November polls will take a call on if Nepalis can join Indian Army’s plan, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Speculations over communist alliance suit the Maoist Centre just fine : CPN-UML wants to forge an alliance with Maoist Centre, whose leaders won’t deny left alliance rumours, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), What will make Nepali soft power tick? Nepali stories, artists and entrepreneurs have the wherewithal to take on the world, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Govt decides to withdraw cases against Resham Chaudhary, other accused (rep), Dr KC’s health critical; he has refused to take medication, by Dil Bahadur Chhatyal (rep), 60-year-old Palpana fighting for her land for six years (rn), HoR, Province Assembly's term to expire from September 17 midnight (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), Sagarmatha TV (evening), and AP1 News (morning)

15/09/2022: Differences over definition of murder killing key TJ bill : As parties dispute over amnestiable and non-amnestiable crimes in parliamentary committee, the term of the House of Representatives expires at midnight Saturday, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Violence against LGBTQI+ people continues : Safety of sexual minorities in question after two members of the queer community were beaten up on suspicions of stealing babies in Siraha on Saturday, by Bharat Jarghamagar (kp), Dalit politicians being denied tickets : Political parties didn’t field women Dalit candidates in 124 wards in the local elections last May : The number of Dalit mayors decreased by half in 2022 polls compared to 2017, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), On equal footing : The constitutional provisions for inclusion cannot be ignored or circumvented anymore (kp) [But the reality looks different as the high-caste political patriarchy does not abide by the Constitution, laws or SC rulings! And they do not even have to fear punishment!], NC restricts previous PR-elected lawmakers from becoming PR candidates again (kh), Nov 20 polls: Maoist Center to not repeat PR lawmakers (kh) [NC, CPN (MC) and all the other parties had better restrict the previously directly elected politicians from running again. After all, these predominantly male, high-caste politicians are the ones responsible for the whole misery of the state, not so much the MPs elected through the PR system!], Prachanda sees need to keep party intact to safeguard achievements (kh 15/09/2022) [Which achievements? Democracy is in a sorry state, the republic is more of an oligarchy with a patriarchal flavour, there is no question of social inclusion and federalism is in its infancy at best!], The tug-of-war between President and Prime Minister, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), Sagarmatha TV (evening), and AP1 News (morning)

14/09/2022: Instigation of TRC and CIEDP for Justice, and Psychic Therapy : Let’s not contextualize Nepal as human-rights-risk-zone, by Uttam Poudel (kh), Pathos of collective humiliation in Madhesh : Elections may come, elections may go, but the struggles of Madheshis will have to continue to establish themselves as ‘the People’, by CK Lal (kp), Chinese Speaker inquires about left unity, commits to reopening borders : Li was also keen to know about the status of the MCC Compact and commended Nepal’s stand on the SPP, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [Nepal in the global power struggle of the superpowers!], Tourism hamstrung as government delays passing twin aviation bills : Nepal needs to split the Civil Aviation Authority into service provider and regulator to get out of the European Commission’s air safety list, by Sangam Prasain (kp) [Continued anti-national disinterest of Nepali governments for years: Incompetence, protectionism, corruption, what are the backgrounds?], Traffic jams amid Chinese Speaker’s visit trouble Valley commuters, by Anup Ojha (kp) [The disregard for basic civil rights because of the courting of god-like politicians and foreign state visitors is reminiscent of the royal middle ages from which Nepal actually wanted to liberate itself!], VIP movement causes inconvenience to commuters, pedestrians, office-goers (rep), Beyond grand promises : Only by making quality education an easily attainable fundamental right can we dream of a better tomorrow (kp), Dr KC’s  health deteriorates (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), Sagarmatha TV (evening), and AP1 News (morning)

13/09/2022: Revival of women’s caucus vital to advancing feminist movement : The sorority in the 2008 Constituent Assembly laid foundation for gender equality in the constitution, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Police crackdown on loan shark victims continues : As many as 30 protestors have been detained by the police on Tuesday (kp), Arrest of comedian Apoorwa Kshitiz reignites the free-speech debate : There appears to be some gap in the interpretation of free speech between new and old generations, by Anup Ojha (kp), Untimely whispers : As a high-level leader from the north visits Nepal, we must ask when the border gates will fully open for trade (kp), Nepal and China agree to enhance cooperation on multiple fronts under the BRI framework : The six-point agreement emphasised cooperation on governance, legislative and supervisory practices, by Anil Giri (kp), Nepal mocks green pledges by approving new oil pipelines : The project is not only a waste of money, but also a glaring example of a fractured and unstable politics, experts say. by Krishana Prasain (kp), President certifies five bills, excluding Citizenship Bill (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

12/09/2022: Dangerous destinations : We should create opportunities at home to ensure trafficking of Nepalis comes to an end (kp), Poll manifestoes : Refrain From Populist Agenda, by Ballav Dahal (rn), Experts suggest strengthening Press Council instead of Media Bill (kh), Visiting Chinese Speaker may have speculations of left unity to shrug off : Even in the past, China has clearly expressed its wish for a strong and united communist party in Nepal, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Conclave ends with talks on geopolitics, social media and music : The event concludes after two days of discussion on issues of national and global import–from climate change and digital transformation to unleashing Nepal’s ‘soft’ power (kp), Dr Govinda KC to start fast-unto-death from Dhangadhi from today (rep), Rastriya Ekata Abhiyan denounces arrest of Chair Yadav (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

11/09/2022: Inclusiveness missing in judiciary (ht), Land of gossip : The psyche of producing gossip would remain the principal shaper of the election manifestos, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Who is playing spoilsport in seat-sharing? Congress or JSP : While JSP is confident of wins in Madhes, Congress too has ample reason not to concede too many seats, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [Manipulation of what the anti-democrats once called "democracy"!], Nepal, India set for tough negotiations at next JC meet on water resources : Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, Saptakoshi high dam, compensation for people affected by two barrages and inundation in border regions are on the agenda, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Severe wasting in two eastern districts hints at a hidden health crisis : High prevalence of an acute form of malnutrition in and around Tarai, the country’s food basket, is alarming. Children are not getting enough nutritious food, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Leveraging Nepal’s untapped potential, making the world a better place : First day of Kantipur Conclave was jam-packed with insights on nation’s pressing issues (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

10/09/2022: Is alternative politics on the wane in Nepal? The leaders of ‘alternative forces’ have turned out to be no different than the conventional political parties, experts say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), The Nepalis braving ‘death route’ to reach Europe : Tricked by organised human traffickers, Nepalis who try to land in Greece illegally via Turkey are dying and disappearing in increasing numbers, by Janakraj Sapkota (kp), What happens to motion against chief justice after lower house term ends? Suspended due to the impeachment motion, Chief Justice Rana might seek court order to return to work, experts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

09/09/2022: “When media cannot function independently, democracy cannot sustain”, interview with Dinesh Tripathi (kh), Final settlement on seat-sharing still elusive as parties stick to their guns : Task force submits its final report to top alliance leaders who will now take the final call, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Balen: His challenges and strengths : Changing a long-established bureaucratic culture is one of the hardest things for any leader, by Naresh Koirala (kp),15-yea r-old girl 'gang-raped' in Kailali (rep), Building Resilient Economy, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Affirmative inaction : Party patriarchy sidelines women aspirants to office, and gives bare minimum representation (nt), The power to have a say in her-story : As the November elections approach, Nepal’s male-dominated parties are loath to let women contest, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

08/09/2022: Conflict victims on tenterhooks with House term on the verge of expiry : They fear the bill to amend Transitional Justice Act may not be endorsed by Parliament, allowing for an ordinance, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Un-presidential ambitions : Nowhere does the constitution envision for the president the kind of broad discretionary powers she seems to want (kp), High and mighty : We should debate whether we need VIPs flashing their status to our faces every opportunity they find, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Achieve Sustainable Economic Growth, by Bidhyaman Mahatara (rn), Women in climate change policy: Give them their due, by Usha Kiran Subba (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

07/09/2022: Nepal on the horns of dilemma over China’s Global Security Initiative : Experts say Kathmandu should stay away from Chinese President Xi’s concept, by Anil Giri (kp), Nepal should make its position clear on China’s GSI, by Saurav Raj Pant (kh), What if President Bhandari refuses to authenticate the citizenship bill? Those the head of state has consulted of late say that is not at all a far-fetched possibility given her ‘bruised ego’, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [In terms of disregarding her constitutional duties and the fundamentals of parliamentary democracy, the president gained plenty of experience during KP Oli's premiership.], Marriage of convenience : There is no guarantee that the alliance will remain intact once the parliamentary elections are over (kp) [An electoral alliance exclusively in the interests of power of failed politicians who have remained the same for many years and definitely not in the interests of voters and democracy!], Govt withdraws proposal to extend HoR's tenure (ht), ‘Our political leaders have deluded us with ideological slogans and outdated doctrines as recipes for development, interview with Kul Chandra Gautam (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

06/09/2022: Crime and politics : By legitimising criminality, political parties have turned politics into a transactional enterprise (kp), Conclude Protracted Peace Process, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Security guard who asked a minister to wait in queue freed : Home minister orders Gurung’s release after Minister Shrestha pardoned him (kp) [The security guard needs no pardon from the failing minister, but justice and compensation.], I know tourism minister will not resign, but he should apologize publicly: National Assembly member Poudyal (rep), Election Commission opposes plan to extend House term : Election code of conduct says terms of members of lower house and provincial assembly will lose their positions after filing nominations for elections (kp) [A moronic discussion: elected MPs only become functional when parliament first convenes. No democratic country can afford to be without a legislature or executive for months!  This once again highlights one of the many shortcomings of the 2015 Constitution.], Why have PM Deuba and his ministers not disclosed their property details?, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep), Seat Sharing Conundrum, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Cetamol in short supply as dengue cases rise : The shortage of cetamol is mainly because pharmaceutical producers in Nepal had to cut down production due to high cost, by Kiran Lama (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

05/09/2022: Crime-accused can contest polls but they may be barred from performing duty : Experts say flawed laws can create a situation where the electorate may not have their representative in the House, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Police arrest security guard for asking a sitting minister to wait in queue : A Chhaya Centre security guard asks Tourism Minister Shrestha, who was at the visa centre in a personal capacity, to wait for his turn, by Matrika Dahal (kp) [Ministers are no better at doing private things. The security officer deserves an award and compensation!], Security Guard Gurung tells Lamichhane from police custody, “I did not misbehave with tourism minister” (rep), Guard arrested for doing his duty : Asked minister to come in queue for visa biometrics (ht) [The cocky arrogance of some politicians can hardly be surpassed!], Jail recommended for legal heirs for not taking care of elderly (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and AP1 News (morning)

04/09/2022: Nov 20 Polls : Let’s Stop the Snollygosters!, by Akhilesh Tripathi (rep), Trapped in migration and remittance : It is necessary to invest in the skills of Nepali youth to fully realise the demographic dividend, by Nischal Dhungel (kp), RPP Chair Lingden announces resignation as lawmaker (kh) [A strange view of the electoral period of a parliament! This may only end on the day on which the newly elected parliament convenes for the first time. Otherwise, the country would be without a legislature for weeks or even months, what the executive has enjoyed manipulating in the past. There is no question of a tenure extension.], Unified Socialist At A Crossroads, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Media Council bill : FNJ wants restrictive provisions removed (ht) [Especially failing politicians and corrupt elements should not be "criminalised"?]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

03/09/2022: Stateless in Nepal : Politicisation of the citizenship bill has deprived many of their fundamental rights, by Tufan Neupane and Tika R Pradhan (kp) [It is not only the extreme politicisation of all spheres of public life with which the so-called top politicians have been ruining the state and society for years, it is also the patriarchal thinking anchored in the constitution and laws that denies women the right to transfer their citizenship to their children.], Voters should be provided adequate information on election: NIC (kh), Bill proposes continuing current lower house’s term until March 4 : Experts decry plan as unparliamentary. Government has drafted a bill to amend relevant law, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [What is morally wrong can never be legally right! The previous parliament is history from the time of the new elections at the latest!], Civil society leaders urges parties to select capable, honest and reliable candidates in Nov 20 elections (kh) [Then most of the old faces should not appear again on the candidate lists, especially not the so-called top leaders!], Government only thinking of taking temporary benefits: Madan Krishna Shrestha (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

02/09/2022: In Myagdi, child marriages continue despite multi-million rupee campaigns : According to district health authority, nearly 20 percent of pregnancies reported over the last year were underage, by Ghanshyam Khadka (kp), 17 amendment proposals to the bill on transitional justice law  : Victims and rights activists say the current bill provides a loophole to define all murders as non-cruel and grant amnesty for all murders, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Theory of dissent : ‘None of the above’ is a legitimate option that allows the electorate to reject candidates, by Samar SJB Rana & Vera Jasmine Shrestha (kp), Need and greed : Citizens must organise against rampant extractivism by Nepal’s politico-business nexus, by Rabin Giri (nt), A nation built on sand : Nepal’s politico-business nexus is ravaging mountains and rivers, destroying our future, by Ramesh Kumar (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

01/09/2022: New elections, same old faces, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [It has never occurred to me in the 72 years of my life to question democratic elections. But this time it has, perhaps because this no longer has much in common with democracy!], President consults Maoist and Unified Socialist leaders on citizenship, transitional justice bills : Responding to the President’s concerns, the leaders said the bill on Citizenship Act is only a temporary remedy and a new act is needed, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Make Poll Manifestoes Realistic, by Mukti Rijal (rn) [The power-hungry party politicians have never intended to implement the contents of the election manifestos later on. The manifestos are usually not worth the paper they are printed on!], Strict election code : The code of conduct has barred PM and ministers from campaigning in constituencies other their own (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

31/08/2022: Citizenship Bill : Maintain Gender Justice, Equality, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Indirectly elected representatives, most of whom are women, have less powers : In the upcoming elections, women aspire to contest first-past-the-post seats but political parties don’t seem enthusiastic to give them tickets, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp) [According to the patriarchal thinking of the ruling male elite, Nepal belongs only to men, especially to those from the Tagadhari castes, particularly the Bahuns. The citizenship law and the current discussion on this matter make this clear. Since because of the alliance the direct candidacies are also divided among the parties, the ruling men cannot "waste" any mandate on women!], People’s issues ignored as parties are overly fixated on power : One year since adopting their common minimum programme, the ruling parties have never discussed the commitments, by Purushottam Poudel (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

30/08/2022: Kin of disappeared wait for justice even 16 years after end of insurgency : Government and parties want to settle transitional justice process without ensuring justice to victims, say activists, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Neither PK Dahal and his Maoist comrades, nor the army, nor the leaders of the political parties responsible for crimes or their protection during the insurgency want justice for the victims. Indeed, they all then run the risk of endangering themselves!], Kin of disappeared wait for justice even 16 years after end of insurgency : Government and parties want to settle transitional justice process without ensuring justice to victims, say activists, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Shortage of textbooks affects studies in Far-west hill districts : Students, teachers left in the lurch while authorities concerned appear indifferent, by Menuka Dhungana and Tripti Shahi (kp), Unified Socialist :  A Cog In Ruling Alliance, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Demolition of illegally constructed buildings: A step in the right direction, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

29/08/2022: Nepal’s human rights defenders, conflict victims seek UN support to correct flaws in transitional justice bill : Rights activists and conflict victims' organizations wrote to the UN Secretary General drawing the attention of the latter toward the flawed transitional justice bill (nlt), Lawmakers demand voting right of those Nepali residing abroad (kh) [Both the Oli and Deuba governments have shown no interest in implementing a SC directive to that effect!], Parties are fighting upcoming elections on usual planks : Congress will harp on democracy, UML will continue with ultranationalism, Maoists promise to shore up constitution, and Madhesh parties will press for constitution amendment, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Paradox of free education : Government schools haven’t been able to operate in a manner that would guarantee schooling at no cost (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

28/08/2022: Coalition close yet far on seat-sharing as individual claims too high : Congress sticks to 100 constituencies, which partners say too many, as their demands are also big, by Anil Giri (kp) [The decline of democracy is accelerated, urgently needed young forces are not given a chance, a necessary inclusion of traditionally excluded groups of society is farther away than ever! Once again, the old failed politicians will be in the foreground, who nevertheless consider themselves indispensable!], School education is free but public schools are forced to raise fee : Politicians themselves admit party leaders are unwilling to give due attention to public schools because many leaders have invested in private academic institutions, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [An aspect of corruption!], Is Nepal Trapped in Geopolitical and Geostrategic Rivalry?, by Niranjan Mani Dixit (rep), Shun Politics Over Citizenship Issue : The citizenship should be a means of connecting citizens and mustering their loyalty to the nation but it has unfortunately divided the political spectrum, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn) [The Citizenship Act divides Nepal's citizens into those with full rights (males) and those with limited rights (females). It is the prime example of discrimination against women in an arch-patriarchal society!], NA approves proposal on citizenship bill (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

27/08/2022: The many controversies of President Bidya Devi Bhandari : Nepal’s President is facing criticism for politicking not because of a one-off event—there actually is a long list, by Binod Ghimire (kp), A sub-alliance within the ruling coalition is in the making. But why? Observers see move as bargaining chip for seat-sharing talks, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Dalit families living on road for two months in Kailali (ht), The Rules Of Democratic Game, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

26/08/2022: Bring Fresh Faces To Leadership, by Yug Bahadur (rn 26/08/2022) [And this must be done inclusively. Given the existing disproportion, at least half should be women; at least 20 per cent should go to Dalits; a male Bahun should only be added if at least three male Bahuns drop out at the same time!], Nepal has world’s highest lung disease deaths, a new study shows : The high death rate in Nepal, according to the study, is because of the failure on the part of the authorities to effectively regulate air pollutants (nlt) [irresponsible misconduct by government and authorities!], SC refuses interim order on writ demanding expiration of HoR term : The petitioners have argued that as terms of the House of Representatives and all the seven provincial assemblies have ended after the announcement of the election, all the decisions and actions taken since then should be annulled (nlt), Nepal sees a dramatic face-off between executive and the President over citizenship bill : Both institutions seem to have played within their constitutional confines, but political colour is visible, by Anil Giri (kp), ‘Off the Cuff’ Population Policy! There is a need for a paradigm shift in Nepal - from an anti-natalist to a pro-natalist population policy - aiding economic growth, by Pradip Kumar Kafle (rep), Madhes provincial govt to provide Rs 500,000 to rape victim Niharika (kh) [Such an insignificant compensation payment by the provincial government is not justice! The perpetrator must be severely punished, make payments to the victim and at least pay for the maintenance and education of the child.]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

25/08/2022: Teachers in politics: Can Balen Shah’s directive herald a dissociation? Although several acts prohibit teachers from having political affiliation, a majority of them are openly affiliated with political parties and are campaigning for them (nlt) [Excluding certain professional groups from political activity is a serious violation of fundamental human rights. Only the abuse of their professional position, in the case of teachers for example the party-political indoctrination of students, should be legally prosecuted. In democratic states worldwide, it is normal for teachers to be politically active.], Educating voters : The Election Commission needs to ensure that voters understand the hows and whys of voting (kp), Mergers and factions : Given past experience, we might as well write off the yet-to-be-born party even before it comes into being, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Failed Bids To Form New Parties, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Mediocrity trap: Constructive criticism of the self helps, by Simone Galimberti (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

24/08/2022: Merit and myopia : The marginalised are not snatching anyone's share of the opportunity pie; the pie is already too small (kp) [Seat reservations for Khas-Arya, for example, under the PR system should also not exist. The overwhelming majority of the 60 per cent direct mandates are already given to this section of society!], Qatar expels Nepali migrant workers for joining protest : The demonstrating workers were demanding their backpay, and they were sent home after being paid in full, rights activists say, by Pawan Pandey (kp 24/08/2022) [This regime in Qatar, which despises human rights, does not accept the rights of the exploited and often cheated workers! And the world interested in football looks on idly and will celebrate with this regime in November!], Bill to amend transitional justice act tabled in Parliament : Conflict victims and rights activists have expressed concerns about some of the provisions and demanded a review (kp) , It is hypocrisy to call Citizenship Bill anti-national: Prachanda : Oli had refused to take the seven-year provision proposal to the parliament (kh) [As a woman, you would see this quite differently. Finally come down from your patriarchal horse and treat women and men absolutely equally!], Kathmandu’s garbage problem becoming international ignominy : A video clip of CNA news showing garbage heaps in the capital has triggered public rage against the politicians and Mayor of Kathmandu. Tourism entrepreneurs say it will damage Nepal’s reputation (nlt), Supreme Court quashes all writ petitions filed against Public Service Commission (kh), Supreme Court scraps petitions challenging civil servants integration : Court also revoked integration in some cases including where civil servants were adjusted in junior positions than their previous ones at the local level, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

23/08/2022: Furore among minorities as inclusion body advises ending reservations : National Inclusion Commission report says reservation cannot be a permanent remedy for empowerment and should eventually end, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [What else can you expect? The National Inclusion Commission appointed in 2019 by the Oli covernment, like almost everything else in this state, is under the total control of Tagadharis, five men and one woman. Perhaps it should be renamed the National Non-Inclusion Commission!], At least 35 bandh enforcers arrested from different parts of country (nlt) [Every bandh is a crime against the citizens, especially when it turns into militancy!], Bandh enforcers vandalize bus at Thapagaon (kh), Police arrest 17 for forcibly imposing bandh in Kathmandu (kh), Strike cripples normal life in Rolpa (rep), 523 cases against then Maoist leaders have been cleared: Law Minister (kh) [Crimes were also committed by the security forces during the uprising and protected by the politicians in charge at the time. The law is still not suitable to hold the perpetrators accountable!], Bill on Transitional Justice to be presented in HoR meeting : Law Minister to present Bill on Enforced Disappeared Persons (kh), Criminal justice system doesn’t work during conflict, TJ itself is needed: Minister for Law and Justice (kh), Government in a fix as India seeks Nepal’s position on the Army Agnipath scheme : As India plans to recruit Nepalis, it has asked Kathmandu for its views. Officials say they are discussing the matter, by Anil Giri (kp), Hundreds of loan sharking victims nationwide come forward with complaints : As many as 1,937 complaints, majority from Madhesh, received in eight days. Victims say protest will continue until perpetrators are booked, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Preparing for COP 27 : Waste management has become a political football that Nepali politicians enjoy playing, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), Nepal needs prudent measures as inflation hits global level, by Rajendra Koirala (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

22/08/2022: RDN Nepal demands implementation of ‘Study report of freed Kamaiya, Kamlahari, Haruwa-charuwa Situation’ (kh), Decoding the controversies over the flawed citizenship bill : Without paying any heed to the call of the President for review, the citizenship bill has again been passed by the House of Representatives. Frankly, this smacks of political hooliganism, by Bhagirath Basnet (nlt), Niharika Rajput breaks hunger strike on 17th day (nlt), Did Maoists abandon the issue of “inclusion” and equal representation?, by Sunita Bhul (kp) [Without any doubt, this process already started with the elections to the first CA. After its defeat in the elections to the second CA, the party has forgotten all the ideals for whose implementation 17,000 people had to lose their lives!], ‘The upcoming elections will be fairer and impartial’ : Chief Election Commissioner Thapaliya on poll preparations, efforts to minimise invalid votes, and checking overspending (interview) (kp 22/08/2022) [An election that is manipulated in advance by the party leaders in a non-inclusive way can hardly be called fair!], Border uncertainty in north troubles traders again— ahead of festivals : Containers holding goods imported for Dashain remain stranded at check points since last week, by Krishana Prasain (kp) [China is proving to be an extremely unreliable trading partner! Nepal should be very careful about closer cooperation!], 2021 population of Nepal: Projected vs enumerated, by Yagya Bahadur Karki (ht), Despite shortage within Nepal, government signs agreement to send nurses to Britain : Nepal on Monday signed an MoU to send at least 200 licensed nurses to the UK. Observers say this could result in a shortage of nurses in Nepal, by Shrutika Raut (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

21/08/2022: International community expresses concern over transitional justice process : Diplomats during their meetings urge Deuba and Dahal to address victims’ grievances, as the government prepares to table the amendment bill in Parliament, by Anil Giri (kp), Inclusivity just a refrain in Maoist party, as it fails to practise what it preaches : Party picks 21 office bearers with just one woman, two Madheshis, four Janajatis—none from Dalit, Muslim communities, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Oligarchy and nepotism are features of all Nepali political parties, including the CPN (Maoist Centre)!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

20/08/2022: Campaign spending expected to increase inflationary pressure : Nepal’s inflation was recorded at 8.08 percent in July when the fiscal year closed, which is double last year’s figure, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Int'l communities wish for success of Nepal's unique model of peace process (rep) [The world community should know that Nepal's peace process is anything but unique. Since 2006, justice for the victims from the time of the Maoist insurgency and thus the conclusion of the peace process has been deliberately denied by the political elite!], KMC yet to find alternative places to dump waste (rn) [How about Baluwatar? Most of the " rubbish " is produced there anyway!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

19/08/2022: Malnutrition threat for pregnant women, new mums, children displaced by disasters : Nutritionists recommend distributing nutritious foods instead of noodles, biscuits and beaten rice to displaced people, by Arjun Poudel (kp), The bill that was and the bill this is: What did King Birendra do with the bill to amend Citizenship Act 1964 that became a topic of discussion after President Bhandari returned the bill to amend Citizenship Act 2006?, by Tika R Pradhan and Tufan Neupane (kp) [Whatever is being discussed now, the fundamental problem is the unequal treatment of Nepali women and men based on arch-patriarchal thinking. The very predominantly male persons of the ruling elite do not want to change this now either. Article 18 of the constitution, as the overriding fundamental rights article, prohibits precisely this unequal treatment, which is still maintained. In other words, Nepal's citizenship law continues to be blatantly unconstitutional. The current discussion is pure palaver.], “This is the last opportunity for senior political leaders” : "Politics with ideals seems out of sight of late", interview with Deep Kumar Upadhyaya (kh), Beset by disputes and splits, Madhesh parties are fighting for relevance in their own base : Janata Samajbadi and Loktantrik Samajbadi are in negotiations with bigger parties eying better prospects in November polls, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Employees, teachers to be deployed in November 20 elections (kh) [This is only legitimate if the right of these people to vote remains guaranteed!], Seven years since constitution promulgation local governments await federal education Act : The federal government has yet to ready a bill for the law and the term of the current Parliament is ending in four months with elections announced for November 20, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Another grave failure of the Oli and Deuba governments which shows the continuing centralisitic mindset!], Young Turks not getting their turn : It is natural that Nepalis want a generational change in government, but age alone does not guarantee competence and honesty (nt), Engaging Youth In Local Governance process, by Keshab Poudel (sp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

18/08/2022: Seeing Kathmandu’s garbage crisis from the perspective of Banchare Danda and Sisdole : What may seem like a garbage problem for millions of citizens of Kathmandu is a life or death crisis for the people of Banchare Danda and Sisdole. It is a human development crisis, an existential ecosystem crisis, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Islands of waste : Our understanding of what constitutes waste and how we manage it should change (kp), Beyond graduation : People want the country to 'actually' graduate from LDC status, not just on paper, by Bhoj Raj Poudel (kp), Nepal aims 100 percent electricity access by 2024 : The country’s 92.52 percent population was connected to electricity by the end of the last fiscal year, by Pawan Pandey (kp), Why Politicians Need Moral Integrity?, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Integrity in leadership: Ways to enhance it, by Ramesh Ghimire (ht), CIAA gets notice for inaction on graft : Refusal to act lets brigadier general, former ambassador to US go scot free (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

17/08/2022: Ritualistic conduct of elections : Unless street protests erupt once again, Nepal is doomed to endure more of the same, by CK Lal (kp), Election Commission says 84 parties applied to contest upcoming general elections (nlt), Eighty-four parties apply to contest November elections : Twelve parties have formed four groups to fight the elections under four different poll symbols, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Extremely confusing for the voters and, according to section 49 of the PPA, ultimately with loss of identity for those parties that contest under the electoral symbol of another party!], Anxiety of performance : Politicians form an electoral alliance with an eye on power and position rather than ideological integrity (kp), Alliance seat-sharing gets knottier as Maoist Centre has Bhattarai, Gautam into its fold : Ruling coalition wants Dahal to accommodate the new entrants in his party’s own share, instead of asking to adjust them as well, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Unified Socialist to forward unification process with Maoist Center (kh), Parties agree to revise proposed changes to Transitional Justice Act : Some provisions in the amendment bill have met with widespread criticism over fears that they may be used to grant amnesty to perpetrators, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal receives record Rs 1 trillion in remittances (nlt), 115,131 local election candidates yet to submit expenditure statements (kh), 7.8 percent population at risk of severe food crisis in Nepal despite sufficient reserve (rn), Announcement of federal, provincial poll: Opening vistas of possibilities, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

16/08/2022: Victims protest planned changes to transitional justice law : During a demonstration on Monday, conflict victims and civil society members said the current bill drafted to amend the law favours the perpetrators and is unacceptable, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nov 20 polls: Deadline for party registration at EC ends today (kh), Ruling coalition decides to send the Citizenship Bill to the President as it is (kh) [In any case, the patriarchal thinking enshrined in citizenship law lives on and is against the constitution, irrespective of the President's intentions!], Coalition task force near compromise on four criteria for seat-sharing : Members mull FPTP and PR seats won in 2017, May poll performance, and priority to top leaders to split seats, by Anil Giri (kp) [May democracy rest in peace!], Nepali Army and US Army to conduct joint training from today (kh) [This would be comparable to the joint training of the Chinese and Mexican armies close to the US border! The USA should refrain from unnecessary Chinese provocations on Nepalese territory as soon as possible!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

15/08/2022: NHRC furnishes 12-point suggestion to govt on bill relating to transitional justice (kh), Rights body wants transitional justice process to address minors’ issue : Bill to amend law fails to take cognisance of the use of children in insurgency, rights activists say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Dismantling patriarchy : Fielding a woman candidate is considered risky by the male-dominated parties in Nepal (kp), President Bhandari returns citizenship bill to Parliament calling for review : Head of state returns bill, endorsed by both houses, listing concerns as she stresses swift passage of citizenship law, by Tika R Pradhan and Binod Ghimire (kp), Parties need not criticize President’s withdrawal of Citizenship Bill: NC leader Thapa (kh), Tarun Dal demands President Bhandari’s resignation (kh), Baburam Bhattarai comes full circle seven years after quitting Maoist party : Looming polls and poor prospects force the former Maoist to join hands with Dahal. Bhattarai’s Nepal Samajbadi will contest election under the Maoist symbol and manifesto, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Questions of inclusivity arise over Sunday’s Karnali Cabinet reshuffle : There are eight members in the Cabinet—all men from the Khas-Arya community, by Jyotee Katuwal (kp) [Nepal urgently needs a rejection option in the electoral law if this oppressive male Tagadhari dominance is to end!], Cadres of ruling parties obstruct garbage disposal at Banchare Danda landfill (nlt), Nepal waits for consumer courts while business malpractices soar : Consumer rights activists accuse the government of holding back on setting up consumer courts due to lobbying by manufacturers and traders, by Krishana Prasain (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

14/08/2022: How political parties in Nepal are failing in moralistic culture and civic responsibility : Despite making initial brisk contributions in toppling the contemporary regime and inducing few social changes, political parties in Nepal have not been successful in establishing a long lasting political culture, by Pushpa R Joshi (nlt), President returns Citizenship Bill to HoR for reconsideration (nlt), LSP and NSP want to join ruling alliance as election nears (rep) [All parties should form an alliance and divide the seats among themselves. Then there would be no need for elections at all, the money saved could be distributed among the politicians and the latter could claim that Nepal has the best democracy in the world!], Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai inching closer on single election symbol and manifesto agenda (kh) [Two parties, one claiming to be communist, the other socialist, but the same election symbol and manifesto? The Political Party Act does not seem to interest these politicians!], Poles apart for around a decade, Prachanda and Baburam to forge electoral alliance (nlt), In Congress, rival faction ups the ante seeking fair share of seats for its leaders, by Anil Giri (kp) [This is selfish in the interest of the old failed and non-inclusive top politicians. Adequate participation of women, Dalits and other marginalised groups would be much more important!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

13/08/2022: Voices grow for fair representation of women as major elections near : Women leaders complain parties field fewer women for direct election. Experts blame the patriarchal mindset, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), How the state is failing the poor as they fall prey to loan sharks : Poor access to finance lies at the root of the problem just as shylocks enjoy nexus with the people in power to fleece poor communities in rural areas, experts say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Should a mother be ready to self-immolate for a DNA test of her child? This is just too much: KMC Mayor Shah (rep), Cultural Thrills Of Progress, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

12/08/2022: Forgetting to remember : Proposed amendments to Nepal’s Transitional Justice Act marks some progress, but will not provide justice to victims, by Sahina Shrestha (nt), Agencies working in health, gender sectors in Nepal fall short on gender equality : Only a third of Nepal’s non-governmental organisations sampled are led by women and have gender parity in senior management, new report shows, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Provincial governments set to end their first terms without enjoying key rights : Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench has been sitting on dozens of petitions relating to jurisdiction disputes between three tiers of government, by Binod Ghimire (kp), The judiciary: Don't violate its sanctity, by Jagadish Dahal (ht), China imposes unannounced blockade at Rasuwagadhi, Tatopani border entry points (kh), Police detain single mother Niharika Rajput who attempted self-immolation at the President’s Office (rep) [This raped woman needs justice and medical help, not arrest! What kind of policy is that?]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

11/08/2022: When the victims are further victimized, by Anushka Nepal (ae), Politics and courage : Their contribution to democracy is so great that we are expected to remember the past and be content, by Deepak Thapa (kp) As Congress eyes majority, Maoist Centre wants to be kingmaker : A tug of war starts in the ruling coalition, with partners working to go to polls together but also attempting to limit each other, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Ruling coalition mull current strength of parties in parliament for seat distribution (kh), Karnali still short of 60,000 textbooks (rep), Local Governance In Federal System, by Mukti Rijal (rn), ‘Flood is bad, govt's dishonesty worse’, by Upendra Lamichhane (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

10/08/2022: The 1949 Geneva Conventions and Nepal : International humanitarian law has a bearing on Nepal’s stalled transitional justice process, by Krishna Chandra Chalisey (kp), Lacuna in Nepali history: Giving rise to jingoism, by Nishant Pokharel (ht), Generation Democracy: Meet a Nepali youth who is working for advancing youth leadership  : Jagdish Ayer, a youth activist, has been working for the engagement of Nepali youth in political processes through mock parliament and other activities (nlt), Provincial poll declaration should be provinces’ prerogative, observers say : Federalism yet to be embraced in a true sense with the centralised mindset refusing to go, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Ruling parties engage in discussion on allocation of Kathmandu constituencies (kh) [Die fast, democracy!], Bhattarai keen to join ruling coalition (ht), Is Deuba leading a caretaker Cabinet? Depends on who you ask : Ruling party leaders say the government is not caretaker; opposition says otherwise. Experts are equally divided, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Unlike KP Oli after his failed vote of confidence in 2021, the current government is to be regarded as a legally elected government until a new prime minister is elected and not a caretaker government if the state is to remain capable of acting! For the same reason, parliament is in office until a new parliament is elected and may not be dissolved prematurely!], Poor and damned : State must act to extricate the poor from the teeth of loan sharks (kp), Hefty salary hike proposed for these five VVIPs! (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

09/08/2022: “Party reins should be given to younger generation”, interview with Manikar Karki (kh), As elections approach, some are calling for not repeating old faces : Observes say just changing a small set of leaders may not suffice amid degrading political culture, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The SC's 2014 directive is binding law for the executive and the legislature. Prompt implementation would have meant that probably none of the top politicians who consider themselves indispensable would still be politically active today, which would be incredibly good for Nepal! Given the disenfranchisement of the electorate through the alliance manipulations of the parties, the NOTA option would be more important than ever!], Preserving heritage : Prioritising locals in restoring important landmarks would help alleviate unemployment (kp), Will Nepal vote for change? Hopefully, we can eliminate some of the faces that have spread negativity amongst Nepalis, by Sujeev Shakya (kp) [How is that supposed to work? The failed politicians at the top of the parties have already initiated anti-democratic measures to prevent change!], Coalition Seat-sharing Onus On NC, Maoist Centre, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn) [Voters should not vote for candidates of a party they do not want to vote for. The party leaders' request is completely undemocratic and leads the party system and thus ultimately parliamentary democracy ad absurdum!], Only national ID card holders can take medical entrance exams now, by Ruby Rauniyar (rep) [The problem is less likely to be with foreign students. As the patriarchal Tagadhari state continues to deny citizenship to millions, admission will only be for those whose fathers can be shown to hold Nepali citizenship. Women ever do not count as equal full human beings!], Deliberation begins on proposal of urgent public importance on proportional representation of women (rn), Derogatory names of Dalits in citizenship papers kick up a row (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

08/08/2022: Man attempts to burn wife, mother-in-law to death : The mother sustained serious burn injuries on her back, arms and leg while her daughter sustained injuries on her chest, arms and legs, by Santosh Singh (kp), Rana impeachment motion sent to probe committee, but time is running out : Proposal can’t pass the House without the support of UML, which seems disinterested in ruling coalition’s agenda, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Police transfers after announcing election date raise concerns : Observers say a caretaker government should stick to day-to-day administrative work rather than taking decisions that could influence the scheduled elections, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Running out of time : Outgoing lawmakers are oddly rushing to pass bills after sitting on their hands for years (kp), Passage of bill on electricity becomes uncertain. Energy minister mulls ordinance : An amendment that aims to allow the private sector to engage in power trade inside and outside the country has become uncertain with the country entering election mode, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [At least since KP Oli's autocratic rule, Nepali governments have preferred ordinances anyway!], Deuba asks Thakur to join ruling alliance, govt (rep 08/08/2022) [Surely all parties should join together in an electoral alliance. Then the often failed top politicians would agree on a single common candidate for each constituency and voters would no longer have to worry about whom to vote for. Wouldn't that be flawless democracy?], First meeting of Seat Allocation Task Force of ruling alliance being held (rn) [This is anti-democracy: the choice must be made by the people and not by the party leaders!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

07/08/2022: Nepal’s geopolitical catch as Washington and Beijing lock horns over Taiwan crisis : In case Nepal finds itself in the US-China geopolitical push and pull over the Taiwan question, how should it handle the situation?, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), South Asia in the Midst of Cold War 2.0, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), Party registration for upcoming elections begins today (kh), Parties’ move to keep House working even after declaring polls raises questions : Experts say with elections announced, the caretaker government cannot present bills in Parliament, as some new laws may lead to policy decisions, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Mutual Insults Mar Left Movement, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Why do DGs and secretaries change when ministers change?, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

06/08/2022: Nepal’s phallocentric worldview on citizenship : The phallocentric world view that has seeped into the power structures of Nepal for generations explains why the citizenship bill has a provision requiring a Nepali mother to prove that the phallus is a Nepali, by Mukesh Baral (nlt), Civil society calls for scrapping Chinese development project BRI (kh), With House term nearing end, parties are trying to rush Rana impeachment : UML and ruling coalition lawmakers say time is too short for probing and putting the motion to vote, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Democracy Is Not Zero-Sum Game, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Is the burden of foreign debt in Nepal alarming?, by Ram Chandra Rupakheti (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

05/08/2022: Elections announced for November 20 : Around 18.6 million voters estimated to have been registered for the upcoming elections, with around 1 million added since the May 13 local level polls. Election Commission says 107 days enough for preparations, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The right to set an election date in the provinces lies with the respective provincial government and not with the central government! Nepal is a federal state! By the way, this also applies to local elections!], Election calculation : After vacillating, Nepal's coalition finally agrees to 20 November for elections, by Santa Gaha Magar (nt), Deluge and after : The marginalised population should not be left behind while providing flood victims with relief (kp), Police detain single mother Niharika Rajput (rep) ["Justice" or what the government and leading politicians mean by it!], Niharika Rajput arrested yet again : Rajput, a single mother from Jaleshwar Municipality 9 Mahottari, has been staging a series of hunger strikes for the past few months demanding justice for herself and her young son (nlt), SC summons Tourism Minister Shrestha over contempt charge (rep), Foreign Aid Fails To Fix Inequality, by Aarati Neupane (rn), Formation of electoral alliance by ruling parties is against constitution: Bhim Rawal (rep) [But it was perfectly fine for the two left parties to form an electoral alliance in 2017 that gave them a landslide victory? Afterwards, it became clear that these parties did not have much in common either and that their top politicians were only concerned with power, whatever the cost! Yes, electoral alliances are ultimately a betrayal of the electorate, whose concerns are simply ignored!], Nepal minister’s return shows anything goes : Tainted finance minister’s reinstatement underscores coalition government’s moral bankruptcy (nt), Nepal economic crisis getting deeper, by Keshab Poudel (sp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

04/08/2022: Unholy acts : Ruling coalition and main opposition party are united in their misplaced priorities (kp), Monthly allowance to families of martyrs and disappeared persons (kh) [related to Tarakhola RM in  Baglung only: This is good help but not justice!], Ruling coalition reaches understanding to hold elections on November 20 : Some issues remain though including transitional justice act and seat-sharing, which leaders say will be sorted out, by Anil Giri (kp), Govt decides to hold federal, provincial elections on Nov 20 (kh), Almost all water from small suppliers in the Valley is contaminated, officials say : Most of the small projects are found to be neglecting chlorination and other water purification procedures before supplying water to households taps, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Temporary police to be recruited for November 20 elections (rep) [It is the duty of the government to ensure that all Nepalis can exercise their right to vote, including deployed security forces, polling agents, migrant workers, etc.], Is Nepal heeding the warning signs from Sri Lanka’s economic crisis? Certain indicators show Nepal is heading towards the path of economic mismanagement like that of Sri Lanka, by Bhagirath Basnet (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

03/08/2022: Opportunists Dominate Politics, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Women in politics : We can expect true representation of women and others only after our democracy takes deep roots (ht) [And this will definitely not happen as long as any of today's so-called top politicians turn the levers of patriarchal and non-inclusive power!], Oli bids to couple his nationalist rhetoric with Hindu constituency : Observers say the third plank the UML leader is likely to use is the incumbent government’s shenanigans, by Anil Giri (kp), History, memory and identity : There is nothing like a theatrical performance to capture the absurdities of a complex life, by CK Lal (kp), Coalition partners agree to hold parliamentary, provincial polls on Nov 20 (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

02/08/2022: MPs demand 50 per cent FPTP tickets for women, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Deuba outdoes himself : He has fortified his legacy as a repeat offender when it comes to endangering the rule of law (kp), State capture by ‘Kathmandu Cocoon’ : A highly cemented network of the ruling elite decides everything related to state affairs, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Amendment to Act imperative to enforce Palermo Protocol (kh), New dispute hovers over judiciary with acting chief justice and justices at odds : The recent rift is over whether to allow the anti-graft body to investigate the construction of a new court building, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Resettle All Freed Kamaiyas, by Uttam Maharjan (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

01/08/2022: Deuba, Dahal have much to answer in finance minister case, observers say : Sharma’s reappointment as finance minister points to a bigger and sinister nexus beneath the veneer of alliance the prime minister and Maoist chair harp on about, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Protest to amend Transitional Justice Bill (ht), Government plans to hold elections on November 20 : The dillydallying in declaring the date has prompted some to speculate if the ruling coalition is planning to delay the polls, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Arrest warrant issued against Biplav (nlt), Arrest warrant issued against Biplav, including others (kh), Freed Kamalaris staying at Dang hostel seek help for sustenance : For a lack of sufficient funds, the living conditions for 37 students in the hostel have worsened, by Durgalal KC (kp), EC directs govt to take action against employees who are members of political parties, by Smriti Dhungana (rep), Public post holder with political affiliation will face action: EC (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

31/07/2022: Is Nepal losing democracy?, by Ganga Bahadur Thapa (kh), Federalized Approach to Transitional Justice Process, by Preeti Mittal (kh), Conflict victims protest demanding revisions in amendment bill : Several organisations of the conflict victims from the decade-long Maoist insurgency, and civil society members protested at Maitighar Mandala on Sunday (kp), Epitome of misrule: Janardan Sharma’s reappointment as Finance Minister is a glaring evidence that the rot runs deep in Nepal (nlt), Indiscriminate use of pesticides taking toll on farmers in Tarai : There’s a lack of awareness and monitoring, which impacts not only those who use the chemicals but also those who consume the produce, experts say, by Om Prakash Thakur, Shiva Puri & Krishana Prasain (kp), Nepali Army detonates a ‘bomb’ found near Bajura Police Office (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

30/07/2022: Imperatives Of Citizen Empowerment, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), NHRC settles 412 complaints (rn), Enhance Nepal’s Diplomatic Capability, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn), Govt to provide free of cost treatment to acid attack survivors (rep) [It is the government's duty to prevent acid attacks. This includes, first of all, a strict control of the sale of acid!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

29/07/2022: Are women not Nepali enough?, by Sahina Shrestha (nt) [see chart by Subin Mulmi (Twitter)], Class differences : Instead of leveling the playing field, a flawed education system is entrenching social inequity in Nepal  (nt), Institutions play a vital role to ensure that people exercise their rights : “There is a big gap between what the political parties and civil society leaders profess to do and what they actually do. That’s basically the reason why people are losing trust in them”, interview with Shibesh Chandra Regmi, Social Analyst (nlt), Shrewd Prachanda: Batting for another political mileage, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), No clarity on Rs500 billion microfinance fund meant for lending to farmers : Officials say they are working on a concept paper on how to make the scheme proposed in the budget for this fiscal year work for farmers, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Acknowledging the independents’ reality : They promise effective governance, corruption eradication, and overall, a political overhaul, by Saugat Raj Gautam (kp), Austerity Must Begin From Top, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Lawmakers sound alert on 'anti-federalism voices' raised in parliament, call for a ban (rn), Kidney racket found active in Kathmandu Valley : Street children and homeless people are among those extremely vulnerable, by Arun Bam (rep), China’s BRI will lead Nepal to debt trap besides undermining sovereignty, experts warn (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

28/07/2022: How patriarchy promotes violence against women, by Cilla Khatry (ae), Uncertainty looms over transitional justice amid delays in tabling bill : As conflict victims, rights activists and international rights bodies cry foul at some provisions, those involved in drafting the bill say there’s a lack of political will, by Binod Ghimire (kp), The bill to amend Nepal’s Citizenship Act faces public backlash yet again. Here is why : Instead of allowing members of the concerned parliamentary committee to have comprehensive discussions, the ruling coalition chose to pass the bill through a fast-track method (nlt), Despite reservation quotas for minorities, Brahmins continue to dominate civil service : Forty-five percent civil service seats are reserved for women, indigenous groups, Madhesis, Dalits, people with disabilities and those from backward regions, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [This does not only apply to civil service!], Why are parties hesitating to fight elections on their own?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Lawmakers demand removal of road obstructions (kh), Unwanted Nepalis : That Nepalis are considered ‘escape-prone’ and ‘mannerless’ has a lot to do with the wretched state of their homeland (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

27/07/2022: “Nepal seriously needs statesmanship” : People should discard candidates over 65 years of age in elections, interview with Mumaram Khanal (kh) [An excellent suggestion!], NIC directs public sector, political parties to implement right to information (kh), Employing dhami-jhankri to promote dignified menstruation : Faith healers commit to ensuring dignity of menstruators in Sudurpaschim and Karnali, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Can’t import food forever : We should work hard towards improving food security domestically (kp), US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu arriving on Thursday : The top American official’s visit, second since MCC passage, comes amid debate in Nepal over the State Partnership Program (kp) [Continued interference in the interests of global American power, but the citizens are in any case not informed about the content in advance!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

26/07/2022: Chitwan sees increased number of sexual violence cases (kh), Sexual violence on the rise in Chitwan (rep), Why auditor general’s annual reports are more ritual and less effective : Experts point at factors like frequent transfers of secretaries and lethargy of oversight bodies, because of which despite irregularities, hardly anyone is held to account, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Socialist Centre: A Bargaining Chip?, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), A cautious Congress keeps close eye on communists in view of Dahal’s wiles : Maoist Centre chair’s active initiatives to build a left alliance in the name of socialist centre cause suspicion, with some wondering if it’s former rebel leader’s latest subterfuge, by Anil Giri (kp), Former PM Dr. Bhattarai forming Nepal Samajwadi Party (kh), ‘Real peace dividend should be equally distributed to sustain peace in Nepal’ : “Nepal should stand for peace at home and beyond. Achieving lasting peace should be the primary agenda of all state and non-state actors”, interview with Rabina Shrestha, Country Director, International Alert (nlt), Dirty money everywhere: Is Nepal on the verge of being blacklisted for money laundering? (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

25/07/2022: Everything you need to know about new amendment to the Citizenship Act : Amendment opens the door for thousands of children of parents who got citizenship by birth to acquire citizenship by descent; non-resident Nepalis are also eligible for citizenship, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [A step yes, but still stuck in patriarchal thinking!], Upper House approves proposal on Nepal Citizenship Bill (rep), International rights groups call for amendment to Nepal’s transitional justice bill : New draft falls short of promised reforms to protect victims’ rights, the rights organisations say (kp) [see statement by AI, HRW, ICJ and TRIAL], ‘Bill to Amend Transitional Justice Law will not fully provide justice to victims’ (kh), Exorbitant cost of justice : Lawyers are expensive, free legal aid is fiction, and the court fees are not negligible, by Nishant Pokharel (kp), Prachanda in favor of changing current election system and form of governance (kh) [As a first step, all the failed old politicians, like you, Oli, Deuba, etc., should retire from politics. Then the Political Parties Act would have to be fundamentally revised and democratised. After that, a way would have to be found to abolish patriarchy and make the state and national identity socially inclusive!], Reshaping Indigenous Movement in Nepal, by Krishna K Shrestha (rep), The center cannot hold : Some tendencies to centralize powers were expected in the early days of federalism but its continuation even after five years of completion of the federalisation process is problematic, by Yatindra KC (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

24/07/2022: Coalition partners want to stick together but there is trust deficit : The Congress and the communists are suspicious of each other even as they harp on fighting the polls in alliance, by Anil Giri (kp), Can Socialist Centre Sail Smoothly?, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Upper house awaits vice-chair for months as parties show lack of interest in electing one : Lawmakers say the vice-chair position must not be left vacant because it is a constitutional position and is important in terms of inclusion, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The autocratic leading politicians never respect the constitution!], Who counts in #Me Too? One woman received an outpouring of support, the other continues to fight on her own, by Nisha Shah (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

23/07/2022: House endorses bill to amend Citizenship Act : Once the bill gets through upper house, children of parents who got citizenship by birth will get citizenship by descent, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Lower House fast tracks citizenship bill : Foreign women marrying Nepalis will not have to wait to obtain matrimonial naturalisation (ht) [But citizenship continues to be based exclusively on the birth status of men, not women, who continue to be denied the same basic rights as men!], Monetary policy reins in credit expansion to control inflation : Most of the credit issued went into import financing which contributed to a ballooning balance of payments deficit and decrease in foreign exchange reserves, officials say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Monetary Policy focuses on controlling credit flow for this fiscal, by Kiran Lama (ht), Malnutrition a serious health crisis in Darchula : As many as 537 children in the district aged between 6 months and five years were found suffering from malnutrition in the last fiscal year 2021-22, by Manoj Badu (kp), Bringing Skills Back? Lessons for Nepal’s Future Migration Policy Approach, by Froilan Malit Jr and Anurag Devkota (rep), Civic Loyalty Key To National Sovereignty, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Amid geopolitical push and pull, experts advise caution to Nepal in relations with China and the US (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

22/07/2022: Nepal in a few words : Explaining the country in words that pervade our public discourse, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp) [An outstanding analysis!], Rein In Growing Arrears, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Doubtful of alliance, ruling partners seek ‘package deal’ despite Congress’ poll pledge : No clarity on agreement but insiders say there are calls for power-sharing besides seat distributions before elections, by Anil Giri (kp), Speaker is a failure—and ineffective, observers say : Chosen after a struggle between Oli and Dahal, Agni Sapkota is confused about his role and has failed to be assertive, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Knock, knock: Nepal’s leaders show political promiscuity as the November elections near, by Shristi Karki (nt), Geopolitical tug-o-war over Nepal : As the country nears elections in November, domestic politics increasingly gets tangled up in regional rivalries (nt), No closure after Nepal’s insurgency : Sixteen years after the conflict ended, families still struggle for transitional justice, by Mandira Sharma and Mohna Ansari (nt), Impunity through immunity : The Bill to amend the transitional justice act exempts perpetrators of war crimes committed during the Maoist insurgency, by Raju Prasad Chapagai (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

21/07/2022: Conflict victims call to rectify amendment bill on transitional justice : They have called the government to re-work the Bill to ensure that the Bill complies with national, and international laws and the decisions of the Supreme Court (nlt), Victims object to proposed changes in laws that aim to absolve perpetrators : There’s demand for withdrawal of the bill registered in parliament secretariat to amend the transitional justice Act so as to make it in line with the 2015 Supreme Court order, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Justice still elusive : The transitional justice process is not ending anytime soon (ae), 39 rights organisations call for rectifying Transitional Justice Law Amendment Bill (rn), In light of policy gap : Lack of opportunities at home means the trend of mass departures will likely continue (kp) [There continues to be a complete lack of interest in ensuring the right of people to work in their own country!], Why Alternative Forces Fail In Nepal?, by Mukti Rijal (rn) [Mostly, these forces are not "alternative" at all. Just take the ideas of Rabindra Mishra, who understands a return to Hindu monarchy and a renunciation of secularism and federalism as "alternative" in the interest of the traditional patriarchal elite!], Dahal will settle for nothing less than prime minister’s chair, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Weak spine a threat for Nepal : Our functionaries lacking the spine to stand for Nepal has been a chronic problem spanning decades, by Devendra Gautam (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

20/07/2022: NHRC draws government’s attention to transitional justice (kh), The pedagogy of spiritual secularity : Secularism is necessary to secure the fundamental freedoms of the downtrodden, by CK Lal (kp), Freedom for Haliyas a long shot even after 14 years of supposed emancipation : A good number of former bonded farm labourers in Sudurpaschim and Karnali find themselves in the dredges of poverty and privation, by Basanta Pratap Singh and Arjun Shah (kp), Left parties intensify election-centric exercises in the name of Socialist Center (kh), Leftists in Congress-led coalition discuss socialist centre idea : Dahal, Bhattarai and Unified Socialist leaders explore possibility of a left front as observers wonder if the bid is aimed at creating a sub-alliance minus UML for the upcoming polls, by Anil Giri (kp), Geopolitical Tremors In Nepal, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

19/07/2022: Criminalised politics, politicised institutions : Leaders need money to finance elections to secure victory for their cronies, relatives and sycophants, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Policy failures drive Nepalis to seek their fortunes abroad : In the last fiscal year, more than 628,503 people received labour permits, the second highest number on record, by Pawan Pandey (kp), Rabindra Mishra stands in favor of restoration of constitutional monarchy in Nepal : Earlier through a political dossier, Mishra had formally proposed abolition of federalism, and a referendum on secularism (nlt) [The bottom line is that this is a call for a coup d'état, as the most important foundations of the constitution are to be wiped out and replaced by failed non-inclusive institutions of the past!], Economic Crisis Blown Out Of Proportion, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Only 0.30pc news stories have bylines of female journalists in Nepali media (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

18/07/2022: No short-changing : Conflict victims and rights activists have voiced dissatisfaction with several provisions in the proposed law (kp), Ensure security personnel, staff on poll day get to vote: SC, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), NIC empowered to recommend action against rights violators (ht) [Given the strict denial of social inclusion by the ruling male Tagadhari elite, there should be endless complaints!], Two years after disasters, displaced families are still living in makeshift settlements : In 2020, a provincial ministry paid 26 times more in helicopter fares than what it spent on relief for Sindhupalchok flood and landslide victims, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Inmates deprived of basic facilities in overcrowded Morang Prison : The prison is accommodating inmates more than three times its capacity, by Binod Bhandari (kp), Dahal receives warm welcome in Delhi as Nepal’s envoy is kept cooling his heels : Officials at the Nepali embassy say they are still awaiting response from the Indian ministries for formal meetings with Shankar Sharma, Kathmandu’s ambassador to India, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Obviously, India still does not consider Nepal as an independent sovereign nation!], Nepal’s geopolitical dilemma : The US is continually pushing Nepal to the forefront of its China strategy, shrinking its leeway, by Gao Liang (kp), Bodies responsible for improving the sliding economy are at odds, by Balkrishna Gyawali (rep), A chance for UML to make people forget its mistakes as govt becomes unpopular, by Ishwari Subedi (rep) [The UML only offers a real alternative if it separates itself from KP Oli and a few others who uncritically supported his numerous constitutional and legal violations. The failures of that time will not be made better by the fact that the Deuba government is also failing!], Export promotion: Path to attain economic prosperity for Nepal. Nepal needs to focus on alternative solutions to prevent the economic turmoil. The government needs to focus on longer-term solutions like export promotion, foreign direct investment, and tourism development, by Shreya Subedi (nlt 18/07/2022)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

17/07/2022: Amendments to transitional justice law ‘progressive but not satisfactory’ : Government registers bill seeking changes in Act seven years after top court ruling that struck down amnesty provisions in serious human rights violations, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Govt told to ensure voting rights of security personnel, civil servants and prisoners (kh), As Congress debates rationale behind alliance politics, left parties discuss a communist front, if not unity : A section in the Congress party questions Deuba if coalition partners must fight the upcoming polls together, by Anil Giri (kp) [All think only of their power, no one of the country and the people! Earlier, monarchy and Ranas were responsible for such misbehaviour, later also the Panchas. Now the top politicians of the parties have adopted this "task". How long will they be allowed to do so? Nepal urgently needs a generation of honest political leaders without monarchists, Hindu state fanatics and failed anti-democratic party leaders!], Proposal to unify communist parties just a year after split, by Tapendra Karki (rep) [Obviously, PK Dahal and MK Nepal were not concerned with substantive differences last year, but merely wanted to use the opportunity to get rid of KP Oli in view of his numerous constitutional violations and neglect of duty and to assert their own claims to power.], JSP row: Dr. Bhattarai to remain as a lawmaker (kh) [An MP elected directly by the people cannot be deposed by undemocratic, power-hungry politicians!], Sharing university narratives : Things went wrong when the political parties turned the students' organisations into party units, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Youth programmes announced but not executed : Almost all youth programmes focused on entrepreneurs have not been implemented, Auditor General's report says, by Krishana Prasain (kp), “US attempting to use Nepali land, politics to further anti-China agenda” (kh) [Both the US and China are misusing Nepal for their global power struggles, Mr. Shrestha!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

16/07/2022: Congress’ Pushpa Bhusal elected deputy Speaker of the House : Bidya Bhattarai of the CPN-UML gets only 93 votes (kp), Education sector makes modest achievements in one year under Deuba-led govt (rep), Ensuring Political Stability, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), NHRC takes decisions on rights of trafficking victims (ht), Prachanda on three-day India visit: What is his real agenda is everyone’s guess : Prachanda, a former supreme commander of guerrilla war in Nepal, announced the visit suddenly. Experts and observers in Kathmandu have also raised the issue of apparent breach of diplomatic norms during the visit (nlt), RSS journalist Acharya gets allegedly beaten up by NEA employees (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

15/07/2022: Upper house ratifies changes to rape laws to the chagrin of some members : Contrary to demands for scrapping the statute of limitations on rape, the new amendments only increase the time allowed to report rape cases, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp) [Nepal's ruling elite of macho men continue to reject policies in the interest of women!], Suggestions given on transitional justice (ht), 'Eligible people deprived of Nepali citizenship' (ht), Govt decides to extend the term of Truth and Reconciliation Commission officials (kh) [The problem is not so much with the people in the Commission as with the politicians who refuse to make the necessary changes to the law and equip the Commission to do its job!], Paradox of Nepal’s national interest: Every party agrees on fundamentals, differs in practice : National interest discourse in Nepal is largely linked with foreign policy conducts. It is often a matter of how Nepal should deal with neighboring India and China and far-off powerful America, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), US envoy nominee: Nepal ratified MCC despite China’s ‘disinformation campaign’ : In his opening statement before the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, Thompson says he is ‘well prepared’ to take up the assignment in Kathmandu (kp) [And what about US disinformation campaign? Both China and the US must respect Nepal's sovereignty!], Chinese embassy takes exception to Thompson’s China disinformation campaign statement : The embassy says the remarks of the US side are baseless and have not only slandered China, but also offended Nepal and its people (kp) [The US and China must immediately stop using Nepal for their global power struggles. Mr Thompson either has no understanding of Nepal's realities and foreign policy sensitivities or he wants to distinguish himself by undiplomatic ruthlessness towards Nepal even even before his official appointment!], Liu’s visit: Nothing but predatory meddling in Nepal’s internal affairs, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), The curious case of ‘M Adhikari’ : UML’s claim that the doppelganger party member is not the governor fails to satisfy observers and lawmakers, by Binod Ghimire and Tika R Pradhan (kp), Sri Lankan syndrome and Nepal : An economic crisis like in Sri Lanka is inevitable, if Nepal ignores its early symptoms, by Bijendra Man Shakya (kp), Challenges Of Good Governance, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

14/07/2022: Lies, more lies : It is our misfortune that the cast of characters has changed very little in the last three decades, by Deepak Thapa (kp), No deputy Speaker for over two years, and now they want to elect one. Why? Not aimed at protecting the constitution, experts say, as ruling parties seem to be eying something else that they think may benefit them somehow, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The disregard for the Constitution by the ruling male Tagadhari elite is simply criminal and undemocratic in every sense of the word!], Deputy Speaker of HoR: Bhusal and Bhattarai file nominations (kh) [This position is reserved for women, as the patriarchal ruling elite see only men as qualified for top leadership roles. But the question is why, once again, only candidates from Bahun circles are sent forward.], Nepal, China crucial talks today, with aim to revive mechanisms to settle boundary row : Two countries have failed to conduct joint inspection of the border since 2011. Recent reports suggest disputes in some places, including Humla, by Anil Giri (kp), BRI Is Beneficial For Nepal, by Aarati Neupane (rn), Judicial Credibility At Stake, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Chure’s exploitation goes unchecked : Authorities have turned a blind eye on illegal crusher plants that occupy the rivers and streams that flow from the Chure, by Rajkaran Mahato (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

13/07/2022: Hurdles in Nepal’s Newfangled Geostrategic Drive, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), What kind of monetary policy can spare Nepal from becoming next Sri Lanka? (kh), PM Deuba-led government claims it ended instability, misgovernance (kh 13/07/2022) [In reality, the differences with the previous Oli government are not that great. There is still a lack of democratic procedures, rule of law, respect for the constitution and social inclusion!], Deuba’s one year in office marked by misrule and tactic from Oli’s playbook : Local elections can be counted as the only achievement, else failure on all fronts, observers say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), A litany of failures : The first year of Deuba's fifth term is a story of unfulfilled promises—and disillusionment (kp), Beijing in a bid to engage Congress as it explores unity of left forces in Nepal : Chinese delegation’s visit carries multiple messages amid geopolitical shifts, experts and observers say, by Anil Giri (kp), Looming food crisis : The state has never taken food shortages seriously because of the false security net—the Indian market, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), HoR passes first Citizenship Amendment Bill (rep) [As long as Articles 10 ff. of the Constitution do not treat women and men absolutely equally, this amendment to a subordinate law means little!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

12/07/2022: From the wrong playbook : The government dare not tamper with constitutional provisions and rule of law (kp), CCP foreign department chief Liu holding talks with Oli, Nepal and Khanal today (kh) [A blatant case of intervention in internal Nepali affairs. What does this Chinese party official actually want in Nepal?], China “openly lobbying” against United States in Nepal (kh) [Not much different from the US policy in Nepal!], UML lawmaker Pal suggests doing away with provinces (kh) [This demand is clearly unconstitutional and should have legal consequences! Not the federal system is the problem, but the fact that many of the top politicians reject federalism, secularism and social inclusion, as these endanger their dominant position!], Deuba under fire— from a section of Congress, and opposition : UML charges prime minister with failing in governance. Congress group questions party president’s performance, by Anil Giri (kp), Government sets record in rush spending at end of fiscal year : On Saturday, despite being the weekend, it paid out a whopping Rs14.72 billion, setting a record for the highest one-day capital expenditure, by Pawan Pandey (kp) [This testifies to a lack of interest on the part of the responsible politicians and administrators in a structured and rational development policy!], Perennial problem : Nepal's dev process will not move ahead as long as the govt fails to spend the capital budget as per its desire (ht), Weapons Purchase Case: House committee gives three days to home ministry to furnish details (rep), It’s shameful to fail to nominate Deputy Speaker and Vice-Chairman: Bamdev Gautam (kh) [It is not only shameful, it is a serious violation of Articles 91 and 92 of the Constitution. This constitutional violation was deliberately committed by the previous Oli government, like so many others of his numerous misconducts, and has been continued by the present Deuba government. Since both positions should have been filled by women, it is also an afront against women's rights and political participation. The politicians responsible for this scandal should be held accountable as a matter of urgency.]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

11/07/2022: Govt registers Citizenship Bill in Parliament : Home Minister and Law Minister in a rush seeking consensus (kh), Workers lack security in Nepal and abroad, by Keshav Adhikari (kh), Deuba government taking a leaf out of Oli’s book in obscene fashion, experts say : A bill to amend Constitutional Council Act comes as the latest case to demonstrate current administration is no different from the previous one in disregarding rule of law, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Bill to amend Constitutional Council Act: Bishwa Prakash Sharma seeks accountability from PM : In what appears to be a case of blatant disregard for the rule of law and spirit of the constitution, the Deuba government is trying to amend the Constitutional Council Act in the same way done by his predecessor the KP Oli-led government (nlt), Speaker Sapkota rules govt to furnish replies on issues raised by lawmakers (nlt), Is Nepal Oil Corporation’s proposal to government rationale? Suffice to say, these recommendations are neither suitable for the short-term, nor are they viable long-term measures. In fact, it would pose even greater risks in the lives of the people as well as the economy as a whole, leaving everyone worse-off, by Anoushka Pant (nlt), Government spends over Rs 25bn in one day (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

10/07/2022: The system changed, but the plight of Badi community did not (rep), New citizenship bill does away with 7 years wait (ht) [Nepal's patriarchal high caste politicians simply do not want to understand that all people in Nepal are entitled to equal citizenship rights regardless of their gender. The country does not belong to men, but to all citizens!], Govt repeats late spending trend as fiscal year comes to a close : Rs 52 billion spent as development expenditure in past 25 days; Rs 15 billion spent on Saturday alone (kh) [Nepal politicians will never change unless they are replaced in their entirety by a responsible, younger and socially inclusive generation! Otherwise, the personal power struggles of failed top politicians who are not really interested in the development of the country will continue endlessly!], Federal government itself is anti-federal, politicians and experts say : Panelists concur federalism can never be strengthened unless the political parties transform themselves (kp) [Not only the government, but all the major political parties, especially Oli and his CPN-UML as well as the RPP and its related parties, the latter party having a totally unconstitutional attitude!], Govt buying weapons worth Rs 840 million in times of economic crisis (rep) [To keep discontented civil society under control or for what?], Language, literature, culture are nation's pride: PM Deuba (rep) [In relation to the multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-cultural society of Nepal, these terms must be used in the plural!], Left Alliance Still A Far Cry, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Height of irresponsibility: Gandaki province chief minister’s reckless display of profligacy in the middle of economic crisis : Even as the country staggers under the economic slowdown and rising inflation, the Gandaki province government has indulged in reckless profligacy. Is Nepal another Sri Lanka in the making?, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

09/07/2022: A blueprint for political empowerment of Nepali women  : Male politicians in dominant positions should face the reality that women in Nepal have no equal opportunities to contest the elections, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), House panel for extending statute of limitations on rape by up to three years : Observers say that’s not enough and doesn’t match Nepal’s rights commitments made in international forums, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Top-level Chinese visit piques curiosity about its purpose : Chinese Communist Party’s international department chief is arriving on Sunday amid talks about a possible left alliance and Nepal’s perceived tilt towards the West, by Anil Giri (kp) [China and the USA are primarily concerned with global supremacy. Their engagement in Nepal is only a small piece of the mosaic. And Nepal's weak politicians have the mistaken view that they can use both to their advantage!], The Coming Global Recession: Will Nepal Resist the Trend?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), The Native Roots Of Freedom, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

08/07/2022: Nepal among countries with gender discriminatory nationality laws (ht) [see corresponding report by Equality Now and Index of related laws (Nepal pp. 63-63)], Import explosion and trade deficit pushing Nepal into economic crisis : Feverish consumption has been a bonanza for the trading sector, but the phenomenon brought disaster to manufacturing and agriculture sectors, experts say, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Why are the top leaders of the ruling coalition defending the Nijgadh Airport project? The top leaders of the ruling coalition–Sher Bahadur Deuba, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal–look committed to the Nijgadh Airport project, whatever the supreme court verdict. Why are they so bent? (nlt), Life is precious, everybody’s : It is vital to ensure the safety of the citizens through changes in policies and practices (kp), High-profile corruption cases pending at Supreme Court for two decades, by Bhasa Sharma (rep), House committee agrees to increase statute of limitation for rape cases to two years (rep) [There should be no limitation at all in such cases!], Accountability Counts A Lot, by Yug Bahadur (rn), Parliamentarians rue over withdrawal of Citizenship related Bill (kh), State-sponsored economic crisis : Nepal's politicians lack the focus and will to bring down inflation, by Ramesh Kumar (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

07/07/2022: In Nepal, to be able to vote is a tough nut to crack : Forced to stand in long queues, coupled with delays, service seekers express rage against the tedious voter registration process, by Shrutika Raut ans Sakshi Srivastav (nlt) [Nepal needs a mandatory population registration system using modern IT. Then additional voter registration will be unnecessary!], Women in budget : Despite significant strides, some gaps in mobility and entrepreneurship remain (kp), New Wheels In Politics, by Mukti Rijal (rn), New citizenship bill : Inability to solve the citizenship problem is pushing more and more people into statelessness (ht) [The cause is the patriarchal, high-caste machos at the top of the state and political parties, who see only males as the owners of the country and refuse full equality for all genders!], After pushing the country to the brink of economic ruin, former guerilla commander Sharma steps down : History will judge Janardan Sharma’s one-year-long tenure harshly. His policies and actions have left deep scars in the country’s economy (nlt), Bill to regulate acid business required to contain women violence: Home Minister (kh) [This has been demanded for years, but the oh-so-stressed politicians are simply too busy with their power struggles and manipulations!], How the Special Court swiftly acquits ‘big fish’ : Experts say corruption will persist so long as political appointees rule the roost in law-enforcement agencies, by Surendra Kafle (ae), Coalition culture in Nepali politics : Forging a coalition among political parties with the objective of contesting and winning national elections is rather a new concept in Nepal, by Binod Kumar Bhattarai (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

06/07/2022: Gender-responsive budgeting: Good on paper, poor on implementation : In the absence of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, existing gender financing policies of Nepal have failed to yield desired results, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Federal government overlooks statute as it wants to oversee Valley’s security : Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are in favour while the Maoists are against the proposed arrangement, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Finance Minister Sharma resigns (nlt), Parliamentary special committee to investigate Janardhan Sharma’s alleged manipulation of tax rate (kh), FinMin Sharma resigns following allegations of manipulating tax rates in budget and hiding evidence (rep), EC officials to recommend Nov 18 or 21 to hold parliamentary and provincial elections (kh), Poll commission suggests November 18 for federal and provincial elections : Holding both elections in a single phase is possible, it’s cost effective and easier from the management point of view, the commission says (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

05/07/2022: How Nepal can avoid its impending foreign exchange reserves crisis : It's time to take the concrete, maybe unpleasant, steps if necessary to avoid what Sri Lanka has been through. Both fiscal and monetary sides should come together to take coordinated bold steps, by Bamadev Paudel (nlt), Calls are growing for Finance Minister Sharma to quit, as he fails to come clean : Prime minister’s reluctance to take action raises suspicion if there are too many skeletons in the closet, by Anil Giri (kp), Govt told to give compensation to victims (ht), SC orders release of robbery-accused minor from child correction centre (ht), Only 41.62 percent of capital budget spent as 12 days remain in this fiscal (kh), Government decides to withdraw citizenship bill : To register a new bill by removing some ‘controversial’ provisions in the existing draft, a minister says (kp), Former vice-chairs of National Planning Commission demand probe on budget tampering case : "The government has failed to increase exports, ensure proper mobilization of foreign aid and loans, attract foreign investment, facilitate tourist arrivals, and ensure remittance inflows through formal channels to improve the depleting foreign currency reserves." (nlt), The case of alleged financial crime exposes compromised morality of some bureaucrats. Are there provisions to hold them accountable? Nepal’s Civil Service Act (1993) has provisions regarding the removal or dismissal of government employees from service. Top bureaucrats, however, often skip action by taking advantage of their political connection and shifting the blame toward politicians (nlt), Of deceits and erasures : The sooner the finance minister exits the government, the better for the nation (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

04/07/2022: “Reviving NCP and forging Left unity is the ultimate goal” : Oli and Prachanda also believe in leftist alliance and unity, interview with Tulasa Thapa, Nepal Ekta Rashtriya Abhiyan (kh 04/07/2022) [The Left Alliance of 2017 was an experiment that failed because of the personal claims to power and anti-democratic attitudes of its leaders. A repetition under the leadership of the same failed individuals makes no sense. They are intransigent and have not changed their attitudes! The constant party splits and new party formations on the left spectrum are a clear indication!], Complications galore as there’s more to Rana impeachment than meets the eye : Questions remain what happens if House expires before his retirement. Some experts argue he can return to office, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The little democratic, socially non-inclusive and anything but secular state of Nepal presents a political picture of misery. Worst of all, the people mainly responsible for this want to prolong this political chaos for another five years.], Mangalsen tense following protest over death of local youth : Police fired 12 tear gas shells to bring the situation under control; 12 police officers injured, by Menuka Dhungana (kp), 14 injured in clash between protesters and police (kh), Dahal blames NC for CPN-MC poor showing in local polls (ht) [He will never admit his own failure!], KMC slammed over violation of fundamental human rights (ht), Cronyism, protectionism and rampant corruption likely to push Nepal to the brink of economic disaster : On Sunday, Nepal’s Finance Ministry refused to produce CCTV footage of the night before the budget announcement, raising questions about whether the alleged financial crime will ever be investigated, by Ashim Neupane (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

03/07/2022: Conflict victims want new leaders in two commissions as their terms near end : Justice continues to elude victims of the decade-long war because of multiple reasons including a lack of will on the part of politicians, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Women's rights only on paper, law-enforcement limited to cities, by Dinesh Subedi (rep), Ranju Darshana to contest upcoming federal election from Kathmandu-5 (nlt), Oil Corporation increasingly anxious about piling debt to its Indian supplier : Near bankruptcy, public utility has outstanding payment dues worth Rs22 billion and the sum is expected to rise, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Left alliance has an appeal to the communists. But can they pull it off again? Ruling coalition seems to be intact so far, but recent activities hint something is cooking with the leftist forces feeling encouraged, by Tika R Pradhan and Anil Giri (kp), Unified Socialist Heads To Bumpy Ride, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn) [Even the authoritarian leadership style and the refusal of social inclusion resemble those of KP Oli!], Taking a 'corrupt judiciary' by its horns, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

02/07/2022: Nepal’s dependency on rice increasing, annual import touches Rs 50 billion : Rice, the staple crop of the country, is grown in around 1.5 million hectares of land and it requires around 6 million metric tonnes of rice annually to feed around 30 million population of the country (nlt), When Presidents and Vice-presidents stoop to play go-betweens : Experts say it is unbecoming for Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun to host meetings to bring his former comrades Dahal and Bhattarai together politically, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Another example that Nepal does not have a democratic culture!], Concept paper of independent candidacy campaign unveiled (rep), Critical Moment For Party Reforms, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Nepali remains lingua franca of all provinces, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [It is not a question of replacing Nepali with another language, but a second language of the respective province should be made compulsory, especially for the high-caste elite, who must finally get away from the mistaken belief that only their language, religion, culture, etc. represent Nepal's identity!], Nepali Congress Spokesperson raises alert against loans, Sri Lanka’s fate : Prakash Sharan Mahat raised the alarm bells while addressing a high level policy dialogue on National Interests organized by Policy Research Institute (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

01/07/2022: Despite six-decade history, parliamentary practice remains weak in Nepal : Experts say that in countries where political parties aren’t democratic, the parliamentary practice cannot be effective, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Bandi against endlessly extending TRC deadline (ht), ‘Endlessly extending deadline for TRC and CIEDP not a way out’, interview with Minister Govinda Bandi (ht), Promote Gender Equality In Politics, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn), Bhattarai, Yadav set to part ways 3 years after union as discord reaches tipping point : Two leaders, who are like chalk and cheese, have partnered longer than many expected, and a split is not if but when, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Time to let go : Local governments should be empowered enough to shoulder the responsibility of education (kp), Two Faces of Civil Service, by Sarans Pandey (rep), Capital expenditure at less than 40 per cent (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

30/06/2022: Power sans responsibility : Rather than a sense of security, the presence of the police strikes fear in people’s hearts (kp), A critical look at Nepal’s ‘Other’ commissions : The 'Other' commissions hold great potential for Nepal's marginalized groups, but they are in need of urgent support to ensure sustenance, by Sneha Ghimire, Georghe Varughese and Tara Kanel (rec), EC preparing to hold federal and provincial elections by mid-December: CEC Thapaliya (nlt), Top court quashes all decisions related to Nijgadh airport : In a 3-2 ruling, the Supreme Court, however, keeps options open for building an international airport, with strict conditions of minimal environmental damage, by Sangam Prasain, Binod Ghimire and Tika R Pradhan (kp), Bhattarai faction frets as Yadav goes solo with Cabinet reshuffle proposal : Deuba calls for consensus proposal. Observers say JSP dispute could impact the coalition, by Anil Giri (kp), Janata Samajwadi Party row: Yadav, Bhattarai agree to part ways (nlt), Maoist castaways : The party and its leadership have moved on to mundane pursuits like power and money, by Deepak Thapa (kp), 'Migration ban on women counterproductive' (ht), EC urges govt to manage e-voting machines for upcoming polls (nlt) [Yawn, says the Deuba government! This is just like voting rights for the millions of excluded eligible voters!], What perpetuates patriarchy in Nepal?, by Cilla Khatry (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

29/06/2022: Most perpetrators being relatives or neighbors, challenges galore for rape survivors : Activists and stakeholders say it diminishes the survivors’ chance of justice, leaving them in perpetual trauma, by Sakshi Srivastav (nlt), Why are Nepalis living abroad deprived of voting rights? Experiences of a campaigner for more than 7 years, by Karma Lama Tamang (kh), Torture at the hands of authorities continues with little action : The Criminal Code that came into force in 2018 has criminalised torture but the cases are seldom investigated and no perpetrators have been brought to book so far., by Binod Ghimire (kp), Government unclear on how to adjust taxes days after it slashed fuel prices : Finance Ministry says Supply Ministry decided on price cuts; the former has made no move to revise the taxes yet, by Preithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Nor any drop to drink : The authorities must spring into action before water contamination becomes a full blown crisis (kp), Faulty assurances : Nepal turned into a net food importer from an exporter after the 1980s due to abysmal farm policies, by Bijendra Man Shakya (kp), Digital Harassment Impairs Press Freedom, by Namrata Sharma (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

28/06/2022: Cop beats doctor black and blue because he was ‘walking at night’ : The doctor was heading home after his duty at Arogya Foundation in Pulchowk when the police constable started to verbally and physically abuse him, by Anup Ojha (kp) [The police continue to claim that it is their right to brutally beat up civilians whenever they please!], Marginalized since birth : Despite legal provisions, the births of many Dalit children in the Madhes are not registered, mostly due to a lack of documentation on the part of the parents, by Rajendra Senchurey and Smriti Kafle (rec), Janata Samajwadi Party decides to recall ministers (nlt), JSP decides to call back its ministers without Baburam’s consent : Dr. Bhattarai and Ashok Rai pushed aside (kh), Supreme Court stays Pokhara metropolis’ standard on constructing physical structures around Fewa Lake (nlt), Bamdev Gautam announcing a new party today (kh) [There are not enough useless parties led by failed male Bahun politicians!], Gautam announces formation of ‘NCP Ekata Rastriya Abhiyan’ party (kh), Amid SPP confusion, home minister makes a gaffe saying pullout letter sent to the US : Foreign Ministry is yet to write to the US. American embassy says it acknowledges Nepali Cabinet’s public statements regarding its desire not to move forward on the SPP, by Anil Giri(kp), Advancing Alternative Force Easier Said Than Done, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Independent movement in Nepali politics : New wine or old wine in new bottle?, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

27/06/2022: Dismantling Chhaupadi mindset : The only effective measure would be educating people to abolish this abhorrent tradition (kp), What should Nepal learn from the SPP debacle? The SPP issue exposed the dishonesty of the Nepali leadership, both in power and in opposition. The purported SPP draft agreement and several letters associated with it further raised concerns, by Shristi Kafle (nlt), High time we saved the country’s economy : Economic growth is not the main concern, by Chandra Mani Adhikari (kh), Forex reserves down to fund imports for just a little over six months raises alarm : Questions arise if import control measures have worked and government is doing much to address economic woes, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Seeds of discord in Unified Socialist just as ministers change : Party is clearly in crisis with Madhav Nepal seeking to put the house in order., by Tika R Pradhan (kp), CPN (US) demand met, Cabinet reshuffled (ht) [All supporters of patriarchy say thank you for the further reduction of women in the cabinet. The proportion of women in the Council of Ministers is only 20 per cent, although the constitution stipulates at least 34 per cent. For this to happen, at least three of the four newly appointed ministers would have had to be women. Long live the patriarchy!], Supreme Court orders government to make arrangements for prisoners to vote : The order says those doing time should be allowed to vote for the proportional representation system (kp), Nepal imports vegetables worth over Rs 34 billion in 11 months : Potatoes worth Rs 7 billion and onions worth Rs 5 billion imported (kh) [Nepal is really not able to grow enough vegetables by itself? This is quite obviously a mistake in agricultural policy!], UML lawmakers boycott National Assembly meeting (kh) [A democratic party must not under any circumstances prevent the work of the elected representatives of the people, even if there are serious allegations. Parliament is not a kindergarten! Why should the voters give their vote to such a party again?],
BRI document reveals how China attempts to dominate Nepal’s economy with its currency and free trade provisions : China seeks economic hegemony in Nepal through BRI; experts raise concerns over not making BRI document public, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

26/06/2022: Chhaupadi practice puts women with disabilities at higher risk : Disabled girls and women are more prone to getting sexually violated while staying away in chhau sheds, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), No legal clarity on how long the House of Representatives can function after election dates are announced : Government doesn’t need to dissolve House, it can simply prorogue ongoing session which means the end of its tenure, an expert says, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Unified Socialist ministers replaced in Cabinet reshuffle: New ministers will be sworn in on Monday morning (kp), Prime Minister Deuba reshuffles cabinet (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

25/06/2022: Ruling coalition directs govt to cut taxes on petroleum products : The government has been levying hefty taxes on petroleum products. It is said the price of petrol and diesel will come down by Rs 25-30 per liter once the decision is implemented (nlt), Govt slashes fuel prices following widespread criticism : The government decided to reduce petrol price by Rs 20 per liter and diesel price by Rs 28 per liter (nlt), Govt reduces petroleum product price, petrol Rs 179/liter and diesel Rs 163 now (kh), Nepal struggles with a high adolescent fertility rate (kh), Banke prison overcrowded (kh), Crisis brewing in Unified Socialist as 10 of its lawmakers up the ante : Party chair Nepal in tight spot as those said to be his close aides pressure him over decision on recalling ministers, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Riding Out Turbulent Geopolitics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

24/06/2022: Government is in a fix. It has decided to shun SPP but is not clear how to do that : Foreign Ministry officials say they’ve got Cabinet decision ‘not to move ahead’, which they find too vague to pursue, by Anil Giri (kp), China speaks about SPP: Experts say comment on Nepal-US bilateral matters not welcome : ‘China is not respecting Nepal’s sovereignty by unnecessarily commenting on its sovereignty’, geopolitical experts react to the Chinese official statement (nlt), Justice for sale : As long as judges are appointed on the basis of political affiliation, the judiciary will not improve for the better (ht), In the dock, again : The justices should remain true to the ideals of impartiality and incorruptibility (kp), Independent Mayors Must Keep Their Word, by Dhananjay Shah and Dilip Thakur (kp), Prachanda expresses desire to be executive head of country again (kh) [Please, not another one of those failed politicians who think nothing can be done without them! Dahal, Oli, Deuba and many others should retire immediately and give way to a new generation of politicians!], Breaching laws, govt released Rs 9m for Jhalanath Khanal’s abroad medical treatment : The amount was released illegally as Section 30 of the ‘Public Health Service Act 2018’ states that expenses should not be provided for foreign treatment (nlt), In a healthy state : Nepalis are sick because they are poor, and they are getting poorer because they are sicker (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

23/06/2022: Rampant lawlessness: How entire system is under threat from Prime Minister himself  : Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba seems hell-bent on protecting his nearer and dearer ones at the cost of the country’s legal as well as parliamentary system. It appears Deuba can go to any length to keep his power intact, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Hospitals closing health insurance program (kh), Leaked audio clip of judge, lawyer talking kickbacks exposes rot in the judiciary : Judge Koirala and lawyer Pokhrel are heard discussing taking a cut totalling Rs20 million to secure release of Ichchha Raj Tamang on a bail of Rs100 million, by Binod Ghimire (kp), District court judge in bribery scandal, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Rising cost of living is impacting people’s health : Cases of waterborne diseases result of inflation that is driving people into poverty, forcing many to scrimp on essentials, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Why Local Elections in Nepal Should be Held on Nonpartisan Basis, by Ambika P Adhikari and Keshav Bhattarai (rep), Mahato calls for coalition among marginalised communities (ht), Workers in the eyes of political parties : Don't take them for granted anymore, by Ajay Kumar Rai (ht), The missing coherence in Nepal’s IPS and BRI dealings : Between 2015 and 2019, Nepal twice wrote to the US expressing its desire to join the SPP military exchange program, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Learning from Nepal’s SPP fiasco, by Pragya Ghimire (ae), Why is Nepal’s Province 1 still nameless?, by Rakesh Karn (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

22/06/2022: Sublimation of the subaltern : Chasing the chimaera of emancipation through political ideologies is exhausting and meaningless, by CK Lal (kp),  Judicial Council calls meeting as a leaked audio conversation between a judge and lawyer making a deal of Rs 20 million to release Ichchha Raj on bail creates ripples (kh), Ad-hoc decisions put Nepal’s aviation—and tourism—in disarray : The civil aviation body is not the only one wreaking havoc on the industry, the tourism minister has done his share of the damage too, insiders say, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Congress leaders call for letting Nepalis away vote. Poll body says not feasible : Despite Supreme Court order in 2018, no initiatives taken for out-of-country voting. Debate on the issue when polls near seems to be more for public consumption, by Binod Ghimire (kp), SC asks for original copies relating to 52 appointments in constitutional bodies (kh), Property right sought for Nepali diaspora (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

21/06/2022: VAW cases continue unabated (kh), Govt rebuffs NHRC’s recommendations (kh), Nepal unlikely to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 : Stakeholders identify lack of proper plan of action and localized indicators along with insufficient budget allocation as major stumbling blocks to achieving the goals, by Shrutika Raut and Sakshi Srivastav (nlt), New rule allows crusher plants even closer to rivers, forests and villages : Experts say such policies will damage environment. Questions arise at whose behest the new standards were brought, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Government decides to stay away from SPP : Confusion remains though whether Nepal is indeed part of the US scheme and how it can get out of it, by Anil Giri and Tika R Pradhan (kp), Coalition partners eye alliance for upcoming polls, but there are complexities : There are more aspirants than the 165 lower house seats up for grabs and Maoist Centre and Unified Socialist want more seats than they have now, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Voters will once again be presented with the old familiar non-inclusive male uppercaste candidates. The voters should dispose of them all in the dustbin of history!], Parties are reluctant to ensure fair Dalit representation in politics, report says : Dalit advocacy group’s report regrets dwindling Dalit representation in local governance (kp), Active cholera threat : It is usually after cases emerge that the authorities wake up to take charge of the situation (kp), Constricted devolution of fiscal power : The new leadership at the local level needs to find ways to boost capital expenditure, by Achyut Wagle (kp), “No province or municipality has shown any expenditure on drinking water for the last five years” (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

20/06/2022: Recruitment tightrope : The imbalance of healthcare professionals could hinder our efforts to improve healthcare in Nepal (kp) [Nepal itself does not need nurses at all, definitely!], Deuba skips House committee meeting. Lawmakers decide to summon him again : Nepal’s prime ministers often ignore such calls, just as questions remain about parliamentary panels also, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Nepal may call itself a parliamentary democracy with a separation of powers, but the politicians in power believe they have taken over absolutist power from the ousted monarchy!], External affairs, domestic battles : Our governance and policy-making are routinely held hostage to political squabbling, by Anurag Acharya (kp), Nepal’s ‘great’ leap backward : World order is changing fast. Nations are framing strategies to deal with the unknown that is emerging. In Nepal, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is busy defending his corrupt Finance Minister, by Bikash Sangraula (nlt), Gorkha locals want Swarnim Waglé to contest the parliamentary elections from the district : Despite his formal affiliation with Nepali Congress, people from all walks of life regardless of the ideology, have been expecting Dr Swarnim Waglé to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections from Gorkha (nlt), Dozens of Chinese contractors blacklisted; scams unbridled, by Krishna Timalsina (kh), Potential foreign investors put off by Nepal’s lax law enforcement : FDI pledges in IT sector plunged 409 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year ended mid-June, by Krishana Prasain (kp), SC orders not to implement govt. decision to restrict loan disbursement (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

19/06/2022: Probe shows prison officials’ role in events leading to youth’s jail death : CCTV not functioning when Harijan ‘committed suicide’. Detailed probe by police sought, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Experts say SPP exposed Nepal’s civilian and military diplomacy failure : It’s a fiasco of epic proportions, they say, which could widen trust deficit with neighbours and the United States, by Anil Giri (kp), Liquidity crisis can hardly be addressed by this fiscal policy, by Kamlesh Agrawal (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

18/06/2022: Patriarchy blamed for suffering of mothers, kids (ht), Authority without accountability: Deuba government’s blatant indifference to ‘financial crime’ by Finance Minister : Prime Minister Deuba’s reluctance to investigate the alleged involvement of an outsider to change tax rates in the fiscal policy by the Finance Minister shows accountability is at stake in Nepal (nlt), House panel grills army chief, foreign minister on SPP : Orders government to write to the US saying Nepal is not part of SPP. Sharma claims 2019 army letter was sent with government nod, Nepal is not part of any military alliance, by Binod Ghimire (kp), ‘Political leadership was unaware of Nepal Army’s correspondence with US Army over SPP’ (rep) [KP Oli and his government at the time lied to the people all the time! Why should they believe it now?], Mentally-ill girl gang-raped in Dang, by Devendra Basnet (rep), Textbooks yet to reach Baitadi (rep), Can Nepal absorb the shockwaves of stagflation and growth myth?, by Kedar Neupane (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

17/06/2022: On SPP, no party looks clean— all lying, playing to the gallery : A Nepal Army letter shows Nepal applied for the State Partnership Program in October 2015. While the national defence force finds itself in the dock, politicians are equally answerable, by Anil Giri and Binod Ghimire (kp) [Right to information: Every citizen shall have the right to demand and receive information on any matter of his or her interest or of public interest (Article 27 of the constitution)! When will politicians finally respect the constitution? Their behaviour is criminal!], Deuba avoids House that awaited response on some pressing issues : Amid calls for answers from him on defence budget and SPP, prime minister plays truant,  by Binod Ghimire (kp), Int’l Relations Committee summons CoAS Sharma on SPP issue (kh), Nepal will not participate in any military alliance; 10-point agreement on SPP is fake: CoAS Sharma (kh), How long will China’s undeclared blockade on Nepal continue?, by Krishna Timalsina (kh), Nepali importers using southern route due to fickle Chinese transit policy : Traders say they are tired of the frequently changing Chinese transit rules and promises which have caused them massive losses, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Services halted in Budhiganga amid reelection delay : Budhiganga Municipality is without people’s representatives, which has hampered several administrative and development activities in the local body, by Arjun Shah (kp) [This is also a consequence of the imbecilic rule that incumbent politicians have to resign if they want to run again in elections!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

16/06/2022: The burdens of a Nepali woman : Women are still seen as subservient figures everywhere they go. Meanwhile, patriarchy has gone beyond being a belief system and become a way of life for many of us, by Anushka Nepal (ae), US embassy reacts as Deuba is silent while lawmakers question SPP : Hours after US officials say Nepal became part of the State Partnership Program in 2019 as per its request, Nepal Army refutes. Law minister terms whole issue ‘a rumour’ (kp) [Only a timely and continuous information policy by the government can help to avoid such irritations. People have a right to information, but Nepali governments have always relied on disinformation!], SPP debacle: Nepal Army’s request letter to the US becomes public : The letter shows that the Nepal Army, in 2015, had written to the United States Embassy in Kathmandu proposing the SPP with the American government (nlt), Nepal’s debt rises by over 7 percent in third quarter : Rupee depreciation has added Rs19.37 billion to foreign debt burden. Value of a US dollar has risen to a record high, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), On Presidential Democracy, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Fighting discrimination: Everyone's responsibility, by Simone Galimberti (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

15/06/2022: PM should answer in Parliament regarding State Partnership Program: Gagan Thapa : A purported draft proposal of the US-Nepal military pact has ignited a heated debate in Nepali politics (nlt), Will not sign SPP with the United States: PM Deuba  (kh) [Inform the people and parliament correctly and in detail! This is your duty!], A US programme triggers new debate on the heels of MCC pact’s passage : American embassy calls a purported SPP draft circulating online as ‘fake’, as questions arise if Nepal is falling into a geopolitical quagmire amid rising global tensions, by Anil Giri (kp), Nine communist parties demand cancellation of PM Deuba’s US visit  (kh), Communists fan the flames about SPP not knowing Nepal was already a part of it "SPP is neither a military alliance nor China containment tool", by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Laws related to transitional justice will be amended: Minister Sharma (kh), Poll body eyeing general, provincial elections in November in one phase : Officials say they are set to meet the prime minister within a week with their plans, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Janata Samajbadi Party’s Bhattarai faction asks Deuba to ignore chair Yadav’s unilateral decisions : Some leaders say dispute in the party has become serious and the Bhattarai faction could break away, by Anil Giri  (kp), Around 27 percent Nepalis indebted due to Covid-19 pandemic: UNICEF report, by Arjun Poudel (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

14/06/2022: Despite PM Deuba’s reluctance to reshuffle Cabinet, JSP and Unified Socialist continue to exert pressure (kh), Future route of coalition in Nepal: Less rosy, more thorny, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Finance minister in dock again ‘for using outsiders’ to tweak taxes : Lawmakers demand clarification from Sharma and investigation into allegations that he involved unauthorised people in the budget-making process, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), ‘Truth-seeking should be the first priority of the transitional justice process’, interview with Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Govinda Bandi (kp), Local election, delay in material supply for printing to blame for delay in providing textbooks to students: Minister Paudel (rep) [However, this does not justify the regular deferral of remote areas in particular!], US embassy says the ‘leaked’ document regarding State Partnership Program is fake : Nepali intellectuals and people on social media had reacted to the 'proposed' US-Nepal military pact immediately after media outlets disclosed the contents of the document (nlt) [If you believe it, you will be blessed!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

13/06/2022: Secularism is at a crossroads in Nepal : Anti-secular voices demanding a return to Nepal’s character as a Hindu state are on the rise but they ignore the larger danger to Hinduism – Hindutva, by Krishna Man Rai (rec) [The combination of Hinduism and politics is a prominent reason for the non-inclusive state. The country's ruling elite has chosen its religion and culture as the basis of national identity. But Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural state. Secularism is one of the most important achievements of Jana Andolan II. That it has not been developed and nurtured is the fault of the ruling elite, which is almost exclusively male Tagadharis. These men alone are responsible for the poor state of democracy, federalism and secularism in Nepal. Send them into retirement at last!], Cost of coalition politics : It is evident that the coalition of parties neither stands on a moral nor ideological foundation, by Bhoj Raj Poudel (kp), As storm within JSP continues to rage, the party heads towards split (kh) [Temporarily changing laws by ordinance to allow party divisions is criminal. Draft a completely new Political Parties Act that finally prescribes democratic structures and procedures for the parties and drastically curtails the power of party leaders!], People mulling independent runs for federal seats begin consultations : Members of a network named ‘Swatantra Ummedwar Abhiyan’ are holding national consultations in Kathmandu on July 1 and 2, by Binod Ghimire (kp), House panel summons PM to get information on his US visit (rep 13/06/2022), PM Deuba is preparing to secretly sign partnership deal with US: Rawal (rep 13/06/2022), Protestors  besiege MCC's central office (rep 13/06/2022), PM should inform parliament about his US visit: Chairman Nepal (rep 13/06/2022) [Not only the parliament, the entire people have a right to information. The behaviour of top American politicians in recent months and especially the current visit of the general are highly suspicious. When will Nepal finally find a way to a foreign policy that is free from American, Chinese or Indian dictates? Grow up, Nepal!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

12/06/2022: Late as usual : Delayed delivery of textbooks infringes the right to education of Nepali students, by Karuna Parajuli and Timothy Fish Hodgson (kp), Experts for weighing viability, transparency and national interests while selecting foreign funded projects (nlt), Budget debate in Nepal is about MPs seeking more for their constituencies : Parliamentarians often forget their main job—making laws. They consider themselves development workers, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Meeting revenue target a tough ask amid import reduction plan : The government collects more than half of the total revenue from imports. The country’s forex reserves, however, have been dwindling fast due to import surge, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Nepal's education needs drastic change - UGC chair Subedi (rn), “First we need to understand the underlying factors that push children to the worst form of child labor”,interview with Sudarshan Neupane, Head of Tdh Nepal Country Office (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

11/06/2022: Strides In Women Empowerment, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Police personnel trained to combat TIP (kh), Deforestation for development leading to environmental degradation : Trees are being cut down indiscriminately in large numbers in the name of physical infrastructure development or to accommodate the growing number of human settlements, stakeholders say, by Madhav Aryal, Durgalal KC and Birendra KC (kp), Nepal to renegotiate with Motrex to establish electric vehicle plant : South Korean automaker intends to assemble Hyundai and Kia vehicles in Butwal, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Visiting US general urges Nepal to join State Partnership Program, promises aid : Prime Minister Deuba and Nepal Army chief Sharma want political consensus before Nepal joins the program, a component of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, officials say (kp) [Baiting Nepal with money to take the US side in the global power struggle and snub China may be in the interest of the US, but it puts Nepal at great risk. Nepal needs an independent, self-determined and yet friendly relationship with China, India and the USA, not a one-sided dependence on one of these countries!], Parties that accused UML of subverting Parliament are themselves doing it : Ministers are skipping budget-related discussions and experts call it insult to the people and Parliament. Ministers must be accountable to Parliament, says UML chief whip, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Strike banned in 25 most essential services (rep), NRNA controversy in Parliament,  lawmakers demand information on talks with the UK (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

10/06/2022: Call for bill on out-of-country voting, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), HC orders govt to find whereabouts of those disappeared till 2006 (ht), Deuba’s six months as Congress chief: Success in polls but party left in disarray : Party yet to form several committees and departments while many central committee positions are still vacant. Insiders say leadership failed to adhere to party charter, by Anil Giri (kp) [All Nepali political parties lack democratic structures and processes. They are under the authoritarian control of ageing and failed high-caste male politicians who cling to their posts, disregard the diversity of society and deny the participation of women, youth and migrants!], Confusion engulfs budget plan to set up Rs500 billion fund for farm financing : Central bank says it was unaware of such plan. Bankers, who have already lent hundreds of billions to the sector, are concerned about who will regulate the microfinance fund, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Life on the line : We seem to have normalised standing in long queues as part of daily existence (kp), Forex reserves decline 18 percent in 10 months of running fiscal : Existing foreign currency sufficient only to cover import of merchandise and services for 6.53 months (kh), Foreign policy of Nepal : Learning from past, present situation and vision for future. Nepal has to grow out of the ‘a yam between two stones’ mindset and the self-defeating notions of an insignificant, impoverished, and peripheral state, by Surya Subedi (kp), Nepal’s Gen Next : Mainstream parties feel threatened by the handover of power from the past to the future, by Sarala Gautam (nt), Rise of the independents : Mayors Balen Shah and Harka Sampung prove how Nepal’s democracy should function (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

09/06/2022: Tribhuvan University system doesn’t recognise transgender student : For trans individuals, it’s a constant fight in every step with systemic barriers almost on all fronts, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Janata Samajbadi on the brink as conflict escalates between Yadav and Bhattarai : Two leaders came together in May 2019, but differences have surfaced now which could even alter national politics, by Anil Giri andTika R Pradhan (kp), US General Charles Flynn arriving in Kathmandu today (kh) [The continued interference of the US in Nepali politics is intolerable. The global power struggles of the Americans are being played out completely ruthlessly on the back of little Nepal!], Top US Army official is arriving today : Nepal Army could ask for delivery of sky trucks but no agreement likely on rifle supply, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [But one can be sure that the US will again push for Nepal's participation in the Americans' Indo-Pacific security approach against China.], 'Inform parliament about US-Nepal military visits' (rn) [The fundamental right to information is unknown in Nepali politics!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

08/06/2022: Why are police so quick to shoot during protests in the Tarai? Eighteen-year-old Nabina Tharu died on Monday of bullet wounds from a police shooting, just one of at least 16 who’ve died from being shot during protests in the last five years, by Bhrikuti Rai and Shristi Shakya (rec) [The Nepali police have not yet learned to respect basic human rights. They beat, shoot, kill, torture whenever they want!], Nepal-India EPG dilemma: To receive or not to receive the report : What if the Indian government continues to refuse to receive the EPG report? Can the Nepali side make it public unilaterally?, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), Will communist forces come together before the federal polls? As some of the communist leaders are making public statements about the need for reviving the communist alliance for the federal parliament elections, experts say the prospect is too distant at the moment, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt) [Why? All these parties are under the authoritarian and anti-democratic control of long failed ageing males with whom Nepal has no future!], Rationalizing Nepal’s Foreign Policy amid Changing Dynamics of Geopolitics, by GP Acharya (rep), Bancharedanda locals clash with police over garbage dump row : Police fire tear gas shells to disperse agitators  (kh), Six policemen injured in clash with locals in Nuwakot’s Bancharedanda : Police fire six rounds of tear gas shells, 18 protestors arrested (kh), Why are police so quick to shoot during protests in the Tarai? Eighteen-year-old Nabina Tharu died on Monday of bullet wounds from a police shooting, just one of at least 16 who’ve died from being shot during protests in the last five years, by Bhrikuti Rai and Shristi Shakya (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

07/06/2022: Woman dies as police open fire in Bardiya, five-member committee formed to probe incident (nlt), Bardiya locals continue protest following death of teenager in clash with police : An 18-year-old girl died of bullet wounds on Monday when police opened fire at protestors seeking protection from wildlife attacks (kp), Do we really need public enterprises? In Nepal, public enterprises were regarded as a vehicle for development. They were taken as an instrument for the production and for the execution of socio-economic policies, by Anjila Shrestha (nlt), Nepal drops down in global rankings on budget accountability: What does it indicate? This shows that citizens now have less access to timely and comprehensive information they need to participate in decision-making and hold the government to account, by Subhash Dahal (nlt) [see report results on Nepal], Will Parliament get more independent lawmakers, after local election results? Encouraged by local poll verdict, independent candidates are eying federal elections, by Binod Ghimire (kp), The Rise Of The Independents, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn), Deepening federal democracy : The experience of the last five years shows that federalism has empowered local units, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Ensure Justice To Conflict Victims, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), 17 years on, justice still eludes victims of Badarmude (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

06/06/2022: Battle of narratives : Political parties, basking in their complacency, didn't bother to check the rear-view mirror, preferring to just look ahead, by Avasna Pandey (kp), Two years on, Nepal yet to implement Nairobi ICPD25 commitments (nlt), Term limits for higher office: Focus on legacy, by Sumit Pathak (ht), Government targets too ambitious and unrealistic, experts say : Budget contains a list of populist schemes—most of them plain impractical, insiders say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Indifference to education : Successive governments have failed to address the concern related to the supply of textbooks (kp), Empowering Dalits : We still have a long way to go to end all forms of discrimination because of the cultural mindset (ht), Govt overturns its decision on giving two days weekly leave : Public holiday to be granted only on Saturdays from June 15 (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

05/06/2022: Leaving both houses without deputies reflects poorly on parties’ commitments : As House Speaker and Assembly chair are men, their deputies have to be women. Parties’ apathy leads some to suspect if they are being neglectful of women’s representation, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Nepal's macho men like to violate the constitution and laws when it comes to preventing women's participation!], Laws versus realities: Where is Nepal failing in environment protection? Nepal has ample constitutional and legal provisions to promote environmentalism. The government just needs to implement them, by Jivesh Jha (nlt), Polluted politics seeking a way out, by Devesh Jha (kh), Buoyed by success of local polls, Deuba for holding elections by end of November : Encouraged from local polls, the premier holds confidence in the coalition despite some concerns shown by partners, by Anil Giri (kp), CPN (Unified Socialist) recalls its cabinet ministers, recommends new names for ministerial appointments (rep), UML’s Premiership Offer: A Red Herring, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

04/06/2022: The caste struggle: Discrimination rife despite laws in place : 16 years ago, Nepal was declared free of untouchability and discrimination. But Dalits continue to suffer, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), No escape from poverty for marginalised Chidimars : This year’s budget has not addressed the crushing poverty of the endangered Chidimars, a community that remains marginlised for generations, struggling to manage basic needs, by J Pandey (kp), NHRC urges govt to investigate death of Harijan in custody (kh), Austerity is good but government has created more liability for itself : Costs for salary and pension of government staff and social security up by Rs76 billion for the next fiscal year as the ‘election-oriented’ budget focuses on populist schemes, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Risky Tentacles Of Social Science Game, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

03/06/2022: Ruling party lawmakers also find fault with new budget : Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa says funds have been allocated disproportionately to benefit certain politicians in western Nepal, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Leaving no one behind : The central promise of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to ‘leave no one behind’. But with just eight years left to achieve the target and local participation still minimal, is the UN pledge achievable?, by Biswash Chepang (rec), Lawmakers draw government’s attention to rising inflation : Lawmakers accuse government of not taking any measures to tame inflation and rising prices of petroleum products (nlt), Lawmakers call on government to provide relief to people by arresting inflation (kh), Citizens appeal to protect the dignity of Supreme Court : ‘The act of directing the government to defy the court verdict on the construction of Nijgadh Airport is against Regulations of the House of Representatives.’ (nlt), ADB projects Nepal’s GDP to fall by 4.97 percent in 2030 due to school closures : “Severe disruptions in school education during the pandemic has impacted children through their formative years which will affect their employment opportunities and earning potential for many years.” (nlt) [see ADB report], Green is the colour of money and nature : Nepal’s public and private banks start to work together to finance a green economy, by Angel Li (nt), Something Wrong : Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand said that the government is committed to implement NHRC’s recommendations (sp), Lessons From The Local Elections 2022, by Dipak Gyawali (sp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

02/06/2022: In search of justice : People who lost their loved ones during the Maoist conflict are still seeking closure (kp), House likely to expire with dozens of bills pending as tenure draws to close : Some bills, including crucial ones, have been stacked since first meeting in March 2018, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This is the result of the direct failure of the Oli and Deuba led governments and the entire party political leadership of the country!], Changing political spectrum : Rejection of the ‘traditional elite’ was clearly on the minds of the Kathmandu electorate, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Clashes erupt in Nepalgunj over ex-King Birendra’s bust installation : Police open fire in the air and lob tear gas canisters to contain the clash (nlt), Tension as royalists try to install late King Birendra’s statue in Nepalgunj (kh), Nine injured in Nepalgunj clash (rep), Some police hurt in clash with local people in Nepalgunj (kh), Dahal in bid to drive a hard bargain as exercise begins for general elections : Insiders say much depends on how Deuba and Maoist chair reach a deal on a number of issues, including seats distribution and power sharing, by Anil Giri (kp), No lesson learned from the last year’s monsoon devastations : Displaced people are at risk of many communicable and vector borne diseases in the monsoon season, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Post Local Polls: Possibility of Magical Change without Civility, by Pragya Panta (rep), Parliamentary, provincial elections proposed by mid-November : Chief Election Commissioner Thapaliya for conducting polls in two phases (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

01/06/2022: Conflict victims have high hopes amid fresh bid to deliver transitional justice : Two decades since the end of the war, not much has been done to address the concerns of those who faced atrocities at the hands of the state and Maoists, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Killing by other means : The criminal system that takes in young, healthy humans and returns dead bodies must stop (kp), The tests that await independents : Nepal needs to free itself from the shackles of dogmatic leaders in their 60s and 70s, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), Madhesh has been completely cheated in budget for coming fiscal year: Yadav (rep), Embrace Ethical Leadership, by Tulasi Acharya (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

31/05/2022: Custodial deaths continue with little being done towards investigation : Most of those dying in custody under suspicious conditions are from marginalised groups, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Parties widely used children in campaigns as poll body remained ineffective : Poll body failed to crack down on parties and stood as a mere spectator, observers say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Implications Of Local Polls Outcome, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), The Balen Shah magic: Its retrospect and prospect, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), How Balen Shah, Harka Rai, and Gopi Hamal won their elections, by Jagadish Paudel (rec), Congress came first, followed by UML in second position in local polls. Will it shape the outcome of the federal elections? Here are some scenarios : How will Nepali political parties fare in the upcoming elections then? What will be their election strategies after the local poll results?, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), Upset at local election results, two Madhes parties look for options : Will Janata Samajbadi and Loktantrik Samajbadi explore merger for upcoming polls?, by Anil Giri (kp), Budget prioritises boosting local production over infrastructure : Finance Minister says budget addresses recommendations from private sector to promote production rather than trade, by Krishana Prasain (kp), An eye on the elections : It is customary to bring a large budget and then dial down the allocations over the year (kp), Rekindling hope : This election and the results have provided many pointers that we need to take positively, by Sujeev Shakya (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

30/05/2022: 22-year-old woman raped in Rupandehi (kh), Lawmakers register resolution proposal demanding removal of time limit in rape case (kh), Amend the statute of limitations : The time limit to file a case fails to reflect rape and sexual violence as heinous crimes, by Mandira Sharma and Mohna Ansari (kp), Court extends Manoj Pandey’s custody : Kathmandu District Court on Monday granted the Metropolitan Crime Division permission to extend the custody of the rape accused by seven more days (kp), The causes of invalid votes in Nepal, by Yatindra KC (nlt), Rightist Rastriya Prajatantra Party cashes in on people’s frustration with major parties : As the party improves its vote shares, it hopes to fare better in upcoming polls, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Govt says it’s taking Nijgadh Airport project forward despite SC order to stop it (rep) [This is a clear contempt of court! The decision of the SC is binding on the government!], House panel directs govt to remove legal obstacles to Nijgadh Airport (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

29/05/2022: Police torture a minor who killed a man for allegedly trying to rape her , by Upendra Yadav (rep), Panel to investigate youth’s death in prison : Legal experts say the probe team must be independent. Sundar Harijan, who was behind bars instead of a real criminal, died in Rolpa jail under suspicious circumstances, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Why the statute of limitations on rape cases is against fundamental rights : There is renewed debate on removing the limit while reporting cases of sexual violence, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Populism and ad-hocism in policymaking: How it will aggravate Nepal’s economic troubles : The concern right now is what will happen if international fuel and food prices and dollar appreciation do not abate? Is there a proper plan with the government to tackle such a grim prospect?, by Dikshya Singh and Kshitiz Dahal  (nlt), Budget day: Concern is rising inflation and economists warn against bloated plan : Experts call for a budget that addresses current economic challenges while avoiding populist tilts in the election year, by Prithvi Man Shrestha and Krishana Prasain (kp), Delay in supply of textbooks affects coursework : The new academic year in many mountain districts kicked off over 10 days ago but the lack of textbooks has rendered lessons ineffective, teachers say, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp), Nepal’s per capita debt reaches Rs 63,310 (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

28/05/2022: How women candidates fared in local polls : Female deputy chiefs are fewer but there are more chiefs compared to last elections, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Independent candidates rock Nepal’s local elections. What does it show about opportunities, challenges and messages? Many see the victory of independent candidates as the result of people’s frustration with and lack of trust in traditional political parties. Is that the only case?, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), Local elections: 385 independent candidates secure victory (rep), 14,402 women elected in local level elections across country (kh), Sunita’s entry into politics not a coincidental one, by Asmita Belabase (rep), Electoral Shifts In Local Governance, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Balen has challenges galore as he takes over as Kathmandu mayor : Non-partisan Shah has to navigate the officialdom and a host of party representatives who constitute municipal assembly and executive body that make and enforce decisions, by Binod Ghimire and Arjun Poudel (kp), Laws should be revised and amended to make local level effective: Gagan Thapa (kh), Why are Nepalis not keen on electric cooking? Outages and power tripping : Nepal imported cooking gas worth Rs52 billion in first 10 months of the year amid calls for making kitchens electric, by Prithvi Man Shrestha and Krishana Prasain (kp) [As long as there is not enough electricity all year round, but only for a few months, this is unlikely to be an option for people.], Resolution motion calls for ending statute of limitations on child rape : The motion registered in the National Assembly also demands review of the statute of limitations on rape cases other than rape of children (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

27/05/2022: Mavericks steal the show : The victories of independent candidates reflect the frustration of citizens with the parties (kp), Despair amid hope : The Nepali state must assure its citizens the country does not just belong to upper caste men, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Is it time to put a two-term limit for executive and legislative posts? Some observers say there is a need to review provisions to make way for generational change and allow new faces to lead, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal Army chief to visit Pentagon ahead of Deuba’s Washington trip : General Prabhu Ram Sharma’s proposed travel date is late June, which comes amid increased US political engagements in Nepal, by Anil Giri (kp) [??], Top court full bench quashes decision to reduce life sentence of Ranjan Koirala : Koirala’s sentence was reduced to 8 years, 6 months. He was released on July 23, 2020, by Tika R Pradhan and Binod Ghimire (kp), Outburst Against Sexual Violence, by Bini Dahal (rn), Local election results: Marred by tortoise-paced counting, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), NRNA submits memo to Minister Paudel (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

26/05/2022: NHRC urges to carryout effective investigation into rape and sexual violence incidents (nlt), ‘Balen’ canes parties with the walking stick : Kathmandu voters rap Congress, UML on the knuckles as they pick a rapper, also a structural engineer, as their new mayor, by Binod Ghimire (kp), China nudges Nepal on One-China policy : Beijing seems to be wary amid a series of visits from the United States and a senior official’s recent meetings with Tibetan refugees in Kathmandu, by Anil Giri (kp), Promises galore : People have become used to taking these hollow statements with a pinch of salt (kp), Supreme Court orders govt not to build international airport in Nijgadh (kh), Nepal’s top court bars govt to construct Nijgadh International Airport : Conservationists and environmentalists were against the plan arguing that it would cause irreparable damage to the environment and wildlife in the eastern Terai's only remaining natural hardwood forest (nlt), Supreme Court halts construction of multi-billion-dollar Nijgadh airport : An extended full bench quashes all government decisions regarding the airport, envisioned as an alternative to Tribhuvan International Airport (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

25/05/2022: Petition filed at the top court seeking removal of statute of limitations on rape : Six female lawyers who registered the petition claim the time limit is in violation of constitution, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Sudurpaschim fails to elect women, Dalits in chief roles : Number of women representatives elected in deputy mayor and vice-chairperson positions has also decreased as compared to previous local elections, by Arjun Shah (kp), Tough Jobs Await Local Leaders, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Bibeksheel Sajha Party Chairman Rabindra Mishra resigns : Mishra said he tendered his resignation from the post of the party’s chairman on the ground of morality, taking full responsibility for the polls results (nlt) [A small step for Mishra, a big step for democracy, republic and secularism!], Fertiliser shortage haunts farmers ahead of looming paddy season : Fertiliser shortage is major problem repeating every crop season in the past several years, by Binod Bhandari and Arjun Rajbanshi (kp) [It is the same every year, no matter which incompetent government is in power!], Erosion of republican resilience : A republic works only when its citizens are committed to making it work, by CK Lal (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

24/05/2022: Kin of Dalit youths killed in Rukum (West) two years ago demonstrate at Maitighar demanding justice : Nabaraj BK, along with five of his friends, was killed on May 23, 2020, for allegedly trying to elope with a girl from the so-called ‘upper caste’ (kp),  Growing concrete expanse : Unless the necessary steps are taken, nothing will prevent an urban catastrophe (kp), Scope of private blended finance : The strategy is to attract commercial capital to projects that contribute to sustainable development, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Local Poll Deflates Oli's Ego, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), A teenage girl was raped, and killed extrajudicially during insurgency, UN says : The girl, 16, was arrested by a squad of 20 army personnel from her house in Kavre on February 13, 2004 (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

23/05/2022: Local polls are over. It’s time for voting reforms : Nepal had five years to plan for better elections and a better election process. But there have been no reforms, similar patterns are being repeated, by Shreya Subedi (nlt), Parties have much to learn from independents' rise, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Much talk but little action to tame rising inflation which is biting Nepalis hard : There should be social protection schemes, fair price shops and reduction of import duties to offset price rises, experts say, by Sangam Prasain and Krishana Prasain (kp), What’s in store for the five-party alliance after local vote results? With increased bargaining power, the Maoists may want to continue partnership, but CPN (Unified Socialist) and Janata Samajbadi Party look unhappy, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Resham Chaudhary won election from hiding. His 5-month-old party claims Tikapur when he is in jail : Tharus who feel they were shortchanged by the state have spoken through the ballot, activists and analysts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

22/05/2022: Post politics in Nepal : Disillusioned or not with the parties, a large number of people turn out to cast their votes, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Local Polls: Outcome And Message, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Visiting US official meets with Tibetan refugees despite Kathmandu’s caveats : Nepal is in a precarious situation as it navigates carefully to maintain a fine balance amid rapid geopolitical shifts, by Anil Giri (kp), Residents of Khotang depend on helicopters to reach hospitals : Pregnant women suffer the most from a lack of good hospitals and roads in Khotang, by Dambar Singh Rai (kp), Statute of limitation related to rape comes under fire, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), #MeToo in Nepal: Yet another case of sexual assault allegation comes to the surface : A victim makes public the details of how the perpetrator, her school principal, raped and blackmailed her for two years and yet nobody believed her (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

21/05/2022: #MeToo gathers force but calls for sustained movement : Social media posts by a girl detailing sexual violence necessitate immediate action to reform laws to ensure justice as society is invariably failing women and girls, by Aakriti Ghimire and Shuvam Dhungana (kp), Youths protest in Kathmandu demanding justice for rape victim : A case of alleged sexual abuse of a woman has triggered a rage against rape in Nepal. Youths in Kathmandu have taken to the street demanding justice for a victim who was allegedly raped some eight years ago (nlt), Youths demonstrate demanding justice for victim, action against perpetrator (In pics) (kh), Home Ministry urges for help in investigating video clip told incident related to VAW (kh), Rape accused Manoj Pandey arrested (nlt), Vote count in 684 out of 753 local bodies over : NC wins mayor/chair in 303 local levels; UML in 185 and Maoist Center in 116 (kh), Stability was a common refrain. Local polls hint at more unstable politics : It’s tough for any party to gain majority in general elections. Experts suggest measures to ensure stable governments, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Overcoming Public Policy Dilemma, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

20/05/2022: Protesters demand justice and extension of statute of limitation in cases of sexual violence (With Photos) (rep), A howl for justice : Galvanized by a series of videos detailing one woman’s harrowing experiences of being raped as a minor, Nepali women and men take to the streets in protest, by Nishi Rungta (rec), Stop blaming the rape survivors, speak up for justice, by Shreena Nepal (nlt), Building Public Faith to Build Our Democracy, by Milan Jung Katuwal (rep), Vote count in 628 of 753 local levels over : NC wins mayor/chair in 280 local levels; UML in 173 and Maoist Center in 112 (kh), Over 150 local units set to be devoid of representatives, creating a vacuum : Experts show problem with the system, including the law that restricts poll body’s powers, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Increasing concrete cover in Valley causing more urban floods : Experts for building infiltrating ponds to avert flood disasters and recharge groundwater, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Cut down to size : Citizens have shown what they think of CPN-UML's actions in recent past (kp) [The question remains: Why are Oli's coup and the anti-democratic months-long blockade of parliament still not being prosecuted?], JSP accuses NC and Maoist Center of betrayal in polls (rep), Election Economy : After the election, there is an economic disaster waiting to strike Nepalis, by Rabin Giri (nt), How not to be a Sri Lanka : Nepal’s disease may not be as severe as Sri Lanka’s, but the symptoms are the same (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

19/05/2022: NC dominates results tally with wins in 252 local units, UML victorious in 164 municipals (nlt), How local elections punctured CPN-UML’s bloated ego : The largest party from the 2017 elections appears set to get relegated to a distant second with gains for the Congress and more bargaining power for the Maoists, by Tika R Pradhan and Binod Ghimire (kp), Impressions from the election past : The big takeaway is that nothing mattered in the end except the promise of change, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Crunching effects of inflation : The adversely affected are always those at the bottom of the economic pile (kp), Civic Engagement At Local Level, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Balen Shah's popularity: Nepal seeks a new national party, by Sumit Pathak (ht), Nepal polls: Crying foul when polls don’t go their way : This time, it is the turn of the main opposition, CPN-UML, to cry foul over the outcome even as vote counting is still underway, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

18/05/2022: Uphold Women’s Constitutional Rights, by Namrata Sharma (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

17/05/2022: Constantly spurned, how Dalits united to create history in local elections : A team of independent Dalit candidates wins four out of five seats in Ward 8 of Kanakasundari Rural Municipality in Jumla, including the post of chair, by DB Budha (kp), Sexual assaults on blind women go unreported : Several blind women have fallen prey to sexual assaulters in Bajhang but the families’ apathy and society’s behaviour towards sexual assault victims have kept many of them from claiming justice, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), Towards voting reform : Election symbols were an alternative when the literacy rate was 20 percent in 1960, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), Slow-paced counting : The best way to reduce the time for counting the votes is to switch to the Electronic Voting Machine (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

16/05/2022: Why aren’t more women selected as candidates? Patriarchy alone is not a sufficient explanation for the lack of women in candidate selection for the recently held local elections, by Seira Tamang (rec), Inflation making life difficult for the poor and vulnerable : Global price rises, devaluation of the Nepali rupee and artificial price hikes by traders pushing goods and services out of reach, by Krishana Prasain and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Pregnant women in Achham die for want of treatment : Rural women are deprived of safe motherhood services due to illiteracy, poverty and lack of public health awareness, by Menuka Dhungana (kp), Disillusioned voters : The truth of the matter is that people are fed up with the antics of politicians (kp), Local polls: Nepali Congress looks set to gain, and also to be saviour of Maoists : UML reacts with charges of rigging as alliance seems to have worked to give the odds in favour of ruling parties, by Binod Ghimire (kp) Sluggish vote counting calls for switching to tech-friendly elections : The pace at which ballot papers of municipal elections are being counted is tiring and cumbersome and is a source of controversy, observers say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

15/05/2022: Nepalis in general love to vote. Why is turnout low then? Disenchantment? In Kathmandu Metropolitan City, poll officials say, just half of the registered voters showed up to cast their ballot, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Festering political feud resulted in violent election day, observers say : Single-phase vote also stressed security, making forces unable to contain the violence, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Call for action against those who made it difficult for persons with disabilities to vote : Depriving persons with disabilities of their voting right has legal consequences, rights bodies say (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

14/05/2022: People vote with hope and fervour even as they resent politicians, parties : There are some reports of violence in different parts of the country, but the vote was largely peaceful, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Counting votes within wire fences reflects degrading political culture : Fears of shenanigans have grown, prompting measures like CCTV and fencing, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

13/05/2022: Local polls: Nepal votes to elect local representatives for the next five years :This is the second time Nepal is voting in the local polls after the country adopted a federal democratic system in 2015 following the promulgation of a new constitution, by Ashim Neupane and Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), Nepal votes for local leadership (rec), Nepalis head to the polls to shape the country’s future (kh), Nepal polls: Go vote for grassroots democracy : 17.73 million people are voting today to elect over 35,000 local representatives for 753 local units, by Binod Ghimire (kp), People displaced by the earthquake in Rasuwa are still awaiting resettlement : As many as 174 quake-displaced families are staying in temporary shelters at Khalte, by Balaram Ghimire (kp) [They urgently need the right to vote "None of them"!], Tell your own story : Citizens can decide whether they want to elect somebody who governs them or serves them (kp), Raute community deprived of voting right, again (rep), Health insurance must be an election agenda : Nepal’s health insurance program is due for urgent reform, or it risks being obsolete, by Gaj B Gurung (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

12/05/2022: The more teeth to poll commission, the stronger democracy will be, observers say : There are laws but the election body lacks resources—human and financial—to crack down on wrongdoers, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Mute representatives : Clueless about the day’s business in the House, lawmakers are hardly keen to discuss the bills (kp), The pace of federalism : Federalism is a new exercise in Nepal, and it is not unusual for challenges to appear., by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Implications of low women representation in local polls, by Neelam Dhanuse (rep), Local Polls : Parties Put Heavy Stakes, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Local election: Are candidates aware of climate issues?, by Ghanashyam Khanal and Yatish Acharya (ht), For a new destiny : Let’s turn our collective anger into wisdom. This time, let’s vote for Nepal, the Nepalis and a new destiny, by Devendra Gautam (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

11/05/2022: Lack of voter education in Achham villages may lead to invalid votes : Both parties and their candidates have failed to give due importance to the voter education campaign. As a result, many eligible voters are unaware of the voting process creating high chances of invalid votes, by Menuka Dhungana (kp), Nepal’s lawmaking process lacks consultation : Four years of federal parliament have been disappointing for participatory lawmaking, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [KP Oli in particular, but also the Deuba-led government, have repeatedly tried to eliminate the popularly elected parliament. It is completely incomprehensible why these politicians want to run again in parliamentary elections!], Voting rights for all : Persons with disabilities in Nepal continue to be excluded from the electoral process (kp), The oligarchy celebrates local polls : The fundamental appeal of municipal polls lies in their ideological vacuity, by CK Lal (kp), Inflation fears as banks report large withdrawals ahead of local elections : Central bank expects currency in circulation to rise by Rs10-15 billion during the elections, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Only 31% capital budget spent (rn), Local election manifesto: More ritualistic, less realistic, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

10/05/2022: About half of Nepal’s voters will not be able to cast their votes in local polls (rep), Despite law, Nepal fails to achieve Dalit women representation in wards : Parties say they failed to find candidates, an argument Dalit activists do not agree with, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), For people with disabilities, there are barriers galore to right to voting: Secrecy, lack of ballot papers with tactile relief, and tall tables are key infrastructural issues, by Aakash Chaudhary (kp), Waiting for inspiration : Unless our politicians realise the plight of the ordinary people through their suffering, nothing fruitful can be expected (kp), Tall promises : "None of the political parties has unveiled any plans for generating resources to fulfill their promises" (ht), Revenue collection hit by import curbs amid falling foreign exchange reserves : Sluggish capital spending and liquidity crunch also blamed, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Why import ban is undesirable : This policy is practically suicidal since the banned items are major sources of revenue, by Achyut Wagle (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

09/05/2022: Balen Shah: A youth icon, and a ray of hope amid politics of despair. Balen Shah has emerged as a symbol of hope for change, an icon for those who are deeply dissatisfied with established political parties to look up to in Kathmandu, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), Promises, promises : Candidates have been promising voters the earth and the sky as usual (kp), All roar, no bite: Poll body says will monitor spending. Experts doubt : The Election Commission has announced it will deploy officials to monitor campaign expenditures, but analysts say they see little chance of action against overspending, a key source of corruption, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), In Madhesh Province, the political landscape is changing : Analysts say the CPN-UML will likely gain from the deep divisions in the Madhesi parties and the alliance politics of five ruling forces, by Anil Giri (kp) [KP Oli has also pursued a sometimes brutal anti-Madhesh policy since 2015 and has shown no understanding for the concerns of the Tarai people. It is hard to imagine that the people have already forgotten this!], Farmers high and dry as local units fail to help : Local governments only care about construction of roads and bridges, neglecting agriculture, voters say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Education Voters : Unless voters are shown what a real ballot paper looks like, they could be disoriented in the booth (ht) [Because of the anti-democratic manipulations of the local elections by the national party leaders, it may be even worse this time than five years ago!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

08/05/2022: A left turn Congress is taking as the party attempts to counter communist forces : The grand old party, which believed in free and open market policy, is now toeing the line leftist forces followed, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Local Polls: A Democratic Milestone, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), EC warns against use of other party flags, election symbols (ht), Majority of local levels see old faces (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

07/05/2022: The list of wrongdoings by the Deuba government goes long but Kathmandu is fairly quiet : Don't be fooled. Not much has changed since Deuba replaced Oli, except that Deuba could get the much-debated MCC Compact ratified, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), Call to facilitate participation of persons with disabilities (kh), Civil society body urges EC to facilitate participation of differently-abled people in local polls (rep), Local polls more complicated now to predict with alliance politics and splits : Despite Deuba’s wish and Dahal-Nepal’s compulsion, their poll partnership did not take off well, and UML hopes gains, by Anil Giri (kp), Arzu under fire for her remarks to stop grants where Congress loses : Analysts say her remarks reflect a lack of understanding of how the state functions, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This is not only offensive, it is criminal and corrupt!], Election hits school enrolment campaign : School enrolment campaign has not been able to make much headway since most people are either out participating in political rallies or listening to the political campaigners, say educators, by Samjhana Rasaili (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

06/05/2022: Season of lies : The range of dissemination possible in the social media age helps amplify false information (kp), Dahal’s theatrics and his fixation with Bharatpur stoke discontent in party : Insiders allege Pushpa Kamal Dahal is all about his family and kin at the expense of the CPN (Maoist Centre), by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Budget session is just weeks away but uncertainties loom : Holidays and House rules are obstacles, and there’s the protesting UML too (kp), Local Polls Deepen Democracy, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn) [But not if they are appropriated and controlled by the national level!], Women in the informal economy: Recognise their contribution, by Shreeju Niroula (ht), Exploring the barriers to the right to inclusive election in Nepal : Despite elaborate provisions on including persons with disabilities in political and public life in Nepal, political participation by persons with disabilities remains minimal, by Dev Datta Joshi (rec), Press for people : Nepali journalists find themselves at the crossroads: carry on doing what they did, or adjust to a new mediascape, by Sahina Shrestha (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

05/05/2022: Nowhere safe to go, people in disaster-hit areas live in terror as monsoon nears : Hundreds of people still living in places identified as unfit to reside seven years ago, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Salyan villagers forced to use polluted river water : Around 40 percent of the people in the district have no access to clean water, by Biplob Maharjan (kp), Electoral syndicate against women : From the first election, one thing that hasn't changed is the politics of hegemonic masculinity, by Chandra Bhadra and Sucheta Pyakuryal (kp), Global inflation straining Nepal’s forex reserves : Nepal’s external economic situation isn’t worsening to the level of Sri Lanka but warning signs are visible, experts say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Going local : Candidates seem to be in the dark about the powers and functions of local bodies (kp), Industrial sites continue to be hammered by power outages : Nepal has to fall back on imported power in the winter when domestic output drops to one-third of the installed capacity, by Madhav Dhungana and Shankar Acharya (kp), EC’s Push For Electoral Reform, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Cause of rebel candidature: Party indiscipline or wrong modus operandi?, by Jibaraj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

04/05/2022: Sthapit’s remarks, audience reaction put society’s view of women in focus : Concerns over safety and security of women under leadership of such patriarchal men, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Modi to visit Nepal amid need to review relations in the wake of geopolitical shifts : Delhi sending Navin Srivastava, a strong China hand, as its new Nepal envoy ahead of the Indian prime minister’s trip, by Anil Giri (kp), EC directs candidates, political parties to spend through banking system (kp), NHRC calls for further investigation into newly-appointed IGP Singh for human rights violation (rep), Roti-Beti, Electricity, Connectivity, Security and Beyond, by Samar SJB Rana (rep), Press Freedom Still Faces Challenge, by Namrata Sharma (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

03/05/2022: Nepal: The culture of silence among journalists on the rise, by Guna Raj Luitel (rep), World Press Freedom Day 2022: Nepal records 55 incidents of press freedom violations in a year : “No efforts were made to address impunity relating to crimes against journalists. Justice is awaited both in conflict era and post-conflict cases.” (nlt), 75 incidents of press freedom violation occur in a year (kh), Nepal progresses in Freedom of Press Index (kh) [??], A troubled agency called Nepal Police, thanks to Nepali politicians : Country’s key law enforcement agency faces controversies because of political parties’ vested interests, by Anil Giri (kp), Covid response fund releases money after 14 months : The fund remained idle during the second and third waves due to political wrangling, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), SC seeks written response from govt for not submitting reports on time (kh), Nepal progresses in Freedom of Press Index (kh) [??], CEC Thapaliya calls on mass media to aware people on voting rights (kh) [Also on the voting rights of election workers, security personnel and the millions of migrant workers that have been denied by politicians for years, despite clear directives from the Supreme Court?], Govt raises a loan of Rs 221 billion in nine months (kh), Private sector suggests govt impose high customs duty on goods that can be produced domestically (rep), NRB tightens cash withdrawal through credit cards (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

02/05/2022: As the election date is approaching, game of lies and deceit in Nepal  : The political parties have started distributing freebies to attract voters and secure their seats. Taxpayers are going to have to bear the costs. The government’s capital budget is going to take a huge toll, by Anjila Shrestha (nlt), Election Commission has stricter code of conduct but lacks mechanism to monitor it : Observers find many clauses impractical as neither parties can follow them nor officials can check compliance, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), The school of failure : Local governments should invest in quality education at the school level (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

01/05/2022:  May Day: Let’s acknowledge the contributions of older workers, by Sanju Thapa Magar (nlt), Voters in Birgunj are perplexed as to who to vote for because of alliance politics : Since the Madhes Movement, the parties that championed it have splintered and ultimately joined hands with the forces they once rebelled against, puzzling voters, Tufan Neupane and Bhusan Yadav (kp), Listen to the locals, by Parmeshwar Devkota (rn), Row Of Rebel Candidates, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Americans are flying into Nepal in droves. Is there any renewed interest? The MCC Compact’s passage and 75 years of bilateral ties are the reasons, but there’s more to it, analysts say, by Anil Giri (kp), Making Nepal Prosperous: The Way Forward, by Suyesh Raj Pyakurel (rep), 35pc Bajura people living in extreme poverty (ht), International Workers’ Day: Daily wagers struggling to survive (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

30/04/2022: Women leaders from across the political spectrum say they feel constrained : Their representation in local elections has been trimmed but they cannot speak up. Female politicians say the fight will continue though, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), As alliance parties threaten rebel candidates, Election Commission says that’s criminal act : The election body states that the threats violate citizens’ legal and constitutional right to take part in elections, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [When will the so-called top politicians finally be punished appropriately for their constant high-handed behaviour? Non-election of such persons and their protégés would be an appropriate response!], Over 4,000 withdraw candidacies, by Ranju Kafle (rn), RPP expresses concern over death threat issued against the party’s candidate (rep), Political Empowerment Of Citizens, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Women rights group demand action against Sthapit over his insensitive comments : The UML mayoral candidate for Kathmandu is not fit to run for the post, say 45 rights organisations (kp), Making Nepal Prosperous: The Way Forward, by Suyesh Raj Pyakurel (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

29/04/2022: Woman tortured for dowry, despite court order (ht), Expanding fiscal health space in Nepal : The government needs to explore additional sources of financing to expand the fiscal space of healthcare services, by Gauri Pradhan (nlt), Fewer women this time : Underrepresentation of women in politics has long-term drawbacks (kp), Poll panel's new directive unfair to fairer sex : Can affect women's representation in civic bodies as parties prefer to oblige alliance partners, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), All-male executive candidates (ht) [related to Itahari], Whose election is it anyway? Kin and clan networks will once again play a formidable role in determining victory margins, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Coalition Politics – Feat or Anarchism?, by Devesh Jha (kh), Rebel candidates refuse to heed party orders to withdraw from race : Election Commission officials say it is against the code of conduct to pressure the candidates to pull out, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Just to remind you: In November 1994, "rebel candidates" caused Girija's defeat after he refused to meet Ganesh Man Singh's legitimate demands!], Ruling alliance directs rebel candidates to withdraw candidacies : Nepali Congress is making a last-ditch effort to appease Jagannath Poudel who has filed an independent candidature against Renu Dahal in Bharatpur Metropolis to withdraw his candidacy (nlt) [Nepal is a federal state. The national party leadership cannot issue directives in this regard, at best recommendations!], Don’t force anyone to withdraw candidacy: Election Commission (rep), Indicators look bad but statistics bureau paints glowing picture of Nepali economy : Economists question 5.87 percent optimistic growth data released just before Nepal goes to polls, calling it a cheery prediction, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Top US official to visit Nepal prior to local elections : Under secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights arriving in the first week of May, by Anil Giri (kp) [Sounds like ongoing US influence!], Local Bodies Need Capacity Building, by Udbodh Bhandari (rn) [The centrally imposed party alliances aim at exactly the opposite!], Ruling parties agree to cancel coordination with other parties immediately (rn) [If this is to apply to all levels of the federal system, then the latter is reduced to absurdity!], Supreme Court continues interim order against govt’s decision to suspend NRB Governor Adhikari (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

28/04/2022: Dalit youth thrashed to death over dispute (ht), Public availability of electoral roll data raises privacy concerns : Experts are wary of potential misuse of the data on all registered voters that has been made public and is easily accessible to anyone on the internet, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Alliance politics impacts female candidacy in local level elections : Close to 41 percent women had won in 2017, but fewer will be elected this time, with nomination number itself down, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepali Congress in turmoil as alliance politics chafes scores of local leaders : Insiders say leaders and cadres in lower committees deprived of their right to speak up, by Anil Giri (kp) [The party leaders' understanding of democracy is exactly the opposite of democracy!], Deuba urges ‘rebel’ NC leaders and cadres to withdraw their candidacies (rep) [Local politicians should not be called rebels just because they stand up for democracy and federalism, which are disregarded by the party leadership!], Arguing for depoliticization of local level elections, by Sarita Giri (kh), Industrial sector to face more power cuts amid reduced supply from India : Supply disturbance from the southern neighbour has forced the Nepal Electricity Authority to repeatedly cut power to the sector, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Electricity export from India affected : Industrialists propose two-day power cut; Face losses running into billions (ht), Nepal bans imports of luxury goods amid dwindling forex reserves : The government response follows growing concerns that the country could face an economic crisis (kp), Priority Agenda For Health Strategy, by Jhabindra Bhandari (rn), Curbing Monetary Muscle In Polls, by Mukti Rijal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

27/04/2022: Parties’ freebies and doles blow hole in state coffers, economists say : During the election season, political forces make announcements of free goods and services which could do more harm than good and destroy the system, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Centralised decisions to pick local poll candidates raise questions galore : Deuba warns Congress rebels to back off. Oli tells UML mutineers to resist impulses, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The Political Party Act needs fundamental democratic revision: the power of party leaders must be drastically curtailed; all parties must be forced to comply with the constitution and laws and to be socially inclusive at all levels of the parties and in the nomination of election candidates, under threat of deprivation of party status; expulsion or otherwise "punishment" of party members for expressing an opinion different from that of the party leaders must be made almost impossible. In the context of local elections, all parties are acting anti-democratically and unconstitutionally!], Coalition partners seek electoral alliance within camp (rn) [These so-called top politicians simply do not want to understand that in the federal system they have no right to prescribe such things to the local level!], Keep the peace : The alliance among the ruling coalition partners is likely to evaporate by the time of the federal elections (ht) [By then, these self-appointed leaders will have successfully destroyed local democracy!], Party nomination for local poll  : Marked by dissent and disappointment, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Crack the whip : The Election Commission should punish the candidates or parties that flout the code (kp), Voting: A Voice Of The Voiceless, by Balmukunda Regmi (rn) [But only if candidates are also nominated who represent their interests and not those imposed by the central party leadership!], Low Women Candidacy Breaches Statute, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Believing in democracy, once-extremist forces of Chand and Raut are joining the poll fray : The hardliners joining the elections is a good move and it does not matter whether they win or lose, experts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

26/04/2022: Talking out of their hat : Lest the parties forget: They cannot fool all of the people all of the time (kp), Hard to retain last election’s achievements with less women candidates this time (kh), How disinformation poses security threat and what Nepal should do : Failure to prevent disinformation and misinformation on time could lead to a serious national security crisis in the long run, by Narayan Adhikari (nlt), The idea of ‘alternative politics’ is failing in Nepal. What went wrong?, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), Keshav Sthapit’s candidacy for Kathmandu mayor sparks furore : Sthapit has been accused of sexual harassment by at least two women, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Health care issues despite being vital remain neglected in local elections : Candidates and parties must come up with practical and realistic health care plans, say doctors, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Mangalsen women see no point in voting : Women of the remote Achham local unit demanded a ban on alcohol, introduction of women-centric programmes at the local level and accessibility to a good healthcare system, but their demands remain unaddressed, by Menuka Dhungana (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

25/04/2022: Local Election 2022 : Expectation vs reality, by Ayushma Maharjan (nlt), On a slippery slope : After sliding into particracy, Nepal's democracy is degenerating into kleptocracy (kp), All deals are local : Electoral alliances will essentially make the voting process a formality in many places, by Anurag Acharya (kp), Supreme Court set to decide today on petition on women’s representation in local governments : Deadline given to political parties to file nominations for the May 13 local level elections ends today, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Albatross of an election alliance. Coalition yet to decide candidates for most places : Election offices brace for a hectic schedule today with just around 10,000 candidacies filed on Sunday, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The fundamental interference of party leaders to enforce central power interests in local elections does not fit the democratic principles of a federal state anyway!], First Five Years of Federalism in Nepal, by Khim Lal Devkota (rep) [Yes, the federal state could be a good political system for Nepal if the top politicians of the parties finally gave up their centralist pattern of thinking! Right now they are again preventing democracy and development on the local level!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

24/04/2022: Democracy or kakistocracy? Democratic values undermined, institutions heavily politicized, meritocracy completely neglected, rampant corruption and nepotism unabated. Nepal, many believe, is heading toward a democratic kakistocracy (nlt), Parties struggle to select candidates for local polls on the eve of nomination filing : Coalition’s challenges huge despite deal to share seats at all units. Even UML has yet to decide on various positions, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Poll Alliances And Discontents, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Contractors launch ‘construction holiday’ starting from today (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

23/04/2022: Alliance for local polls raises spectre of the notorious ‘all-party mechanisms’ : The so-called all-party committees were a tool for the parties to share the spoils, and experts fear a repeat of the practice that will degenerate into kleptocracy, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Congress faces revolt in grassroots bodies over seat-sharing decision : Disgruntled leaders and cadres in several units vow to defy alliance and contest local elections as independents, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The top politicians of all major parties continue to practise the centralist state!], AWC appeals voters not to vote human rights violators (kh), EC asks leaders in closed list of PR system to remove names if they want to contest local polls (kh), Writ petition challenges ambassadorial nominations : Petitioners say recent nominations have ignored principles of inclusion and call for new nominations (kp), From Parochial To Reflective Citizen, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

22/04/2022: Call for meaningful participation of Dalits in local level polls (kh), Putting Hometown First : The local leadership should be selected based on whether the elected leaders can develop their village or town and how patriotic they are, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), JSP dissatisfied as ruling coalition allocates mayor of Nepalgunj to NC (kh), UML feels the heat as nomination filing dates draw closer : The opposition party, which was putting on a brave face, is now seeking support from several fringe parties, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), China asserts, with envoy addressing issues—help for Nepal to world order : Hou Yanqi says Beijing stands for its southern neighbour as she sheds light on the difficulties investors face in Nepal and challenges in cross-border railway from north, by Binod Giri (kp), Street vendors are crucial to urban economy, but their plight is huge : Those doing business on footpaths and alleys need help, not harassment, experts say, by Pawan Pandey (kp), Trade deficit widening despite govt attempts to curb import (kh), State-sponsored economic crisis : The real emergency in Nepal’s economy is not the Ukraine War, but a self-serving government (nt), Mismanaged Nepal, by Tilak Rawal (sp), A Tumultuous Destiny, by K. Uprety (sp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

21/04/2022: NHRC calls for ensuring women’s proportional representations in local election (kh), Advocacy group calls for meaningful representation of Dalits in local governance : Samata Foundation says existing representation is encouraging but not in proportion with the population (kp), “Voters should exercise their sovereign rights while voting”, interview with Laxman Phuyal (kh), Parties’ promises in doubt as most are drafting local poll manifestos centrally : Until local committees get to draw their bespoke manifestos, such papers become mere campaign rhetoric, experts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Discontent brews in Congress after allies finalise seat-sharing for 17 major cities : A section in the party and observers denounce alliance politics, saying such a practice shrinks democratic space, by Anil Giri (kp) [Nepal is a federal state in which the national party leadership can only make recommendations to the local party level, but should not impose any directives, especially regarding the nomination of local election candidates and electoral alliances!], What’s enticing some central and provincial leaders into local politics : Assembly members and former ministers are eyeing mayoral posts because of the lack of space at top tiers and more resources at the local level, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [... and contribute to making the local level socially even less inclusive!], Lower revenue collection raises questions about health of economy : Officials say liquidity crunch and sluggish capital spending slow down economic activities but tourism hopes are high, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), It’s the economy, stupid : You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing (kp), Party leaders reach Musahar settlement after five years since last election (kh) [This proves the whole disinterest of the politicians!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

20/04/2022: CM Pokhrel blames federal curb for province’s failure to work as per expectation (kh), Nepal Rastra Bank’s autonomy restored : There is room for the Ministry of Finance to act like a big brother should it choose—wrongly—to do so, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), Nepal finance minister faces moral question after top court rules against move to suspend central bank governor : With an interlocutory order to the government not to enforce its April 7 decision, Adhikari is set to resume office, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Power shortage in India hits supply to Nepal. Firms in east face outages : Nepal still relies on power imported from the south, where generation is running low now, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Patchy approach : What the government has done to address the problem seen with the foreign exchange reserve is inadequate (ht), Pre-local election dynamics in Nepal : Theory and reality, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

19/04/2022: How think tanks and social innovation can help in better policymaking : A new crop of think tanks is emerging. The government can step up and work with them with some help from the donors if needed, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Ruling coalition to finalize distribution of metropolises and sub metropolises today (kh) [Nepal is a federal state. Nominating candidates for local elections is not the responsibility of national party leaders!], “Keeping us out of elections will obstruct peace process”, interview with Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma (CPN), On the horns of a dilemma: To restrict imports or make the revenue : Private sector for hiking duties to curb imports instead of banning foreign goods amid looming economic crisis, by Prithvi Man Shrestha and Krishana Prasain (kp), NC Stands To Benefit From Poll Alliance : Having allied with the ultra-rightist party of Kamal Thapa's RPP-Nepal and pro-Christian party, Nepal Pariwar Dal, Oli has made his intentions clear, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Elected representatives need to resign if they wish to contest again : Supreme Court quashes petition against poll commission’s mandatory requirement of resignation (kp) [This is now binding law, but still not rationally comprehensible. The then Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi did not even resign from his position as CJ in 2013 when he took over as head of the executive.], In Madhes Province, voters turning away from Madhes-based parties, by Mukesh Pokhrel (rec), Supreme Court stays govt’s decision to suspend NRB Governor Adhikari (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

18/04/2022: Patriarchy plagues the lives of young girls in Siraha : When one girl acts beyond the traditional norms, all other girls in the village face the consequences—their education is discontinued and they are married off, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Achham district judge who passed a controversial decision on a rape case called to Supreme Court : Nabin Kumar Joshi last month slapped a three-and-a-half-year jail term to a rape victim, citing a non-existing legal provision (kp), Former Judges Forum-Nepal seeks probe into incompetent judges (kh), Dalits demand respectable, proportional representation in upcoming elections (ht), As political parties focus on winning seats, electorate takes a back seat : Polling day is only 26 days away, but none of the parties except for Rastriya Janamorcha has unveiled their manifesto for the local level election, by Binod Ghimire (kp), No drastic measures : Politicians need to get their heads out of the sand and start thinking constructively (kp), Is the crisis deepening? It is not that the economy is not in trouble, but it is not so severe or dire as some are saying, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), Correct Information Key To Fair Polls, by Ballav Dahal (rn), CPN-UML to support Joshi's son (ht) [Here, too, nothing more than flawless nepotism!], NC cadres against electoral alliance in local election: Leader Thapa (kh), In search of subnational policies : A large number of policies are going to remain the same across all provinces and our development aspirations, for the time being, will be determined more by federal policies and institutions than by provincial institutions and policies, by Yatindra KC (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

17/04/2022: Election alliances of Nepali parties: sense or nonsense in local elections?, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh), Alliance politics may help parties but for first-time voters, it comes with confusion : During local level elections, an adult votes for seven candidates. Remembering all the symbols and cross-party candidates will be difficult, observers say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), In desperate bid, UML collaborates with two fringe parties on polls : As the five parties take forward their electoral alliance plan, the opposition party makes boastful claims even while pursuing any potential tie-up, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal seeks overseas nationals' help to build up forex reserves amid economic woes (rep), NRB staffers protest against govt move to suspend Governor Adhikari (rep), Seeking reinstatement, suspended NRB governor files petition at Supreme Court (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

16/04/2022: Some 100 provisions in 43 Acts are discriminatory to women : If political parties don’t want to amend the discriminatory laws, then the constitution itself should be amended, experts say, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The constitution has to be amended anyway to uphold women's rights. The Oli government has always fundamentally rejected this and the current government is no better.], Dalit women were elected in numbers. But have they been empowered? Despite holding posts, experience as decision makers was not encouraging as discrimination continued, they say, by Tika R Pradhan and Binod Ghimire (kp), Allies set ways of candidate selection but disputes remain on the ground : Members of the ruling coalition themselves doubt the alliance’s effectiveness, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Local level free to use discretion regarding electoral alliance: NC Gen Secy Thapa (kh), Solutions to the Crisis of Depleting Forex Reserves, by Lokesh Todi (rep), Governance Of Economic Life, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), 74 incidents of press freedom violation in 2078 BS (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

15/04/2022: Nepal's political system: Does it need to change for the better?, by Mim Bahadur Pariyar (ht), Rising inflation, slower growth stoke stagflation concerns : As inflation galloped to a 67-month high of 7.14 percent in March, World Bank slashes Nepal’s growth forecast to 3.7 percent, by Sangam Prasain and Krfishana Prasain (kp), State-sponsored economic crisis : The real emergency in Nepal’s economy is not the Ukraine War, but a self-serving government (nt), Take restrictive measures to avert an economic crisis, by Surendra Pandey (kh), Economic diplomacy takes a back seat as diplomats fail to push it : Experts stress making it a part of the country’s overall diplomacy so as to advance and achieve economic goals, by Anil Giri (kp) [What can you expect when the majority have no diplomatic experience but get their posts on the basis of kinship or party affiliation?], Landless see ploy in distribution of temporary land ownership papers ahead of local elections : Local representatives distributed 1,197 temporary land ownership documents to landless families in Shuklagandaki and Bandipur last week, by Samjhana Rasaili (kp), Govt’s capital expenditure stands at meager 27.45 percent of the targeted amount in Q3 (rep), Debunking the Low Capital Expenditure Practice : What Engineers Say!, by Pradip Kumar Kafle (rep), Nepal to miss growth target as concerns about economic woes intensify : Fuelled by higher commodity prices, surging inflation is also making life much tougher for many Nepalis (ht), Government positive to address demands of Janamat Party: Home Minister Khand (rep) [Election campaign tactics send their regards!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

14/04/2022: Women in politics : One can have all the rules and yet find a million ways to sidestep them (kp) Is Nepal heading toward the worst economic crisis? While indicating that the worst may be yet to come, economists warn that if the government doesn’t work on correcting the course, the Nepali economy might end up in a red zone soon, by Ashim Neupane (nlt), Warning signs : Our total export is insufficient even to purchase fuel alone, whose prices have soared due to the war in Ukraine (ht), Nepal’s economic growth projected at 4.7% in FY 2079/80 (kh) [??], Slower yet gradual growth expected for Nepal amid global challenges, says World Bank (ht), Central bank independence : Inflation can be high when there is a problem in the central bank’s independence, by Ram Neupane (kp), NC endorses election manifesto (kh) [Local elections do not so much need a party manifesto at the central level. They are primarily about the local concerns and interests of the voters, and these vary widely from region to region. The same applies logically to electoral alliances.], Electoral alliance will not serve NC’s interest: Gen Secy Thapa (kh), How remittance is fuelling agricultural risks and unplanned sprawl : In 1989, the urban cover occupied just 221.1 sq km of the Tarai, but this had increased to 930.22 sq km by 2016. Agriculture’s share in the GDP has fallen markedly over a decade, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), EC for vacating stay on code provision, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Elections law defines circumstances of ballot counting centre capture (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

13/04/2022: Let Women Lead Local Levels, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Ambassadorial appointments: Unqualified, yet fortunate individuals, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh) [Nepotism as usual!], Dr. Deuba calls for electoral quotas for women based on proportional inclusion (kh), Central bank paints grim picture of Nepal’s economy : Inflation is rising, BoP is ballooning, remittances are falling and imports surging, Nepal Rastra Bank reports, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Experts warn against supply cuts as daily fuel imports hit Rs1 billion : Fuel accounts for 14.1 percent of Nepal’s imports. Officials believe curbing imports can put economy back on track, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Unhappy countries of South Asia : The commonality of unhappy countries is as clearly recognisable as that of the happy ones, by CK Lal (kp), UML and RPP-Nepal ink a deal to forge electoral alliance, RPP-Nepal candidates to contest the poll with UML’s election symbol (rep) [It is legally hardly conceivable that RPP-Nepal candidates should be allowed to stand with the party symbol of the UML!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

12/04/2022: ‘The human rights situation in Nepal is still far from satisfactory’, interview with Nirajan Thapaliya, Director, Amnesty International Nepal (nlt), Sledgehammer to central bank autonomy : The passage of the Nepal Rastra Bank Act was seen as a safeguard against political interference, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Action against governor may put Nepal in IMF’s bad books : One of the IMF’s conditions for approving $396 million credit facility is that central bank and its personnel’s autonomy should be strengthened further, by Prithvi Man Shrestha and Anil Giri (kp), Funds shortage hits plan to expand nutrition rehabilitation centres across the country : Nepal’s Sustainable Development Goals target on nutrition is unlikely to be met, health officials say, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Nirvik Nari: An event celebrating women : Panellists describe the challenges women face at both social and policy levels (kp), Rising campaign spending : Failure to ensure financial transparency will facilitate corruption and cronyism (kp), No to luxury items : As there is no sign of replenishing the foreign reserve, we have to impose a ban on importing luxury goods (ht), Opponent bashing in politics: An appalling civic felony but not in Nepal, by Pushpa R Joshi (ht), Peak of liquidity crisis: Borrowing reaches Rs 101 bln, liabilities cross Rs 200 bln (kh), Women’s Participation in Elections in Nepal, by Shreeju Niroula (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

11/04/2022: Election year is here. Poll expenses major cause for concern : Questions asked: Who funds politicians and why do they do that? Observers say costly polls are a source of corruption, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Shooting the messenger : Action against Nepal Rastra Bank governor is more whimsical than a studied decision (kp), Governor faced action for not cooperating with finance minister: PM Deuba (kh) [When COAS Katawal refused to cooperate with the Maoist-led government in 2009 and was therefore dismissed, the then President Ram Baran Yadav, who was elected as the NC candidate, immediately reversed this decision. How times change!], Ex-FinMins condemn suspension of NRB guv : Call it ruling coalition's move 'to cover up its own incompetence under finance minister' (ht), Bad precedent : The erosion of NRB's autonomy could lead to the appointment of a new governor with change of govt (ht) [Yes, because of the total party-political infiltration of all spheres of public life, all functionaries of the country will then be replaced on average at least once a year. This means that politicians will still have no time at all for their actual tasks! But at least they can cover up their incompetence!], Economy in crisis but how grave is it? Economic turbulence looms large with half of the country’s income going to import bills. But situation manageable if immediate mitigation measures are taken, economists say, by Sangam Prasain and Krishana Prasain (kp), BRI and MCC : Implications for Nepal, by Dron Lamichhane (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

10/04/2022: Governments come, governments go. Badis’ condition as bad as ever : Ranked at the bottom even among Dalits, generations of Badi have endured extreme socio-economic marginalisation over the past century, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), What ails five-year-old provinces? Provincial governments were largely non-performers but non-cooperation from Singha Durbar is to blame, leaders say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Action against governor causes unease among Congress leaders : Leaders say the party has been dragged into Maoist agenda and the uncalled for decision could backfire, by Anil Giri (kp), Date set but why some are doubting timely polls : Several factors at play including difficulty in forming alliances and petitions at court, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Health insurance policyholders bear the brunt of payment arrears by authority : Hospitals curtail services to those covered by health insurance owing to delay in payment by insurance board, by Madhab Aryal (kp), Doing diplomacy differently: Bridging the gap between policies and people : Public diplomacy should not just be about promoting culinary delicacies and cultural traditions but also about finding better ways to involve and engage people in foreign affairs, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Nepal’s deepening economic crisis: Opposition CPN-UML slams the government on economic slowdown : The Opposition said the coalition parties themselves have conflicting views on vital issues such as economic policy formulation, bi- and multilateral assistance mobilization, and role of the private sector in the economy (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

09/04/2022: Financially hard for women to contest elections (kh), Keep up our local level representation, women leaders urge Deuba, poll body : Parties fighting elections in an alliance are likely not to field women candidates for both top local government positions, taking advantage of a flaw in the law, by Binod Ghimre (kp), Election Commission tweaks provision for level representatives to contest polls : People's representatives registering candidacy in the local-level elections should sign a document mentioning not availing government facilities (nlt), Governor suspended when economy is in crisis and finance minister in question : Government forms a committee to look into Governor Adhikari’s activities, leading to his automatic suspension, by Anil Giri and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Government’s health insurance scheme fails to retain subscribers : Only 20 percent of the total population is covered by the scheme and dropout rate is high owing to poor service delivery at healthcare institutions, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Middlemen rake it in while farmers and consumers suffer : Kathmandu residents pay high prices for vegetables, but growers get little of the money, by Pawan Pandey (kp), Just Pursuit Of Civil Society, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

08/04/2022: Five years of local governance: What went wrong? Several instances show that the local governments have grossly failed to abide by the constitutional spirit. Corruption is what they have excelled at, by Jivesh Jha (nlt), Time to cleanse local governments : If the parties field incompetent and corrupt candidates, voters should reject them, by Dinesh Pant (kp), EC ready to make clear code of conduct (kh), Can Bandi bring the transitional justice process on track? Victims and rights activists say it is possible if he doesn’t compromise on the stand that he has so far been taking, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Ambassadors recommended for 20 countries including China : Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, a rights activist and conflict victim, has been picked for Beijing under Maoist quota, by Anil Giri (kp), No data as malnutrition turns into major killer in Bajura villages : Lack of detailed study in Muktikot, other villages worsens situation when the actual toll of deprivation is unknown, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), Around 500 women and children rescued from Nepalgunj border point (rep), President nominates Dahal as NA member (kh) [Nepotism at its best!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

07/04/2022: Nepal Amid Triangular Geopolitical Game, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Bipartisan Congress delegation from US to arrive on April 23 : Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to lead the team to Kathmandu. The team from Washington is arriving on the heels of MCC Compact’s passage, which Beijing has objected to, by Anil Giri (kp) [Sincere help is very welcome and urgently needed by Nepal, but not interference and abuse of Nepal in international power conflicts, especially those with its immediate neighbour China! Of course, this also applies reciprocally to China], Voting process is going to be complex as parties go for electoral alliance : Voters of parties in the alliance will have a tough time finding the poll symbols and remembering which party has fielded candidates for which positions, by Binod Ghimire (kp), UML objects to provisions in election code of conduct (nlt), Time is of the essence : Every little measure should be taken to ensure economic stability at a precarious time (kp), Policy conflict in Nepal : Up until the 1970s, there was a misconception that once policy is made, it is implemented, by Chandra Ghimire (kp), Advocate Gobinda Bandi, a non-lawmaker, appointed as law minister (rep) [There cannot be enough male Bahuns in the government!], Lakhan Thapa Magar Foundation demands UML Chair Oli to withdraw his statement on first martyr of Nepal (kh), Nepal bans import of luxury items amid depleting forex reserves (rep), Citizen Participation In Service Delivery, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Government recommends names of ambassadors to 20 countries (with list) (kh) [Three quarters of them are Bahuns, which once again shows who considers themselves as the owners of this land!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali), and Nepal Live (evening)

06/04/2022: Voting rights for Nepalis abroad: Full of promises, lack of action : Political parties have promised suffrage to Nepali citizens living abroad time and again but have not taken definite measures to actually allow them to vote, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), China’s boomerang policy and MCC in Nepal, by Saurav Raj Pant (kh) [Nepal is a pawn in the global power struggle between China and the USA. Like China, the latter has problems with democracy and human rights, internationally as well as at home. No other country has waged so many wars far from its own borders, sometimes justified with lies, and supported dictators when it served its own interests. They have not yet overcome racist thinking and actions in their own country. China basically bad and the USA basically good does not help Nepal. The country must try to use the global conflict between the two major powers for its own benefit with diplomatic skill.], Election security: Concerns arise from parties fighting polls : Not much threat from so called armed outfits and those boycotting the vote. Observers and experts say it would be better if parties fix their rifts and conflict, by Anil Giri (kp), Election code of conduct in question after the UML refuses to sign it : Experts fault Election Commission for failing to win the confidence of all parties registered to contest the polls, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), High and dry : Infrastructures built without proper planning end up causing long-term destruction (kp), President Bhandari issues five ordinances (rep) [Continued ordinances instead of laws: This is the state of parliamentary democracy in Nepal as already favoured by KP Oli before!], Poll preparation, monitoring panel formed (ht) [There must be poll monitoring independent from government and political parties!]
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

05/04/2022: NRB puts ban on import of private vehicles (kh), How myopic they are : People in far-flung areas lack basic necessities, and they are building view towers (kp), EC holding meeting with leaders of political parties today : To seek written commitment on election code of conduct (kh), Leaders engage in heated argument in meeting called by EC to discuss local polls (rep) [The party leaders prove once again that they are unwilling to abide by democratic principles and prefer unlawful behaviour!], Main opposition UML refuses to sign in election code of conduct citing noise in the hall (kh) [???], Reinvigorating Literacy Campaigns, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Malnutrition up in Muktikot (ht), UN, development partners and AIN concerned over possible coercion, force or intimidation directed at their staff or partners in upcoming polls : "We are particularly concerned when our staff and projects face challenges, such as pressure from any stakeholder to provide donations or in-kind assistance," reads the joint statement (nlt), Election Commission issues directives to compulsorily field woman candidate (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

04/04/2022:  Alliance politics may trim women’s representation in local governments : As coalition partners plan to fight May 13 polls in alliance, observers wonder if the inclusion idea is at stake, by Binod Ghimire (kp), How to address inflation pressure amid current economic hardship? The authorities have always been intervening in the wrong areas to tackle the surging price level in the economy, by Prience Shrestha (nlt), Prime Minister Deuba’s India visit: What he discussed, what he missed? (nlt), Deuba returns home from India trip with pilgrimage to Kashi : Visit may be trust-building bid but many view it differently amid geopolitical flux and evolving Nepal-India relations, by Anil Giri (kp), Diplomatic hobnobbing : Nepal’s politicians need to have the astuteness to translate friendly ties into economic advantage (kp), Many agreements, little action : Any future Nepal-China deal should include an implementation schedule to ensure it is carried out, by Purushottam Ojha (kp), Absence of bridge puts students’ lives at risk : Seven students have lost their lives crossing the river in the past three years, say locals, by Biplab Maharjan (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

03/04/2022: Action against victim of rape creates furore : Achham District Court judge in the dock. Questions raised over his competence as well as Nepal’s judicial system, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), On boundary row, brief talk with no concrete resolution : Deuba and Modi renew commitment to better bilateral ties and enhance cooperation on energy, connectivity. Experts term the visit a confidence booster, by Anil Giri (kp), Flag-waving duplicity : Nationalism and national interest are not natural bedfellows, although politicians tend to conflate the two, by Avasna Pandey (kp), Prisoners, detainees still face humanitarian problems (ht), 'Govt not serious about decriminalising abortion, by Ram Kumar Kamat' (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

02/04/2022: Legally unmarried, socially married : In Karnali, early marriages, driven by a host of factors, are rampant, which have multiple consequences, especially on girls, by Aakriti Ghimire (kp), Elderly people in rural Bajura face hassles in getting allowance : As the villages have no transportation services, most of the beneficiaries have to walk quite a distance to receive the social security allowance from the designated banks, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), As fuel prices rise, Nepalis buffeted by stagnant incomes and high inflation : The Department of Transport Management has allowed transport entrepreneurs to jack up bus fares and freight charges on inter-provincial routes by 10 to 14 percent, by Krishana Prasain (kp), How will the Nepali Congress-led alliance fare in the metropolitan cities? Nepali Congress has declared electoral alliance with Maoist Center, CPN (Unified Socialist) and Janata Samajbadi Party for the upcoming local elections. How will they fare in six metropolitans?, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), Nepal, India sign four agreements (nlt), ‘Save the Himalayas, save the river’ campaign (kh), Enhancing Efficacy Of Governance, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), 'Empowering local governments a must' (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

01/04/2022: A case against nostalgia : The past would seem better if one belonged to the upper castes or were associated with royalty, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp), Coalition members seek to fortify alliance plan for local elections : There’s, however, many a slip twixt cup and lip, with Madhes-based parties involved, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Experts doubt implementation of latest trade deal with China : Beijing has agreed to provide duty-free treatment to Nepali goods, but the northern neighbour has been barring exports from Nepal for years, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Youths head for India in droves indifferent to elections : Say earning livelihoods and feeding their families are more important to them, by Thakur Singh Tharu and Bhawani Bhatta (kp) [It is the criminal failure of the previous Oli government, but of course also of the present Deuba government, to have simply and purposefully disregarded the SC's directive on the participation of migrant workers in the elections! It has already been established for five years that 2022 is an election year!], Industrial outage may continue for a month : Factories are facing up to 14 hours of power cuts in the eastern industrial belt as electricity imports get too costly, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), UML and RPP discuss electoral collaboration (rep) [Oli seeks proximity to the anti-federal, anti-secular, Hindu-fundamentalist and pro-monarchist RPP, in short, a party that fundamentally opposes the 2015 Constitution? Yet only a few hours earlier he had claimed that his party would dominate the elections even without an alliance!], Campaign launched to field independent candidates in local level election (kh), Air Pollution : One of Nepal’s key policy failures, by Shuvam Rizal (rec), Deputies drive development in rural Nepal : Nepal’s female deputy mayors and chiefs vie for top local government positions in May's local election, by Laxmi Basnet (nt), Periphery within the periphery in Nepal : A remote village in far-west Nepal readies to vote in local elections with anticipation and hope, by Kunda Dixit (nt), Grassroots democracy promotes good health : Expensive medical care is making Nepalis poorer, but there are examples of local governments trying to change that, by Sagar Budhathoki (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

31/03/2022: Violence against girls goes unabated : Seventy-nine rape cases reported in Morang this fiscal year; nearly two-thirds of the victims are children, by Binod Bhandari (kp), ‘Out of compulsion’: Ruling coalition’s electoral alliance easier said than done : Nepali Congress needs it, but the Maoists need it more. Leaders and analysts say there are complications galore, by Anil Giri (kp), Misinformation questions media credibility: PM Deuba (kh) [That of the politicians as well!], Scars of Maoist Insurgency: ‘Dear PM, first save the victims!’, by Guna Raj Luitel (rep), Tackling Electoral Offences, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Election staff must arrive at polling stations three days in advance (rep) [And what about the opportunity for these staff members to vote themselves? This is a fundamental right of all Nepalese, and the government must ensure that this right can be exercised.], Nepali Army and U.S. Army hold Nepal-U.S. Land Forces Talks in Hawaii (kh) [Against the background of the global competition between the USA and China, this proves anything but Nepal's neutrality!], Deuba’s India visit: Symbolism over substance : With India closely monitoring the US-China competition in the Himalayas, it could convey to PM Deuba a message in this regard, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

30/03/2022: Chitwan National Park once again sets settlers’ huts ablaze : The park burnt around a dozen huts in the area on Sunday while several others were demolished, by Ramesh Kumar Paudel (kp), Making Deserted Villages Alive, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), Discourage Muscle, Mafia & Money In Polls, by Namrata Sharma (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

29/03/2022: Amnesty International’s report highlights government’s failure to safeguard citizens’ rights (nlt) [see AI report on Nepal], Two injured as IED goes off in Itahari (kh), Two injured in explosion in Itahari (rep), Loans on commercial terms could greatly increase Nepal’s debt burden : Focus should be on grants, and if credit is a must, interest should be nominal, experts say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

28/03/2022: 39 cases of caste-based discrimination (ht), Chinese minister wraps up Nepal visit with mixed signals and messages : Beijing reiterates BRI but Kathmandu fails to mention. Experts say deals signed are customary, by Tika R Pradhan and Anil Giri (kp), The stress of entrance exams : The entrance examination is a barrier to young children's growth and development, by Dipu Shakya and Kenji Kitamura (kp), EC decides to provide 73 small parties their own election symbols (kh)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

27/03/2022: Deprivation, hunger and infant deaths in a remote Bajura village : Mothers in Muktikot suffer from lactation insufficiency for lack of nutritious food and lose their babies either in the womb, at birth or at neonatal and postneonatal stages, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), 84 kids in Muktikot suffering from malnutrition (ht), Wang visit: Nepal, China sign nine agreements, none on BRI : Nepali side conveys it wants more grants from China than loans. Two foreign ministers underscore the need for concerted efforts to expedite execution of ongoing projects, by Anil Giri (kp), Left Unity Proposal : A Fanciful Move, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn) [This anti-inclusive gathering of egomaniacal, power-hungry and yet incompetent top politicians will never find unity, much to the detriment of Nepal!], 'Pro bono lawyers need resources' (ht), It is govt responsibility to grant citizenship to people: JSP Chairman Yadav (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

26/03/2022: Two held for attacking a woman with acid (kh),  JSP Chief Whip Pramod Sah attacked; guard’s pistol snatched away (kh), Federal MP Shah seriously injured in clash over land dispute, by Madan Thakur (rep), JSP accuses UML of attacking their Chief Whip Shah (rep), Indian firms Tata, Airtel warn to block internet bandwidth in Nepal (rep), Building Civic Capacity Of People, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Bajura Gandharvas Living In Makeshift Huts, by Sher Bahadur Sarki (rn), NA Chair Timilsina Urges Party Leaders To Follow COVID-19 Health Protocols (rn), Nepal and China sign nine agreements : One of the agreements is on a technical assistance scheme for the China-aided feasibility study of the cross-border railway (kp), Nepal, China sign nine bilateral agreements (nlt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

25/03/2022: Commission to dig up sites in search of missing persons : Disappearance commission set to excavate possible places where victims could have been buried after being killed by either the state or rebel forces, by Binod Ghimire (kp), High-tech surveillance : Political leaders cannot be trusted to allow the elections to happen freely and fairly (kp), Nepal wants to be off aviation blacklist. It has not passed key bills yet : The government has been working on the proposed legislation since 2009 when it made a commitment to ICAO to split the civil aviation body during the safety audit, by Sangam Prasain (kp), 417 households getting land ownership certificates after 36 years (rep), Don’t act on the Act : The vagueness of a new amendment to the broadcast law is designed for arbitrary application (nt), Fixing the broken parts in Nepal-China ties : Foreign Minister Wang Yi must use his Kathmandu visit to clear the growing distrust between Beijing and Kathmandu, and seek to better understand Nepal, including its age-old links to Tibet, by Kanak Mani Dixit (nt), Sky high fuel price hits Nepal’s tourism, airlines : Fallout of Ukraine war knocks country’s aviation as it struggles to recover from pandemic (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

24/03/2022: No deliberation on sexual violence in parliament due to obstruction: Minister Regmi (kh), No interim order in cases of constitutional body appointments : Appointees from the time of Oli government can continue their work pending final hearing, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Musahar children in Rautahat deprived of formal education and state benefits : Musahar children are deprived of birth and citizenship certificates due to the apathy of local government, guardians say, by Shiva Puri (kp), Jumping ship : This party-hopping exercise is nothing short of betrayal of the people’s trust (kp), Women Prove Leadership Mettle, by Mukti Rijal (kp), Impeachment of CJ: Generating more smoke than fire, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), What kind of financial help are we getting from China? On each of the nine projects Nepal has shortlisted under the BRI, it has to negotiate loans with Chinese banks, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

23/03/2022: Local governments failed to live up to the people’s aspirations : Will the upcoming election change anything?, by Nishan Khatiwada (nlt), UML Chair Oli defends HoR dissolution as just : Says dissolution was meant to retain NCP unity (kh) [The decision of the court is binding law, even for godlike persons like KP Oli. His renewed statement is tantamount to contempt of court!], Beijing mission is a priority, but Nepal has had no envoy there for 5 months : Nepal’s political parties have made ambassadorial posts a tool to appoint people of their choice disregarding ethical and political principles, by Anil Giri (kp), This is poll season and party-hopping is rife : Quitting one party to join another is not unusual but an upward trend points to rise of opportunism, observers say, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This is facilitated by the fact that all parties lack vision, have undemocratic structures and their leaders swagger in opportunistic wisdom!], Happy about what? Happiness, for Nepalis, has remained a dream deferred for quite long (kp), National Broadcasting (11th Amendment) Regulation, 2021 looks suspicious: Nepal Working Group for Internet Freedom (rep), President Bhandari issues Railway Ordinance (rep) [Nepal is a parliamentary democracy, that is run by ordinances without active parliament! Isn't this funny?], Local Polls Bolster Democracy, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Addressing gender violence in cyberspace, by Prasansha Rimal (rec)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

22/03/2022: Prachanda asks PM Deuba to provide subsistence allowance to the injured and disabled of armed conflict, others (kh) [And what about all those people who were killed, wounded or disappeared in the course of the atrocities committed by the insurgent Maoists or the army? What about justice for the victims, regardless of which side they were on?], Center should not intervene in federalism to smoothly function: CM Pandey (kh), Election Commission defends rule requiring local officials to resign before seeking re-election : Officials say rule ensures level playing field for all candidates by preventing possible misuse of state resources, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [But that does not justify a constitutional violation. The harshest possible punishment of the incumbents running again in case of misconduct without ifs and buts could be an option.], Supreme Court stays rule requiring resignation by local officials seeking re-election : Clause 36 of the Election Code of Conduct says elected officials seeking re-election must resign before filing their nomination for the upcoming local elections (kp), Voting rights : If 115 countries can realise out-of-country voting, there is no reason why Nepal cannot do so (ht), CPN-Biplav leader Manik Lama nabbed in allegation of planting explosives (kh), Nepal Army and US Army launch joint medevac training exercise in Kathmandu (kh) [??], LSP likely to join govt as PM Deuba prepares to reshuffle Cabinet (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

21/03/2022: Rape cases continue unabated despite harsher laws (ht), School teacher arrested on sexual harassment allegation (kh), Curfew in Letang following death of police constable in a clash, by Binod Bhandari (kp), Curfew clamped in Letang after police killed in clash (kh), Disenfranchised – millions of Nepalis have no voting rights : Despite the outsized impact that migrant workers have on Nepal, they are still unable to vote in elections as Nepal has no provisions for absentee voting, by Marissa Taylor (rec), No voting rights for Nepalis abroad, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Political parties reiterate commitment to give voting rights to Nepalis abroad (rep) [This statement by the political parties is simply a lie. The SC's prescription has been there for years. Neither the Oli nor the Deuba government, nor the parties involved in them, have done anything to implement it. The right to vote belongs to all Nepali citizens, including the helpers and security personnel deployed on election day, including the many people who are denied citizenship papers by the state for gender-discriminatory reasons!], Writ filed at SC against provision of level representatives to resign for contesting polls (nlt), As coalition’s poll alliance conundrum continues, Congress to decide on Friday : CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist), with their options limited, ratchet up the rhetoric, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [An electoral alliance of the ruling parties would prevent a return of the coup leader Oli. If the NC refuses, there could be an alliance of other parties and the NC would possibly be the big loser again! The chances of CPN (MC) and CPN (US) seem slim without an electoral alliance. What the top politicians of all parties pompously proclaim does not correspond to reality anyway!], Solar Irrigation Pumps, Women and Smallholders in Eastern Tarai, by Gitta Shrestha and Labisha Uprety (rep)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

20/03/2022: EC to not allow int’l organizations to observe local level elections (kh), PM Deuba says govt committed to holding free, fair elections (kh) [This must be confirmed by independent observers. The advance exclusion of international observers is questionable!], When does the term of current House expire? No one actually knows : Constitution sets five-year term but does not say when date starts. Experts differ, some saying polling day, others insisting date when Parliament first met as the beginning, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Nepal is a parliamentary democracy. In such a democracy, parliament should not be dissolved, but should remain constant. It makes sense for a parliamentary term to last from the day of the first sitting of a parliament until the first sitting of the next elected parliament. Unfortunately, the Nepali parliament is often seen as an obstacle by the executive and is therefore misused to enforce its policies.], Rule for local officials to resign to contest May polls courts controversy : Election Commission says move aimed at creating a level playing field. Opponents call it an unwarranted move, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [What has been said about the federal parliament also applies to the term of office at provincial and local level.], EC's 'unjust' election code kicks up a row : Provision requiring local reps to quit to contest polls condemned, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Maoist Center is open to all options for electoral alliance : Prachanda alleges NC leaders for using derogatory language (kh) [Dahal knows that without an electoral alliance, his party may face disaster.], New Poll Alignments In Making?, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

19/03/2022: Nepalis are dying in the Gulf. Not enough done to prevent loss of life : The causes of death are not being properly investigated, says a report, highlighting how migrant workers are exposed to a series of risks to health, including heat and humidity, by Binod Ghimire and Arjun Poudel (kp), Nepal turns the happiest country in South Asia (kh), The Locomotives Of Local Self-Governance, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Another COVID wave looms, govt dithering on jabs (ht)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

18/03/2022: Good governance is vital. How can Nepal achieve it?, by Yogendra Prasad Lamichhane (nlt), Election Code of Conduct:  Resignation mandatory prior to becoming candidate (kh) [This rule is nonsense, anti-democratic and a violation of Article 215 of the Constitution, which guarantees a term of five years and does not declare that this term must be shortened if incumbent representatives wish to run again!], Supreme Court delays passing verdicts after giving interim orders : Experts say cases on which temporary orders have been issued must be cleared swiftly by conducting the final hearing, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Feudalism to Federalism : Districts are obsolete and redundant, doing away with them will save money and free Nepal of a centralised mindset (nt), Local government by the people, for the people, of the people : Local elections in May give Nepalis a chance to vote in capable leaders based on performance, by Ramesh Kumar (nt)
see also news programmes of Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali)

17/03/2022: Women’s representation and intersectional (un)inclusion, by Kalpana Jha (rec), Ways to commit to democracy : Nepal needs an essential internal effort to drive reforms that are well overdue, by Blair Glencorse and Narayan Adhikari (kp), US delegation to be in Nepal right after Chinese foreign minister’s visit : A team of 25 Congressional members, the biggest ever, is flying into Kathmandu after the MCC compact’s passage, which Washington has hailed and Beijing has noted, by Anil Giri (kp) [The power games between China and USA on the back of Nepal continue!], Ukraine War: Lessons for Nepal, by Dron Lamichhane (rep), If chief justice impeachment delayed, parties charging him will be in dock : Experts say failure to impeach Rana for ‘corruption and incompetence’ sets bad precedent, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This was obviously the aim of the coalition government when it prorogued the session of Parliament!], Misuse of power : It seems that the impeachment motion was tabled in the House only to sideline Rana from his office (ht), There is no disagreement in the alliance over electoral tie-up: Dahal (rep), Prachanda says electoral alliance with UML possible (kh) [Dahal continues to change his mind within hours. Oli is a putschist and therefore unelectable. Dahal has claimed responsibility for the deaths of 5,000 people during the insurgency and should face trial immediately! The real reason for Dahal's statement is his fear that without an alliance, his party will no longer have a chance.], Breaking Indoctrination Culture, by Tulasi Acharya (rn), Right to education for children with disabilities: It's the government's responsibility, by Dev Datta Joshi (ht), PM Deuba urged not to act mute spectator to imminent split in NRNA (rep) [The extreme