Reporters Club: Senior Advocate Dr. Dinesh Tripathi has said that the health and education sector of Nepal is in the hands of the mafia. This immensely strong opinion was given at a press interaction program at the Reporters Club. Dr. Tripathi said that “health and education are fundamental rights as given in the constitution of Nepal. The state has not only ensured but provides a valid guarantee. He also said that since our constitution talks about socialism and social justice as given in the preamble the government should be sensitive and take it with extreme tactfulness.

Dr. Tripathi accused profit-making individuals that have taken over the health and education sector of Nepal. He said, “both the health and the education sectors have gone into the hands of large profit-making mafias and that even though a person like Dr. Govinda KC went into a hunger strike for 16 times nothing was done to improve the situation”.

“The government has bowed down to the mafias. They have betrayed the trust of the citizens”. The medical education bill though passed has been a mere paper and nothing has been implemented. The commission that was to be formed has been delayed. In fact, he was involved in filing a write petition at the court regarding the scholarship issue. The intention of the government is haywire so no one is able to do anything”.

Dr. Tripathi also accused the present government of failing to implement the constitution. ” Lack of effectiveness in public health and lack of public education in the country has made this state a total failure he said”.

In a country where the laws are not being implemented and neither functioning, what kind of message will that be to the outside world? Examine and estimate he said. Speaking about the extra fees charged by private medical colleges, Dr. Tripathi said “it is a syndicate and mafia; they are all very well organized. He also said that the mafia have hijacked the education sector of the country, the government has to intervene and take over.

The medical education of the country has to be for nonprofit and affordable for all”. He also accused the system where political parties take election funds from syndicates such as these and it is unfortunate but the government then is a puppet in their hands disallowing them to do much in the area of actual development. It is daylight robbery, institutions charging high fees should be penalized for cheating” he said.

KATHMANDU, Oct 1: Anti-corruption activist Gyanendra Shahi has been discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.

Shahi was admitted to National Trauma Center in Kathmandu after sustaining injuries on head and body when he attacked by an unidentified group of youth in Chitwan on Saturday.

Shahi was assaulted with rods, stones and sticks while he was returning to Kathmandu in a microbus after his anti-corruption program in Chaubiskoth, Bharatpur was obstructed by the group.

Shahi was rescued by the police and was taken to Chitwan Medical College before he was transferred to the Trauma Center.

Opposition leaders have claimed that the assault on Shahi was carried out by the cadres of ruling Nepal Communist Party, who had previously warned him not to conduct as such programs in the districts.

The ruling party and its cadres were angered after Shahi, in a video he shared on his facebook page, was found confronting and insulting Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai for delaying a flight at the Dhangadhi airport on September 14.

After the minister labeled Shahi protest inside the Buddha airplane as “pro-monarchy activity” and “threat to democracy”, he had called a press meeting claiming the minister “a liar”.

But, after some of the participants of the press meeting came aggressively on Shahi in support of the minister, the police had “rescued” him.

The police were preparing to file a case against Shahi for misconduct. But, he was released a day later in the condition of “not repeating the indecent activity again”.

Following the incident, the sister wing of the NCP had banned Shahi from entering a number of districts including Chitwan, Kaski, Siraha and Dhanusha.

Reporters Club: Chairman and several senior members of the Village Development Committee of Bishnu, Sarlahi has come to the Capital in order to have their grievance addressed.

The team is frustrated and overwhelmed by the working style of its President Jawaharlal Yadav, and the latter has left no stone unturned to make the situation drastically miserable. With all hopes lost for the cause, the team held a special press conference at the Reporters Club today demanding that thorough investigation be held against the many acts of administrative corruption and financial irregularities including defalcating central government authorized funds.

Speaking at the program Ram Pravesh Sah stated that “the President does not listen. He has taken absolute autocratic control and is arbitrarily discharging his duties. Just before elections he didn’t possess a cycle, and now he has bought himself a luxury car, he also threatens anyone with dire consequences if they do not comply with his directions. The entire village is suffering due to his callous nature and his attitude of indifference”.

Similarly, several other VDC Chairmen’s have expressed their dissatisfaction of the working style and method of the President, also present on the occasion were Shyam Babu Raya, Govinda Mahoto, Ram Singhasan Raya and Arvind Kumar Singh representing their various wards.

The team has expressed grave disappointment and dissatisfaction over being ignored in administrative affairs, and that no committee meeting was held over the past year. The funds allocated for the purpose of development and for the victims of the recent massive floods were spent in procuring luxury cars, solar panels, and other unnecessary expenses.

The President is also being accused of misusing funds according to his own whims and fancies while making random decisions regarding transfer and appointment of government staff. The team has demanded a thorough investigation and an inquiry into the spending of funds allocated for the area and the charges of corruption that the President is involved in. They have also vowed to protest, and meet senior government officials including the Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Lal Babu Pandit.

The working method of the current President is said to push the area into a state of chaotic under development in the field of health, education, and infrastructure. They have also requested all concerned authorities of Province 2 to look into the matter of massive irregularities and administrative failure.

Reporters Club: The family of late Kumar Poudel, who was killed in Lalbandi 1 of Sarlahi district, have remorsefully requested the media and the civil society to be aware of the injustice toward them by the current government. Speaking at a special press conference organized at the Reporters Club, Hari Krishna Paudel stated that his late brother was not a criminal and neither had he committed any offenses. “He was the most helpful and understanding of all, and he always cared for the people. He was protesting against the corruption of the government that was involved in acquiring land through mafias and involved over 200 million Nepalese rupees being embezzled”.

There was no reason that he would be involved in an encounter with the police. These are baseless lies without any evidence. They killed my brother in captivity and tortured him”. Hari Paudel also stated that those involved in his brother’s organized murder were Bharat Kumar Thapa Mayor of Bagmati, Dilli Upreti Member of State Legislative Assembly, Sagar Nath from the forest development department, and Dacharam Wagle.

(Hari Krishna Poudel brother of late Kumar Poudel)

He also stated that the administration and the authorities were hand in glove which involved both the IGP Sarbendra Khanal, as well as the Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal and that the entire incident was premeditated in order to kill his brother as their prime objective.

The family was not only denied of any post mortem reports neither was the body handed over to them on time. Poudel stated that “they kept the body for three days, and it was decayed and unrecognizable, his teeth and hands were broken, and there were visible signs that he could have been tortured while in custody”.

This view, however, goes against the official reports that late Kumar Poudel who was a member of Netra Bikram Chand’s (Biplav) Communist Party of Nepal prohibited by the current government was killed in an encounter after he fired at the police.

The brother of late Kumar Poudel at the press conference stated that “the family was desperately looking for justice which has been denied to them. He has requested the media to take the entire incident into account which has many loopholes that bring the notion that his brother was killed in captivity after being atrociously tortured”.

Speaking at the same program was the widow of late Kumar Poudel who pleaded for justice for her late husband, ” I have been going door to door for the sake of justice for my husband, although the government says it was an encounter that is not the truth, please give me justice” she said.

( Kala Poudel widow of late Kumar Poudel) 

The mother of late Kumar Poudel, 70-year-old Durga Devi Poudel sobbed continuously while speaking about her son. “There were 12-13 thousand people who attended by sons funeral if he was a criminal why would these people turn up? The entire administrations along with the justice system have collectively colluded in order to kill my son for the person he was.

They have taken huge amounts of money in order for this to happen. When I saw my son’s body it was beyond recognition, his teeth and hands were broken, and his body was riddled with bullets. Now we are forced to organize this press conference as no one is listening to us, and our path to justice is unclear” she said. She also questioned that “is the law only for common people like us, does the government get to go scot-free for whatever they do? They must be held accountable for their actions”.

(Mother of late Kumar Poudel, Durga Devi Poudel) 

With sadness and a  pent-up emotion Durga goes on to state “If I do not get justice, I will commit suicide in front of the Human Rights Commission, at this day and age even if we kill animals on the street we are asked to pay fines and penalized, what about the value of human life? She spoke about how helpless her family was given the conditions and not that they are financially well off. I am old, and I cannot go from pillar to post looking for justice, I request all media personnel to take this cause as this state has killed my son”.

On the occasion, senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi said that “if we are living in a society that is civilized following the principles of democracy then for incidents such as this the government should be held accountable for. This government is terrorizing its citizens without following the due process of law, and since there is no provision of a death penalty in this country even via the Supreme Court, the police do not have the right to take anybody’s life like this”, he said.

(Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi)

“The body of late Kumar Poudel had enough evidence that he was brutally tortured in police custody and later murdered which was framed as an encounter, this is against all norms of a civilized society, there should be a thorough investigation regarding this matter. There should be zero tolerance regarding such cases, even our neighboring India passed a landmark judgment to prove extrajudicial killings, we should be doing the same”.

Advocate Tripathi also spoke on the various aspects of the constitution and its implementation which was completely in opposition regarding this case, and he remarked that even during the times of serious emergency the right to life always exists. The perpetrators of this heinous crime cannot go unpunished, we are slowly destroying our constitution”.

Human Rights Activist and Chair -Joint Forum for Human rights of Accountability Watch Committee Charan Prasai spoke about the violation of individual right, and in light of this making the government answerable for their actions. “The government has not been responsible and has gone beyond its democratic principles and the constitution. The victims, in this case, have been denied a fair investigation, while there are many questions that can be raised in this particular incident”.

(Human Rights Activist and Chair -Joint Forum for Human rights of Accountability Watch Committee Charan Prasai)

He also said that it is a gross violation of human rights and those very provisions that are enlisted in the constitution to which the government is caretaker too. There have been several incidents such as these, up to 12 such individual cases where the investigations have not been conclusive and the perpetrators still at large.

Activist Prasai said that this was a security issue, and it may befall on anyone. “We cannot get distracted in cases like these which are of significance. We need to be serious and cannot let these incidents continue”. He also said that it was unfortunate that the victim’s family were not treated well when they first approached the Human Rights Commission seeking justice. There is an urgent need for justice for the victim’s family, and we need to get the truth out without holding any preexisting prejudice”.

The family hopes to get justice and will be going from pillar to post explaining their plight and hoping that there will be people within the system in support for them sharing their sentiment. The family feels they have been denied justice by the system which is working closely with one another against them, and it is the government that is responsible for taking their kin’s life.

KATHMANDU, Sept 18: The nation has not felt the substantial change even after 2 years of a 2/3rd majority government, said former Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the National People’s Party (Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, RPP). He was speaking at a special interaction program organized at the Reporters Club. The President of the Club and journalist Rishi Dhamala presided over the special interaction program where the former DPM elaborated on the current state of affairs on issues raised by the President of the Club regarding the constitution, secularism, and the challenges that Nepal is currently going through.

Speaking at the interaction program DPM Thapa said that although it has been 5 years since the constitution promulgation it has not met with much success, and the current government has not met the aspirations of the people. He was strong on his Party’s stance regarding reinstating Monarchy, and also bringing back Nepal to a Hindu state.

According to the DPM, Nepal has a rich culture and tradition guided by the eternal Hindu way of life, and we do not need to seek any external opinion or work towards any foreign agenda. Through our own cultural heritage, we can bring about a system that accommodates Monarchy as well as Netra Bikram Chand “Biplav”. The latter is currently underground and his party has been banned by the current administration for resorting to violence.

DPM Thapa stated that we can debate contentious issues and through dialogue and negotiation we can make an inclusive system in line with our traditional cultural practice and way of life.

The former DPM went on to talk about the current nature of the government which was high handed, and overtly corrupt involved in various scams which were causing enormous losses to the national coffers. The DPM said, “in the name of religious freedom you have conversions, national security is an impending challenge, and the government is involved in massive corruption”.

(Former Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National People’s Party Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, RPP)

Former DPM Thapa said that the constitution was brought by the mandate of the people and although they had reservations as it was against their agenda, they nevertheless accepted the people’s popular mandate while at the same time providing constructive criticism to the entire process.

RPP is always for the cause of Nepal as a Hindu nation, and we hope to reinstate a ceremonial Monarch, this can be achieved through the democratic practice of discussion, and making the people aware of what is necessary rather than violence and insurgency. RPP is hopeful that the people will realize that after 13 years of a system without Monarchy, their lives have not changed in a substantial manner.

Speaking about former King Gyanendra and his activities former DPM Thapa said after leaving the palace and living a life of a commoner he can enjoy all the rights given to him by the constitution and the Republic. He has the right to travel across the country, offer prayers in temples, and meet who he likes.” The former King has not done anything to create a hurdle for the Republic, so I do not see any reason why he should be accused constantly by the current government.

If the current government has substantial evidence that there is a visible threat to the Republic then please let the people of the country know, and put it out in the open, there is nothing to be secretive about. In fact, there is nothing that the government can find but accuse him constantly to hide their own shortcomings and weakness in every aspect of administration and running the country.

Former DPM Thapa quoted a familiar line “those who don’t know how to dance blame the unstable ground, the truth is this government has not been able to control corruption, it has failed in controlling lawlessness, and it is primarily working on a foreign agenda. The people are smart, they have access to cell phones and dissemination of information has rapidly evolved and people cannot be fooled anymore with words”.

It is an organized corruption that everyone is involved in said former DPM Thapa. “Look at the number of scams that have plagued the country, Airplane procurement, NCELL, Lalita Niwas, and numerous other scams, that have cost our government coffers billions of rupees. The NCELL scam is the largest in Nepal’s entire history worth over 40 billion rupees. The businessmen, politicians, and administration have built a trilateral nexus and are involved in massive loot. Few individuals who dream of becoming overnight billionaires had them realized. People need to know what is happening”.

Former DPM Thapa furthered his proposition by maintaining his stance against all forms of corruption, and that the people of the country had hopes in the justice system which let them down. “Everyone had hopes on current Justice Cholendra Sumsher Rana, but after the verdict that went in favor of NCELL, the only little ray of hope left is in the Parliament and the initiative that it will take.

Let us just hope that the Parliament does not let us down, and saves the country of over 40 billion rupees while the corrupt are incarcerated. “My Party will struggle and create an awareness campaign which will come into action post the Dashain festival, we will shake the streets and the Parliament,” he said.

The former DPM expressed that his party was against all forms of corruption and that he would want people to join him in his fight to save the country which is in grave danger, as the trilateral nexus continue with their corrupt activities unabated.

He said that corruption is a major challenge that the people have to face together when the entire system including businessmen, politicians, and the administration are involved creating a situation of unease and uncertainty for the country.

Reporters Club: Several student leaders of the student wing of the Nepali Congress Party came together for a press conference admonishing the current leadership for its inactiveness and silence over major issues plaguing the country.

Speaking at the Reporters Club in Kathmandu yesterday while the Nepali Congress began its second phase of its National Awareness Campaign, the student wing leaders were of a strong opinion that the Congress Party which has a grand old history of sacrifice and awakening mass political consciousness has not been active enough fulfilling its oppositional responsibilities.

Several student leaders had similar opinions regarding the current state of affairs of the Nepali Congress. Speaking at the press conference while terming it as an “ultimate warning to the leadership” , Motilal Bhandari said ” The Nepali Congress has played a major role in every historic political change, be it the overthrow of the Rana regime or overthrowing absolute Monarchy. However, this people’s party has distanced itself from the general masses and has been involved in an internal political struggle which goes directly against the aims and aspirations of the people”.

Similarly, student leader Premika Rana Magar said that it was essential for the awareness campaign to stretch from Mechi to Mahakali, even so, this is becoming farcical because the Nepali Congress has not been able to duly oppose and play an active role inside the parliament. It has not been able to speak on current issues of contention, violence against women, acid attacks, and increasing crime.

Student leader Shiva Rimal requested the Congress leadership through the press conference to be aware of what is happening, while the internal institutions within the Congress were in a state of coma. “We will hold you accountable, and if our request falls on deaf ears then we will unite and even go towards the extent of protesting outside your houses,” he said.

Mahesh Nepal speaking at the program said that “today is also the birth anniversary of our founder B.P.Koirala, still I do not think he would be happy to see the current state of affairs that is plaguing the party. Congress has to voice out from the streets to the parliament, but its strategy is dysfunctional.

Other student leaders Lila Balav Dahal and Likhinendra Shrestha spoke about partisan and factional politics within the party. Dahal said “Congress is moving forward illogically, and its internal politics is marred by factionalism, it is crippling its internal organizations and cannot move forward in this manner. Likhinendra said that “the country is rapidly sinking, the current government is like a termite slowly pushing us to the path of ruins, increasing taxes, rising prices, and massive corruption has substantiated on a daily basis. What is Congress doing? There is very little opposition to what is happening in the country”.

Speaking at the program were various other leaders from the Nepali Congress student wing, Kesh Kanta Ghimire, Sushil Timilsina, and Shiva Rimal spoke on the weak opposition that Congress has provided while in parliament and the utter ineffectiveness of the current government which has a 2/3rd majority.

(Kshitiz Bhandari)

Finally speaking at the program leader Kshitiz Bhandari said that while the current government was being fascist in nature, there is a need to send out a clear message and specification for actions from our party President for his silence on the matter. He spoke about the current nature of factional politics within the party, and that Congress which is supposed to be formed on the basis of the principles of democracy has been working on destroying its own internal organs and student union in an undemocratic manner. Bhandari said, ” even after multiple scams from the current government, failure of justice in Nirmala case, airplane procurement scam, the party leadership has not done much sitting in the opposition, and this is a final warning, that they need to perform their duties or leave”.

The Nepali Congress through its second awareness campaign has started raising issues that are pertinent to the current scenario of the country and their aim is to reach out to the masses in order to awaken them and create consciousness of what has been happening in the country. The aim of this press conference was a final attempt to raise a pertinent question to the Nepali Congress leadership regarding the undemocratic working structure and wholesale dismantling of its internal units and party structures.

ARGHAKHANCHI, Aug 25: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Banskota has instructed the government employees at Sandhikharka in the district to discharge their duties effectively and render services to service-seekers swiftly.

Pointing out the need for the civil servants to dispel the misconception prevailing the public mind about the government employees that they are corrupt, Minister Banskota instructed the Chief District Officer in Arghakanchi as well as other civil servants to take immediate action against the corrupt ones.

“The government is committed to curbing corruption,” Minister Banskota warned.

“The incumbent government will not spare anyone who is involved in corruption or encourages others for it,” he added.

Lauding the role of civil servants to materialize the government’s motto of ‘Prosperous Nepal-Happy Nepali’, the Minister claimed that the country would undergo a sea change within five years.

According to him, the government was moving ahead on the basis of people’s mandate and in the confidence of people.

He claimed that the government was effortful to eradicate poverty and social vices. RSS

KATHMANDU, Aug 22: In what appears to be one of the most startling revelations regarding the callousness of the government toward the medical sector, medical professionals alike joined for a press conference at the Reporters Club this afternoon. There were representatives from Gandaki Medical College, Janaki Medical College, Central Campus Institute of Medication, and the Kathmandu University Medical School. Speaking at the program the medical professionals raised an alarm over the current state of an anomaly of the sector right from education to professional work in the health care sector.

This press conference was organized in light of the various discrepancies seen in the medial sector and various medical professionals have united to form the “Medical Education Struggle Campaign”.

Speaking at the program Dr. Arbin Adhikari who is an intern at the Gandaki Medical College stated “We are unable to withstand it any longer. We are paid lower than what daily wage laborers earn, and this is affecting the Doctor-Patient relationship, as it is affecting our work”.

The core of the problem of the medical sector in Nepal is high costs and the manipulation of private medical colleges. An average private medical college for a full course of MBBS degree is said to charge anywhere between six million to ten million Nepalese rupees. There are various middle-men involved that charge a lucrative amount in order to provide admission without merit.

“I make a sincere appeal to the government not to be apathetic and make medical education accessible to the common man”. Prakash Chand Thakuri

Similarly, Dr. Hemraj Bhandari said “How can we cope up in work with such low paying salaries. We are sliding toward depression, due to low pay and long hours of work, the infrastructure is poor, and very soon it will be a dream for the common man to study medicine in Nepal. The situation is getting terrible by the day and we all need to unite in order to bring about changes for the common good”.

Third-year medical student Anit Sinha enrolled in Gandaki Medical College said that “receipts and bills of payment made to the college must be provided”. Colleges have been found to charge exorbitant amounts as against the Constitutional provision that has put a cap on the fees to be levied. A college can charge up to 3 million rupees inside the valley, and up to 4 million outside. The problem being that there is no legal recourse and the maximum penalty a college can pay is just thirty thousand Nepalese rupees, which seems highly unfair for the student. We need a nationwide struggle”

Central Campus Independent Students Union President Milan Gaire highlighted the apathy of the government towards the medical sector in Nepal. Kathmandu University student union president of medical sciences Deepak Thakur brought to light the businesslike approach of the health sector. “We have to find a way out where our common goal would be to address all concerns affecting our health sector, we cannot treat such an important profession merely as a business”.

Finally concluding remarks and observations were made by the Coordinator of the Medical Education Campaign, Prakash Chand Thakuri. Thakuri said “We have to increase the visibility of our campaign into a nationwide struggle to achieve our goals in order to bring in improvement to the Health sector. Through this medium today I make a sincere appeal to the government not to be apathetic and make medical education accessible to the common man”.  He spoke about the struggle of medical students and how the exorbitant fees were creating extreme pressure on their daily lives, and with the current scenario, there seem to be no returns for the investment made. “We have to implement that previous agreement with the government regarding the health and education bill, continue our struggle against middle-men and seek stringent measures to implement the policies as decided for the public good”.

While inflation surges, compensation provided to interns and government doctors are not at par, thus creating a situation of hopelessness where individuals have had to leave their profession. This is extremely unwarranted due to the large investment already made in order to be able to be a medical professional. It is a matter of serious concern which has all Nepalese lives at stake, our health is in our hands, but not when we are afflicted. We need our medical professionals to be able to cure us at the right time with appropriate technology, if this condition persists then there are no options but to face certain death. The demands are genuine and the struggle will continue with various programs and protests in the days ahead.

ITAHARI, Nov 23: The office of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has seized all documents held by the Itahari sub-metropolis related to procurement of CFL bulb sets acting on a complaint of corruption of over Rs 6 million in the deal.

The Procurement Section of the Sub-Metropolis had purchased CFL bulbs and its sets worth Rs 9.7 million during the period from mid-July to 24 October 2017.

The anti-graft body took the action being based on a complaint that the sub-metropolis was involved in the corruption of millions of rupees in collaboration with traders while purchasing CFL bulbs and sets.

It came to light that no bidding process was followed in the procurement of the bulbs and sets.

CIAA has started investigation into the corruption scam that occurred immediately after the newly-elected people’s representatives were in place.

It is shared that the elected people’s representatives, office-bearers of Chamber of Commerce and employees of the sub-metropolis were also involved in the CFL bulb procurement scam.