Solidarity Centre for Nepal Democracy

Three major parties have reached an agreement to declare dates for local elections in four-five days and go for the polls, most probably in May-June, even if the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) refuses to come on board.   Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday said that the ruling coalition has reached an agreement with the main opposition.  Addressing a function in Phidim of Panchthar, PM Dahal said that the government is all set to hold local level elections and urged all to be start preparations for the same.  “A meeting of the top leaders of major parties held on Wednesday morning has agreed to go for local level elections,” PM Dahal said. CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli also told the party’s politburo meeting on Wednesday that PM Dahal has pledged to announce election dates within a week.  “Dahal urged Oli to support the government and parties to hold local level elections even if the Morcha refuses to come on board,” said UML Secretary Gokarna Bista

Health Minister Gagan Thapa has expressed discontent at bureaucratic red tape that has affected many of his programmes on the health sector reform. Taking to the social media on Wednesday, Minister Thapa commented that his efforts and vision to provide specialty care in each district hospital from February 12 had been delayed, what he believes, due to inconsiderate nature of the office bearers. Minister Thapa was referring to his ambitious plan of catering speciality healthcare services in district hospitals. The ministry had collaborated with the National Academy of Health Sciences, Bir Hospital and Institute of Medicine to begin the specialty services in 13 district hospitals in Sarlahi, Dhading, Rolpa, Gorkha, Arghakhanchi, Udaypur, Dhankuta, Nawalparasi, Saptari, Mahendranagar, Dang, Nuwakot and Baglung. For all his plan to kick off the much-hyped programme, including a full-fledged emergency services, othropaedic and pediatric services from Sunday, no hospitals were able to pr

Madhes-based parties have hinted at accepting the report of the Local Level Restructuring Commission if appropriate changes are made in line to their demands. The regional parties said this during a meeting with a ministerial-level taskforce led by Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Hitraj Panday on Wednesday. The taskforce was formed to resolve row over the proposed demarcation of local boundaries at the political level.  During a meeting held at the Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development, Madhesi leaders categorically proposed three changes in what they describe as ‘incomplete and biased report’. First, they demanded that the provincial government should be allowed to demarcate the local boundaries. They allege the government is deliberately setting up wrong precedent by passing the jurisdiction of the provincial government.  Second, they have demanded allocation of local boundaries based in proportion to total population. The Madhes based parties

Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat on Tuesday addressed a thematic panel entitled “Implementation of Mediated Peace Agreements, What are the Challenges?” at the International High-Level Conference on Mediation: Possibilities and Limits—Recent Experiences in the Pursuit of Peace organised by the government of Belgium in Brussels. During his address, Minister Mahat focused on Nepal’s “unique and home-grown” peace process with a particular emphasis on the 10-year experience of implementation of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the government of Nepal and then Maoist rebels in 2006. He also shed light on Nepal’s current priorities and challenges with respect to political stability and economic development. Describing Nepal’s transition from conflict to peace as an example of a successful case on peace building,  Mahat stated that the implementation of the CPA was marked by national consensus and resolve of the major political parties.  In the dynamic peace proces

मणिशंकर ऐयर चर्चित भारतीय राजनीतिज्ञ हुन्। भारतले नेपालमाथि लगाएको पाँच महिना लामो नाकाबन्दीको ऐयरले निरन्तर विरोध गरेका थिए। मनमोहन सिंह नेतृत्वको सरकारका मन्त्री ऐयर भारतीय प्रधानमन्त्री नरेन्द्र मोदीको छिमेक नीतिका आलोचक हुन्। वरिष्ठ कूटनीतिज्ञ तथा लेखक ऐयरसँग मोदीको नेपाल नीति , नेपालमा चीनको भूमिकाप्रति भारतीय चासो , सार्कको भविष्यलगायतका विषयमा नागरिकका लागि   विश्वास बराल ले गरेको कुराकानी :  २०७२ सालमा भएको नाकाबन्दीको सेरोफेरोमा भारतीय प्रधानमन्त्री नरेन्द्र मोदीको नेपाल नीतिलाई कसरी मूल्यांकन गर्नुहुन्छ ? त्यस समयमा उनले नेपाल एउटा सार्वभौम देश हो भन्ने कुरा बिर्सेजस्तो देखिन्थ्यो। उनले नेपाललाई भारतको आज्ञा नमान्ने एउटा भारतीय राज्यलाई व्यवहार गरे। छिमेकी देशसँग चासो हुनु स्वाभाविक हो। त्यसका लागि हाम्रो सन्देश उचित च्यानलमा पठाउनुपर्थ्यो। हामी अर्को देशलाई आफ्नो राष्ट्रिय स्वार्थसम्बन्धी अवधारणाविरुद्ध जान बाध्य पार्न सक्दैनौं। संविधान निर्माण गर्न नौ वर्ष