Another media operator shot dead

Kathmandu, 22 July: Chairman of Tulsipur FM Hemraj Dhital died while undergoing treatment for bullet injuries at Rapti Anchal Hospital in Dang Thursday.
He was being treated for chest injuries after being shot by unknown group in the far-West district.
Other details weren’t immediately available.
He was shot and injured Thursday at Urahi VDC.
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No agreement at Madesh front; KP Shitaula predicts Friday’s vote will be inconclusive; choice between communism and REAL democracy

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 July: The result of Friday’s election to choose a successor of caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is in limbo as a front of four Madesh parties couldn’t come up Thursday night with a concept paper on three issues to be presented to Maoists and NC because of ‘technical glitch’.
The parties are meeting again Friday ahead of the vote Friday after an inconclusive five-hour meet Thursday.
The parties earlier said the paper would be ready by four in the afternoon Thursday.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal wrote separate notes to Prachanda and Paudel Thursday asking them to withdraw their nominations in favour of a national consensus government.
Khanal said unhesitatingly ‘there was no possibility of national or majority government’ in Friday’s vote
UML Chief of Propaganda Department Pradip Geywali and Prachanda held consultations Thursday ahead of Friday’s vote.
“In 16 hours I got the written support of 391 lawmakers. I haven’t read about this anywhere in parliament. This is a record,” Khanal said proudly even as he couldn’t muster 401 votes directed by the party.
He could have been declared prime minister though majority vote though had the voting gone ahead.
But Maoists said they would vote for Khanal if only he collected the required 401 votes.
The UML chairman said his party won’t participate in any vote for a majority government.
“Tomorrow’s vote will be catastrophic and UML has achieved a big principled victory,” Khanal said referring to the withdrawal of his candidacy.
KP Oli and PM Nepal spoilt Khanal’s chances of a victory by
insisting on the two-third cache.
Khanal also called for amendment in parliamentary election laws to remove new hurdles in elections –a move immediately opposed by NC Vice-chairman Paudel.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesman and Communication Minister Shanker Pokhrel claimed Thursday the caretaker government of Madhav Kumar Nepal will continue for another year also predicting Friday’s vote will be inconclusive.
There’s no replacement government even three weeks after Nepal’s resignation.
Controversial NC leader Krishna Prasad Shitaula who protected Maoists as home minister during the rule of Girija Prasad Koirala after signing the 12-point peace agreement in New Delhi predicted Friday’s vote for prime minister will be inconclusive while speaking to an Indian television network Thursday night.
Congress says following the failure of Maoists and UML to take the peace process to its logical end and draft a constitution, NS should get a chance.
But the party and Shitaula have already failed to deliver when they rules for two years after the New Delhi accord.
Shitaula bemoans Maoists haven’t returned seized assets or disbanded the YCL when he as home minister permitted them to operate freely even in the capital; he even allowed Maoists to create a private security force for protection of Maoist leaders which the party now says should be disbanded.
He licensed smuggled arms and vehicles which the NC now says should be disallowed.
The continuance of the Nepal government will be catastrophic because the government won’t be able to take decisive decisions as the country faces major political economic and political problems.
Law and order has broken down completely.
The three parties are holding the nation hostage with reluctance to address issues.
Even as Khanal pleads for a national government, such a government can’t push a national agenda without agreement on basic principles that are dividing the three parties.
The three parties have to chose and decide between DEMOCRACY and COMMUNISM as Girija Prasad Koirala handed over Nepal to communists with foreign collaboration more than two years ago surrendering his party’s majority in parliament.
The day of reckoning has come for Nepal as people suffer for Koirala’s follies and foibles.
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Floods, landslides leave behind devastation

Kathmandu, 22 July: Floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon have caused havoc nationwide.
Nearly 700 families have been displaces in Sunsari in east terai.
Five hundred houses in Kanchanpur in the far-West have been inundated and flood waters have entered houses in Bhimdutta municipality.
Schools have closed down in the district.
Prices of essential goods, including vegetables, have doubled in the Valley.
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