Rizal, Nembang get estranged Deuba and Oli talking

CPN-UML leader Subas Nembang’s cellphone rang when he was at UML Chairman KP Oli’s residence in Balkot on January 10.
Nepali Congress (NC) leader Minendra Rizal had made the call after reaching Prime Minister (PM) Sher Bahadur Deuba’s official residence in Baluwatar to make that call. UML Chairman Oli was on the sofa by Nembang’s side while CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was sitting on the opposite side.
Nembang handed over his phone to Oli after exchanging pleasantries with Rizal while Rizal also handed his over to Deuba. Deuba asked about the health of Oli who was flying to Bangkok, Thailand for health checkup later that day.
Bitterness between Deuba and Oli has increased after the election. Oli has been accusing Deuba of sticking to the PM post despite the left alliance emerging victorious. Deuba, on the other hand, has been telling his close circle that Oli has grown arrogant after the election.
Nembang and Rizal have tried to normalize the icy relation between the PM and the PM in waiting. They had met in a party in the evening a day earlier. Nembang had confided with Rizal during the interaction that bitterness between the political leadership is not desirable.
“It is our country. The provinces are ours. There will be dispute later if we announce temporary provincial capitals now,” Rizal recalled telling Nembang that evening. Rizal complained that UML has refused to cooperate on the issue of appointment of provincial chiefs and selection of provincial capitals, and added “It would be better if we can make the two leaders talk.”
Nembang had pointed that the two parties can even reach agreement on appointment of provincial chiefs and selection of provincial capitals. The leaders agreed to get the two top leaders to talk due to that possibility.
Rizal proposed that respected persons should be appointed as provincial chiefs in political consensus to ensure that the next government does not immediately fire those appointed now and dignity of the post is maintained.
Deuba wanted to appoint provincial chiefs before Oli left for Bangkok that day. He proposed that NC and UML should get to appoint chiefs in two provinces each, and the other three national parties in one each.
UML has been saying that appointment of provincial chiefs is prerogative of the government and it should not ask UML about that clearly hinting the new government will not continue that. UML also seemingly has brought Maoist Center on its side on the issue.
“Do delegate the authority for provincial chiefs to someone even if you are going to Bangkok for treatment,” Deuba had told Oli over the phone, according to Rizal.
Oli told bluntly that the issue of appointment of provincial chiefs is not related to UML and asked Deuba to pave the way for forming the next government, according to Nembang who was near Oli during the conversation.
“The two talked over the phone but Oli did not try for consensus. PM said he will wait for Oli if Oli were to return on Monday (January 15),” Rizal, who was near Deuba during the phone conversation, said.
Deuba is seeking go ahead from UML on appointment of provincial chiefs, according to Rizal while Oli does not seem to be in mood for that. “PM asked for go-ahead from UML. Chairman Oli asked Deuba why he  needs consensus now when he did not need it at the time of preparing the ordinance for National Assembly election,” Nembang stated.
Maoist Center Chairman Dahal could also overhear the conversation between Oli and Deuba. “Dahal nodded his head in support of Oli’s remarks,” Nembang said.
Rizal said Deuba will now take decision on provincial chiefs only after Oli returns on January 16. Deuba is wary whether Maoist Center will come to agreement after quitting the government.
Finance Minister Gyanendra Karki said Deuba during the Cabinet meeting on Friday also stated that provincial chiefs will be appointed only after talking with other political parties.
Deuba said provincial chiefs will be appointed only after January 17 even while addressing the public in a program in Dhangadi on Sunday.

SC stops former lawmakers from spending budget worth almost Rs 10b

The Supreme Court (SC) has prohibited the former lawmakers from spending the budget under the Electoral Constituency Special Infrastructure Program and Electoral Constituency Development Program.
A joint bench of justices Ishwar Khatiwada and Sahrada Prasad Ghimire hearing the petition filed by newly elected lawmaker from Kailali-2 Jhapat Bahadur Rawal have has issued an interim order on Sunday to that regard.
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development on December 31 had authorized the former lawmakers to select projects and spend budget. Lawmaker Rawal had moved the Apex Court against the minister-level decision.
“They have become common citizens after the fresh mandate. All 28 million Nepalis should get budget if these common citizens were allowed to spend the budget,” Rawal said after the interim order. “The number of constituencies has also been reduced now to 165 from 240,” he added. I moved the court to stop such extravagance.
The budget allows spending of Rs 30 million in each constituency on recommendation of the lawmaker from the constituency under the Electoral Constituency Special Infrastructure Program. The lawmakers from the previous parliament in this would have got to spend almost Rs 10 billion.

I’m not a racist: Trump claims following criticism of ‘shithole’ remark

President Donald Trump, on the defensive in the wake of recent disparaging comments about Haiti and African nations that have revived questions about whether the leader of the world’s melting pot is a racist, declared Sunday that he is not one.
“No, No. I’m not a racist,” Trump told reporters who asked for his response to those who think he is a racist. “I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you.”
Trump also denied making the statements attributed to him, but avoided delving into the specifics of what he did or did not say.
“Did you see what various senators in the room said about my comments?” he asked, referring to lawmakers who were meeting with him in the Oval Office on Thursday when Trump is said to have made the comments. “They weren’t made.”
Trump stands accused of using “shithole” to describe African countries during an immigration meeting with a bipartisan group of six senators. The president, in the meeting, also questioned the need to admit more Haitians to the U.S., according to people who were briefed on the conversation but were not authorized to describe the meeting publicly.
Trump said in the meeting that he would prefer immigrants from countries like Norway instead.
The White House has not denied that Trump said “shithole” though Trump has already pushed back on some depictions of the meeting.
A confidant of Trump’s told The Associated Press that the president spent Thursday evening calling friends and outside advisers to judge their reaction to his remarks. Trump wasn’t apologetic and denied he was racist, instead blaming the media for distorting his meaning, said the confidant, who wasn’t authorized to disclose a private conversation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the only Democrat at Thursday’s meeting, said Trump had indeed said what he was reported to have said. Durbin said the remarks were “vile, hate-filled and clearly racial in their content.” He said Trump used the most vulgar term “more than once.”
Trump commented as Durbin was presenting details of a compromise immigration plan that included providing $1.6 billion for a first installment of the president’s long-sought border wall.
Trump took particular issue with the idea that people who’d fled to the U.S. after disasters hit their homes in places such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti would be allowed to stay as part of the deal, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly describe the discussion.
When it came to talk of extending protections for Haitians, Durbin said Trump replied, “We don’t need more Haitians.’”
“He said, ‘Put me down for wanting more Europeans to come to this country. Why don’t we get more people from Norway?’” Durbin said.
Republican Sens. David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who also attended the meeting, initially said in a statement Friday that they “do not recall the president saying these comments specifically.“On Sunday, they backtracked and challenged other senators’ descriptions of the remarks.
Perdue described as a “gross misrepresentation” reports that Trump used the vulgarity. He said Durbin and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina were mistaken in indicating that was the case. Graham also attended the meeting.


“I am telling you that he did not use that word. And I’m telling you it’s a gross misrepresentation,” Perdue said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Cotton told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he “didn’t hear” the word used — “and I was sitting no further away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was.”
Trump insisted in a tweet on Friday that he “never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said ‘take them out.’ Made up by Dems.” Trump wrote, “I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings – unfortunately, no trust!”
Word of Trump’s comments threatened to upend delicate negotiations over resolving the status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children. Trump announced last year that he will end the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, unless lawmakers come up with a solution by March. The program shielded these immigrants, often referred to as “Dreamers,” from deportation and granted them work permits.
Trump tweeted earlier Sunday that the program is “probably dead” and blamed Democrats. He elaborated on the way to dinner with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., saying Democrats “don’t want to help the DACA people.”
Some Democrats have threatened to vote against legislation to extend government funding, which expires on Friday, unless protections for the Dreamers are included.
“Honestly I don’t think the Democrats want to make a deal,” Trump said. “I think they talk about DACA, but they don’t want to help the DACA people.”
Trump said Democrats aren’t in favor of securing the border or stopping the flow of drugs, but are for taking money away from the military.
“We have a lot of sticking points but they’re all Democrat sticking points. We are ready, willing and able to make a deal, but they don’t want to.”

Post scribe Kaini beaten in Gorkha

Jan 15, 2018-Gorkha district correspondent of The Kathmandu Post, Sudip Kaini has been beaten up at Anbu Khaireni in the district on Monday.
A gang intercepted him at Anbu Khaireni while he was on his way to Marshyangdi River to cover the news of illegal sand mining, and roughed him up. He has sustained injuries in his neck. The goons also destroyed his cell phone and camera. It is learnt the attackers first deleted the photos captured by him and later smashed it.
Kaini had received inputs about the extraction of sand without tender at Marshyangdi River banks. The river borders Gorkha and Tanahu districts.
Talking over phone, Kaini said: “I am okay but my camera has been ruined. I ran to police for my protection. I came to Gorkha police station after Tanahu police station did not pay much attention to my plight.”
Police said that they have indentified the attackers and looking for them.

Maghi observed in Tudikhel (in photos)

Jan 15, 2018-Photos by Prakash Chandra Timilsena
People from Tharu community thronged at Tudikhel, Kathmandu, on Monday to mark their annual festival Maghi. Marked as the beginning of New Year, Maghi is the biggest festival of Tharu community.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba marked his presence as a chief guest in the programme that saw various Tharu cultural shows.

No turning back from unification process: Dahal

Jan 15, 2018-CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that there is no turning back from unification process with CNP-UML.
Dahal said that forming a single communist centre in the country is his long-ago dream and even UML Chairman KP Oli is strongly in favour of the unification.
“I had a wish to form a single communist centre and bring prosperity to the country. Now this dream will materialise,” said Dahal while inaugurating Tarebhir Festival in Gokarneshwor Municipality today, “Both of us won’t backtrack from unification process at any cost.”
He mentioned that his party and UML had contested in federal parliament and provincial assembly elections with a joint manifesto and resultantly garnered nearly two-third majority. This shows that public have approved the unification of communist forces and this task will be taken to a logical conclusion very soon, said Dahal.

Prez Bhandari organises tea reception on Maghi

Jan 15, 2018-The Office of the President on Monday organised a tea reception programme on the occasion of Makar Sankranti also known as Maghi. 
President Bidya Devi Bhandari had wished for peace, prosperity, good health and happiness to all Nepali sisters and brothers at home and abroad on the occasion of the Makar Sankranti and the Maghi festival. 
Present on the occasion were Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli, Deputy Prime Ministers, former Vice President, former Prime Ministers, former Chairman of the Interim Council of Ministers, Ministers, different political parties' leaders, members of federal and provincial parliaments, chiefs of security bodies, among others. 
The Tharu community marks the day as the New Year and day of freedom as well. 
The Makar Sankranti is a cultural and religious festival day in the lunar calendar in reference to deity Surya (Sun) marking the first day of its transit into Makar Rashi (Capricorn) that starts of longer days. 
The Hindu devotees throng Devghat, Kaligandaki, Bagmati, Indrawati, Triveni, Ridi, Betrawati among other places for holy bath today.